Friday, February 1, 2008
On-line Check In
I’ve been thinking about the first semester some and wondering about your experience. This might not be a blog we can dialogue with everyone about – though you never know – I think the possibilities for dialogue are endless. I want to know what worked for you, what you enjoyed, what you struggled with, what you really learned, what you think you want to do differently in the second semester…..kind of like a semester internal/on-line check in. Give it a shot. Make your one entry longer, if you don’t plan on commenting on others. This will be due next Friday at 1:30.
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21 comments:
I can first and foremost say that this has been my best year in History in all m years at HW.
I feel like a major reason for this is the different classroom setting from previous years. This year, our class was much more laid back, much more vocal (the students having a discussion), and much more interesting.
Our class would discuss History rather than it be recited and I definately feel like that method helped the knowledge sink in. I could definately see the effect that this had on my essays as I did very well on them. I feel like this year has started off well and that I hope it continues the same.
Another bonus this year has been the blog. Being able to discuss Current topics (like history) with each of my peers has definately been an interesting and fun way of learning. Rather than school being all tests and reading (like last year's News Quizzes), Dr. Rockenbach has switched it up to add more energy to the curriculum. I definately appreciate this change and it represents a break in the monotonous HW schedule.
In all, This has been a great year in History and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year.
For me, this has been a good year for history because it is more molded for my style of learning. Now i dont know if it suits everyone, i personally enjot lectures and discussons over taking notes in this class. To me, the material becomes much more intriguing when we get to go off on tangents and and discuss moral/ethical issues that relate to the subject we are talking about, it makes something that happened generations ago relevant and important. The only thing i ever really worry about in the class is that i might miss important details that could come up on a test, but then i can always refer to the textbook which is a great indicator of what we need to know anyway, so this class has been great for me thus far.
Also i think most of the class as a whole is pretty engaged in what we r talking about, which makes it more fun and worthwhile.
that was Cary who just left the comment
This past semester in history has been a unique and wonderful learning experience for me. Instead of the traditional lecture that I have had in past years, this class has encouraged me to really think. It has inspired me not only to just think about history as facts, but also understand the bigger picture. The information we learn has so much more meaning to me because I have been able to assimilate the facts of the past and connect them to the present.
Initially I had some trouble with the reading quizzes because I was used to reading for the "nit picky" details (as I did last year) instead of looking at the main points and larger concepts. However, I now get much more out of the reading.
One of the aspects of this class that I really love is the way that we not only learn from the teacher, but from each other. The comfort level in the classroom allows us to open up and speak freely. The way we discuss our materials in class makes the information much more relevant and memorable than the traditional style of teacher-student lecturing. I also find it easier to prepare for a test because we learn the facts as we go along, as opposed to just having to cram everything in before an exam.
This class has given me a new appreciation, actually a new expectation of how teachers should teach so that information is critically analyzed, interpreted, and applied instead of just regurgitated.
And I love how we always seem to get off the subject and have deeper discussions of issues. I also really enjoy the game we play on the board. It not only makes the information so easy to learn, but it is really fun.
This year is going by too quickly.
I completely agree with Allison and something that she said kind of made me think about why i've had more success in this class; I've found that I can learn and memorize info easier if it makes sense. That's why, for example, I like a class like AP Environmental Science, because it makes sense and is practical.
This year's history class has made history more interesting and practical; history has begun to make sense more as we discuss it and I feel like in doing so, I can relate other facts from the book to the main idea that we discuss in class. Rather than learning facts to try to make up big ideas, we learn big ideas to then piece together the facts prior to testing. Our discussions also require one to read for ideas to talk about rather than ideas to try to memorize and this causes me to take in more when I read and do better overall.
I have really enjoyed history this year. This is the first time i have felt interested and engaged in history class. I think this is due to the style of our class. We discuss all topics and we relate them to present day.
An example of this is when Dr. Rock compared subsidizing with Walmart.
I admit it was hard to get used to this style of class in the beginning of the year. I was used to just taking notes and learning later. Now i have learned to listen and to interact and this has allowed me to become a much better history student than i have ever been before. This is my favorite class and i look forward to it every day and i expect the second semester will be the same
i also agree with nick that this blog has had a positive impact on this class. i do not always remember to do it but, i enjoy reading and reacting to what other have said. I think this is much better than news quizzes
that comment under me is also me
Alright, here we go...
