Random entry
I'm in kind of a weird situation right now.
I'm taking a Theory of Development class, which is an intro-level course in the Social Planning and Promotion major, and we have a group paper due Tuesday about the political left, right, and center. We are a group of 4 and each of us was to write about 3 or 4 pages for this thing. I spent the second half of this week writing my share... it's nothing stellar and needs to be fleshed out a little, but I figured I could just have the other members of my group (all ticas) take a look at it, and use their analyses to help mine flow better as an individual unit and as a part of the paper as a whole.
We met out in front of the university at 9 a.m., went to the library, and now they're just sort of sitting at computers and typing things while I'm on my laptop waiting for them to tell me to do something. Basically I don't think they finished their parts of the project, which means they're doing work that they could have done as individuals and pretty much just making this first hour of the meeting unnecessary. We should be putting the whole thing together, reading each other's parts so that it all flows well and is thorough, and writing a conclusion. As it is, I have no idea what's going on.
This is why I generally hate group work of any kind. I'm always the only one who has done any work, or at least the only one who has done it right (not to sound cocky, that's just been my honest experience). Here the situation is a little different. I actually need the group's help to some extent, but I'm still the only one who has done anything. I must say, however, that it doesn't frustrate me as much as it does in the U.S. I don't have to be concerned about grades here... I know we'll get a passable grade on this project, I only need a C- average to receive credit, and my grades don't transfer. The incentive structure is basically for me to do the minimum possible and freeride off of their Spanish skills and desire for a grade somewhat higher than 70%. That's not exactly what I did, but as such I find it hard to worry or stress about the project. It's a nice vacation from the anal-retentive academic attitude I usually have (and that will undoubtedly return next semester).
So this is a bit of a random entry, but I suppose it gives you some insight as to the general attitude of all of my courses: working, but finding it really hard to care. None of these courses really have a lot of value for me in their actual subject areas, I view them more as a bunch of Spanish classes.
Perhaps later I'll write something a little more substantial/anecdotal.
I'm taking a Theory of Development class, which is an intro-level course in the Social Planning and Promotion major, and we have a group paper due Tuesday about the political left, right, and center. We are a group of 4 and each of us was to write about 3 or 4 pages for this thing. I spent the second half of this week writing my share... it's nothing stellar and needs to be fleshed out a little, but I figured I could just have the other members of my group (all ticas) take a look at it, and use their analyses to help mine flow better as an individual unit and as a part of the paper as a whole.
We met out in front of the university at 9 a.m., went to the library, and now they're just sort of sitting at computers and typing things while I'm on my laptop waiting for them to tell me to do something. Basically I don't think they finished their parts of the project, which means they're doing work that they could have done as individuals and pretty much just making this first hour of the meeting unnecessary. We should be putting the whole thing together, reading each other's parts so that it all flows well and is thorough, and writing a conclusion. As it is, I have no idea what's going on.
This is why I generally hate group work of any kind. I'm always the only one who has done any work, or at least the only one who has done it right (not to sound cocky, that's just been my honest experience). Here the situation is a little different. I actually need the group's help to some extent, but I'm still the only one who has done anything. I must say, however, that it doesn't frustrate me as much as it does in the U.S. I don't have to be concerned about grades here... I know we'll get a passable grade on this project, I only need a C- average to receive credit, and my grades don't transfer. The incentive structure is basically for me to do the minimum possible and freeride off of their Spanish skills and desire for a grade somewhat higher than 70%. That's not exactly what I did, but as such I find it hard to worry or stress about the project. It's a nice vacation from the anal-retentive academic attitude I usually have (and that will undoubtedly return next semester).
So this is a bit of a random entry, but I suppose it gives you some insight as to the general attitude of all of my courses: working, but finding it really hard to care. None of these courses really have a lot of value for me in their actual subject areas, I view them more as a bunch of Spanish classes.
Perhaps later I'll write something a little more substantial/anecdotal.