Course Reflection

Questions

Reflect on the value of the course. Include both positive and negative aspects of your experience. What might you have done to improve your learning experience in the course? How might the University or your instructor provide additional support for your learning? Were there topics covered in this course that seem particularly relevant or irrelevant to your experiences and future?

Answers

I feel that MSLD 500 was essential in developing my understanding of critical thinking; to learn what it means to think out of the box. This course has allowed me to learn how to think for myself verse thinking on the bases of what the teacher expects.

 In the past, was taught to write a specific way (not to use I and to write in third person) and think a specific way (to be analytical without interpretation). It has extremely really hard for me break out of my shell and be reborn to writing in the first person. I feel that MSLD program will continue to break me of my old habits and transition me from an analytical mind to a mind that thinks more critically.

One of the topics covered in this course that I felt was really beneficial to me was the art of choosing. In the video, Sheena suggests three main assumptions that people often make about choosing:

1.      Make your own choices - if a choice affects you, then you should be the one to make it.

2.      More options leads to better choices – assuming that the more choices you have the more likely you are to make the best choice.

3.      Never say no to choice.

Sheena really helped me to realize sometimes more isn’t always better and that my choices can affect those around me in both a positive and negative way. Her video was insightful, funny and entertaining; it provided explicit details on why choice is necessary and important. I feel that I can use the three assumptions Sheena presented about the art choosing within my life each day;  with a better understanding of the choices I make and how those  choices are essential to developing myself as a person and as a leader.

Overall, I felt that Dr. Watkins provide great support and communicated well with the class. He gave great feedback on assignments and is very helpful. I really like the way Dr. Watkins teaches, because he allowed for each student to interpret each assignment and graded based on effort.

Good Presentation Design

Good Presentation Design

There are many different types of presentations deigns and techniques used by students all over the world. When creating a presentation, it is essential to choose a unique presentation design that attracts your audience’s attention. It is best to be creative and seek to make a lasting impression.

When creating my presentation, my first thought was to make my presentation short, sweet, and to the point. In an effort to be creative and think outside of the box, I began exploring different presentation techniques. After reviewing a few techniques, I thought about presentation via movie. A short presentation via movie seemed like the best, effective way to attract my audience and be creative. Therefore, I decided to make my presentation with Windows Movie Maker.

Windows Movie Maker allows you to import and edit slide shows and videos. You can add pictures and titles, place your presentation to music, and adjust the duration and effects on each slide. Windows Movie Maker even allows you to download your finished movie to your computer or online with a click of a button. Overall, Windows Movie Maker is truly a fun, easy way to make a presentation your own.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research is information collected via questionnaire or survey that is based on numbers and or statistical data.  Quantitative research involves the development of questions that measure feelings, satisfactions and other related factors. Quantitative research is often deductive and tests theories; whereas qualitative research is inductive and generates theories. For example, a researcher surveys patients waiting in the waiting room at a doctor’s office. The researcher questions how the patients feel about having to wait so long to see a doctor. The researcher tests and studies the theory and determines how the patients respond to the question.  

Quantitative research also has many forms:

·         Descriptive: collecting data required to test the hypothesis or answer questions concerning the subject being studied. It is a type of research  that determines and report the way things are.

·         Correlated: determines if and to what degree a relationship exists between two variables. The relationship is expressed via correlation coefficient.

·         Cause-comparative: establishes a cause-effect relationship. Where cause is not manipulated.

·         Experimental: establishes the cause-effect relationships and compares the effect. Often the cause is due to manipulation. The cause is the independent variable and the effect is the dependent variable.

Overall, quantitative research attempts to collect numerical data in order to explain and predict why things are, if a relationship that exists, and the cause-effect of the relationship both through manipulation and non-manipulation.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research emphasizes on the importance of evaluating variables in its natural setting such as, conducting a one on one interview. The interviewer investigating methodologies and determines the interaction between variables. In addition, the interviewer gathers data by means of open ended questions that provide direct quotations; attempting to gain information from the subject on relations, comparisons, and predictions.

Qualitative research when conducted properly can offer a variety of advantages:

·         Provides more in-depth, comprehensive information from the subject.

·         By evaluating the subject in its natural setting, the interviewer can observe the context of the situation; as well as, the interactions between variables; thus providing a more detailed understanding of the situation.

Qualitative research when conducted improperly can offer a series of disadvantages:

·         It becomes difficult for the interviewer to prevent or detect induced biases.

·         The scope is limited due to the depth of the conversation.

·         Inquires can lead to difficulties in establishing validity in the information provided by the subject.

When interviewing participants, the interviewer should emphasis on:   

·         His or her reactions to the topics being discussed.