First semester was, in my opinion, a pretty substantial success. Having struggled a lot with history last year, I'm relieved to say that it hasn't seemed so daunting thus far. What I really benefited from, I think, were our dialogues in class that spanned over broad topics, such as "was Columbus a hero?" or "if you lived in the age of slavery, would you have fought to have it abolished?" I know some of my friends have told me that broader discussions bother them because tests are focused so narrowly on precise facts, but I actually found that discussing these issues in a more relaxed and general way helped. For me, these dialogues made it easier for me to connect precise facts to the bigger picture. I always tend to care more about the specific material if I have some emotional stake or opinion in the broader questions. I also really appreciate the fact that our class can have pretty heated debates without carrying grudges or being judgmental out of class. What a great environment! The review games also really helped me. I feel like a bad commercial when I say this, but they really do help to make learning the facts fun, in my opinion. The blog definitely was a great idea, and should be kept up. I really like being able to read everyone's thoughts and ideas. I used to be really hesitant to engage in debates about modern politics, but the blog has really helped me become comfortable with expressing my opinions.
Also, what the class as a whole is doing a good job in teaching is not only the factual growth of America as a country, or a collection of rules and regulations, but the progression of America as a culture, and the evolution of the American mindset. All the facts and figures are consolidated into this sort of... journey of humanity (or, at least, one section of humanity) called "US History." Am I making sense? I'd better stop before I drift off into philosophy-land.
Anyhow, I can't really think of any specific thing I'd want to do differently in this coming semester. I would have suggested an assignment sheet to help keep track of the reading assignments, but that's been taken care of already!
So... basically, bring it on. History this year has been great so far, and looks like it will continue to be!
- Phoebe
i agree with pretty much everyone who's posted so far that class dialogs have been a great part of our first semester - not only do they often bring a moral element to they otherwise obscure events or people we might be studying, but they also allow us to learn the subject matter by taking out of context and discussing it from a modern viewpoint. As for the second semester, i'm looking foward to studying WWII; i found it to be by far the most interesting era that we studied last year and focusing on america's role in the conflict should be great.
i agree with allison that the bigger picture has definitely been our focus during the semester, which makes sense because most of the individual things we're studying really don't matter in themselves but when all of them are put together to get some kind of overarching message, a lot more can be gained from history as a whole
I think that a lot of things have worked for me in history. I have been a little bit disappointed with the book, since i feel like it really pops up as highly subjective. Other than that, I have been really happy with the class.
I think that the history blog has been a really cool idea, and it has played out really well, creating a great venue for discussion that brought current events into a much more comprehensive light. I think that the discussion about torture was the most interesting topic for me.
I think that the tests themselves have been much more interesting this year. I think the function of the essay topics as getting at more of the big picture has really fit well with the way that I personally understand history.
The class discussions have had much the same effect- taking historic issues in modern sociopolitical context casts them in a revealing new light that is far more interesting than a dry reading.
All in all, other than occasional issues with the book itself, I am having a great year in history, and I look forward to using the supplement more this semester.
I have skimmed over the posts written so far. (I know I am not supposed to do that, but I couldn't help myself... I was simply very anxious to see what everyone was writing.) Anyways,
many of you have mentioned how intellectually stimulating the class dialogues have been, and how effective the blogs are. Let's, though, also take a moment to appreciate the ambiance of our classroom.
Departing from the ordinary lecture-based course, our US history class is laid back, and the conversations are informal yet still intriguing and very relevant to the time period at hand. With tangents finding their way into our class time, we are often presented with the opportunity of exploring subject matters beyongdthe realm of mere US history. We draw connections between time lines of the past, the current era, and even what lies in our horizon.
That being said, it is impossible to not mention how amicable our class body is. From tortilla chips on fiesta Friday munched to the tune of historical music, to daily in class check-ins, to interesting documentaries and other films, our class is singular in its appeal.
I look forward to another great semester in which we will delve into the modern era. I look forward to learning about the World Wars and especially to finishing the year off with the study of terrorism.
The first semester was different. But different in a good way. The class discussions and JEOPARDY instead of just copying down notes has really helped me. Before this year- History wasn't my favorite subject - but now it is definitely getting up there. I always look forward to our "checking in" days and although there are not my strong points the quizzes help me later. The blog which no other teacher of mine has done- in my opinion- is way better than news quizzes. We read about the topic are able to state our opinion freely and then are able to see what others thought about it. Overall this class is SWEET!
The first semester was interesting in that this history class is significantly more engaging and hands-on than history courses I've taken at Harvard Westlake in the past. Personally I learn better from taling about topics, rather than mindlessly taking notes on them, so this classroom style has been a positive for me.
The blog has definitely helped me focus in on important current events as well as helping me applying general concepts from current events to our history lessons.
Overall, the first semester in 5th Period has been a very enjoyable one, and I look forward to an even better 2nd Semester.
This semester was much different than any other history class I've ever had. I like the fact that we don't have too many lectures that just list fact after fact, but it makes studying for the tests a bit harder because it's hard to guess which events will be emphasized on a test. I like it how the whole class is involved each day as opposed to just listening to a teacher state facts and have us write it down. My only complaint is this blog. For whatever reason the front page news bores the hell out of me and I've never been really informed about what's going on, so I feel like nothing I say here is useful. I read other comments and I almost feel embarrassed to write anything because nothing that I have to say is nearly as insightful as what everyone else has to say in this class. Overall, this has been a great experience and I'm looking forward to an equally good second semester.
