Beginnings: Connecting Learning, Identity, and Culture
Fall 2005
Midterm Self Evaluation and Reflection
Due:
Name:______
General Participation
1. How many hours of study have you done outside of class per week (expectation two times number of credits—approximately 20)? ______
2. Classes missed of 15(as of October 29) ______. Percent of classes missed ______(More than three borders on minimum acceptable to pass.)
3. In what ways have you been an effective member of a learning community? How have you contributed to the overall quality of the course and the community? How have you helped others to learn? Be specific in giving examples of times that you have provided insights or assistance that others have found helpful
Seminar
4. Percentage of reading completed on time for seminar.
(100% is minimum expectation for 3.0 or higher; 80% = not more than 2.5; 70% not more than 2.0.)
5. Number of seminar preparation writing assignments of 6 completed
(100% is minimum expectation for3.0 or higher; less 90% = not more than 3.4; 80% = not more than 2.9; 70% = not more than 2.0).
Discuss briefly (below or on a separate page) how writing seminar preparation papers has helped you to learn. Consider critical reading skills, ability to summarize and respond to readings, helpful preparation for your participation in seminar, and overall learning in class.
6. Assess your seminar skills and behavior using the “What’s in a Seminar” hand-out. What roles have you played in seminar? Introduced substantive ideas; deepened the discussion; facilitated group exploration, helped focus on the text. Explain.
You might use the following to help you assess your work in seminar:
3.6+ (very active) = You actively participate and your contributions have been valuable to the quality of the seminar; you have played a leadership role in seminar by encouraging others to participate, by modeling effective “mining” of the texts, and by being an engaged listener.
3.0+ (somewhat active) = You have been a regular contributor and often supported others by providing insights into the texts, actively listening, and stimulating other’s responses.
2.0+ = (occasionally active) = You have provided some points about themes in the texts and helped to find passages in the texts, as well as being an engaged listener.
1.0 = You have almost never spoken and sometimes have come unprepared.
Comments:
Writing
7. Grade on first essay______
Briefly discuss what your have discovered about writing thus far this quarter. How have your writing skills begun to improve? Consider and respond to some of the following questions: What did you learn in writing the first essay? How have your skills developed—consider brainstorming techniques, development of a thesis/assertion, ability to explain a concept, and integration of quotes and other illustrations—use of PIE? How have peer reviews and the revision process aided your writing? What has been most challenging for you in writing and what do you still need work on? How did writing help you (or not) to better understand and gain insight into the concepts, texts, and overall themes of this course?
General Self-Evaluation
8. Explain what new insights you have developed into the course theme and outcomes stated in the syllabus, including what academic skills you have developed. To do this, reread the course theme and outcome sections of the syllabus as well as the Central Guiding Questions on page 1. Ask yourself how have seminars, reading, and writing assignments aided your ability to meet these outcomes? Choose one outcome in each area (knowledge, attitude and skill) and one of the questions under Central Guiding Questions and list it. Under each one discuss in some detail how your work has begun to help you reach that outcome or answer that question. Provide specific examples from your work in the class (participation in seminars or group discussions, written work, reading).
(Use a separate sheet of paper to answer this question (typed and double-spaced) and attach it.
9. If you were having to give yourself a mid-quarter grade, what grade best represents the overall quality and quantity of your work thus far this quarter? ______
· Extraordinary (4.0) Exceeded expectations, consistently outstanding in all areas including being an invaluable member of the learning community.· Outstanding (3.6+) Strongly contributed to the learning community and demonstrated excellent achievement in written seminar preparation, seminar skills, and lab work
· Very good (3.0 range) Demonstrated excellence in most areas and consistently performed at a very good level in all aspects of the course; completed all the work and made a strong effort; effective contributor to the learning community.
· Adequate/OK (2.0 range) Completed all the work in a competent manner; inconsistent in contributing to the learning community.
· Below average (1.0 range) Didn’t complete some of the work; had a number of unexcused absences and/or quality of work needs improvement to reflect minimum college-level standards.
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10. Please explain why you think that grade best represents your work this quarter?
11. What goals do you want to set for yourself between now and the end of the quarter? What can the faculty do to help you achieve these goals?