Jonny
This has been my favorite year of history. I liked that we didnt have to take pages and pages of notes while the teacher lectured. It was easier for the information to stick in my head. But it was also difficult to study for tests because if i forgot a certain subject or key term that we learned in class, i didnt have notes to refer to. Instead, i would have to reread the book to understand the concept. At first i used to think that history was just a bunch of facts that i had to memorize and i didnt really understand how it helped me in the real world. But by analyzing the history, i can see how it relates to the real world and how history repeats itself. Everything that we are learning in class can be directly related to any current event. I also really like the blog because it helps us understand the current events better than the multiple choice quizzes that i used to have in previous years. I also really like it because i dont fail every single current events quiz. I love that doc roc checks in with us occasionally to see how we're doing. It shows that she isnt interested in just teaching us history and giving us grades. She actually cares about how we feel. Basically, i love history this year (:
-- Nina Kim
I always loved note taking based history classes (I kno, big shock right?) but this tear was the best history class I've ever taken. I was a little upset that I couldn't take art history this year, but I can honestly say that history this year is one of my favorite classes, if not my
absolute favorite.
I love our discussions and our analysis into what really went on in American history.
Also, I like the blog much more than news quizzes; I feel like our opinions really matter, in the blog and throughout the entire year.
Not just from the text but from each other, I have learned so much about what goes on in our world (subsidies, free market, etc.)
And I love doing the reading this year, but that's mainly bc I rediscovered post-its.
I agree with I think it was ben who said that the book was a bit of a disappointment
I think this semester has been a truely wonderful type of learning experience. I've never had a history class that is quite like ours. I love that we discuss what we think and how we feel everyday in class. Instead of being in such a strict learning environment, it's more loose and happy.
I have fun everytime I enter the classroom and look forward to history. I like discussing history and relating it to the present. It's great to have this in our class. I think one thing that would help me out would be to take more notes. I didn't take as many notes first semester as I have in the past, and personally taking notes helps me to study for tests.
I love our class and the debates we have every day.
Everything is so interesting and in depth and it's fun to hear every person's point of view. I love our class and I've had a great first semester.
-Claire
5th period US History. Thank you for being yourselves, for passing the chips and salsa, for the post-its, for caring, for talking about how Clinton sucks and McCain rocks or how Obama rocks and both McCain and Clinton suck. Thank you for your dialogue. Phoebe said it best, “I also really appreciate the fact that our class can have pretty heated debates without carrying grudges or being judgmental out of class.”
And I agree with Alison, I see you learning from each other and that makes me happier than I can express. I feel very present to the truth that we all are learning together. I know I am! I also agree with Cary that not every one learns best in a more dialogue oriented environment. I want to thank you for your patience with that and for your willingness to try on something different. I want you to know that if you find yourself still struggling, just send a quick email, we can find alternative strategies!
Brandon don’t even get me started on Wal-Mart. It’s fun though that it can serve as an analogy for so many things! And hey….I buy my bird food there! I have a right to complain! But where does that right come from? Does everyone have it? I love our tangents too! You guys are amazing for following along. Harry I’m excited for WWII also. What would you like to learn most about it? Ben….I’m with you on the book!
I laughed sweetly when Lian said, “Let's, though, also take a moment to appreciate the ambiance of our classroom.” I couldn’t agree more! Truly. You guys are so generous with each other and so loving. It makes me very happy to witness and be apart of. And Molly I look forward to our checking in days too. They mean a lot to me. Alex…I’m glad you like the hands-on approach to history. I’m appreciating the idea of that….history is not dead.
Jonny, I think you are incredibly insightful and I always appreciate what you say in class and here on this blog. I know what it’s like to feel like what you say doesn’t matter….I can only share with you my opinion….it matters to me and my bet is it matters to everyone else in the class. Nina….I know that not having “notes” is sometimes challenging. I love that you remain so open to keep jumping into the dialogue. And Angela, thank goodness you’re not in Art History this year….what would it be like without your post its!!! Claire – I want to help you with the note taking…there is a way…even in dialogue. I would love to talk about it.
As for me, my first semester has been challenging and absolutely amazing. Amazing in that I really get paid to come and share space with not just the minds of incredible young people, but your hearts and souls as well and what can I say…I love it. I love it more every day actually and that feels truly inspiring to me. I do not take it for granted. It has also been challenging, but that’s partly because I am pushing myself more and more. I’m hitting edges around all the creative ideas I have brewing in my mind and the amount of time we actually have to do them. I so want to put together a piece for This American Life and I’m finally at this place where I know I need help to do it. So….that balancing act has been…..well, a balancing act. I trust the process.
Thank you for being yourselves. It makes a huge difference in my life.
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