·         Choosing an interview environment in which the participant will feel comfortable, secure, and relaxed.

·         Avoiding YES or NO questions, the interviewer must ask questions that seek out detailed information.

·         The validity of the questions being asked. Can one question lead to more questions?

·         Being flexible in his or her approach to questions.

Furthermore, the interviewer must maintain the validity of qualitative research when conducting his or her interview. To maintain validity the interviewer must:  be a good listener, recording his or her finding accurately, include all data into the final report, be candid, and seek feedback and achieve order and balance in the interview process.

In general, when conducting qualitative research the interviewer attempts to gain a comprehensive picture from the subject by gathering detailed data and recording his or her findings. The interviewer can then provide a detailed analysis on the research conducted.

Thinking about Critical Thinking

Reflecting back on the principle of critical thinking and the theories I have learned thus far, I believe that I can better understand the process of thinking and why I think the way I do. By identifying the standards of critical thinking (clearness, accuracy, importance, sufficiency, depth, breadth and precision) I have learned how to reflect on my thinking and filter my thoughts; to insure that I stop and think about what I am going to say before saying it. For example, in the past I often spoke out of turn and did not mind my tongue, this action constantly got me in trouble with my subordinates and superiors, now I rationalize my thought and filter out the inappropriate connotations. Though channelization, I have been able to implement clearness and accuracy in my thoughts without as many implications.

Furthermore, I believe that critical thinking has built a foundation on how to think. I have learn how to think about my thinking; as well as, analysis my thoughts towards a greater good. I really like to think positive and be optimistic. Overall, I believe that this class has helped me to think out of the box; to see things in a different light, to think about things that I do not often think of on my own. However, I know that in order for my thinking to change, I must be able to personally relate to the material. As a hands-on learner, it is hard for me to incorporate new thoughts and ideas; I find that if I am excited about the topic in which I am learning, it is easier to relate to the material and remember it.

Activity 4.3 - The Art of Choosing

The Art of Choosing

Dr. Sheena Lyengar a world renowned expert on the subject of choice discusses the following three assumptions:

First assumption: if a choice affects you, then you should be the one to make it. This is the only way to ensure that your preferences and interests will be most fully accounted for. It is essential for success. In America, the primary locus of choice is the individual. People must choose for themselves, sometimes sticking to their guns, regardless of what other people want or recommend. It's called "being true to yourself." 

I am often reluctant to stick to my guns when it comes to my younger sisters. Most of the time, I find myself giving in or being manipulated into handing out money for a job never fulfill. My sisters are still young and like any old sister, I hope and wish the very best for them. However, I must be a good role model and provide valuable insight on what it means to become an adult. For example: My sister Shana gets a traffic ticket for and accident that essentially was not her fault. (She was stopped at a stop sign, it was dark and the oncoming car did not have its lights on. Shana began to pull out just a little before she was struck by the car.) The ticket cost $160.00 and was due in 30 days from the date of the accident. Within that thirty day period, Shana, my mom and myself spent endless hours trying to help Shana fix her car until my mom forgot to put antifreeze in the radiator and blew it up. Devastated, Shana decided to sell the car to a junk yard for $400.00 (the initial price in which she purchased the car). After the car was sold, I told Shana that she will want to pay off her ticket, open a bank account and save the rest of money from the sale until she has enough money saved to purchase a new car. Did Shana listen; did she pay off her ticket or save the money? NO!!! Shana bought a cat, went out to dinner and went shopping. Then a month later when the ticket was due, guess who came knocking at my door. At this point I had, had enough; I told Shana that choices sometimes have negative consequences and that she will need to figure out how to pay her ticket on her own. The choice I made was to not give in and stick to my guns. I realized that in order for my sisters to learn valuable life lesions I must allow them to make their own mistakes and figure out their own solutions.

The second assumption which informs the “American view” of choice is… The more choices you have, the more likely you are to make the best choice.

I both agree with this and disagree with this statement. Although having a lot of choices can be great (offering a wider variety), I feel that having too many choices can be overwhelming and confusing, thus causing you to doubt or second guess the initial choice you made.

The third assumption reminds views to never say no to a choice. Sheena uses the following example to demonstrate the importance of choice. A young couple, Susan and Daniel Mitchell, were about to have their first baby. They'd already picked out a name for her, Barbara, after her grandmother. One night, when Susan was seven months pregnant, she started to experience contractions and was rushed to the emergency room. The baby was delivered through a C-section, but Barbara suffered cerebral anoxia, a loss of oxygen to the brain. Unable to breathe on her own, she was put on a ventilator. Two days later, the doctors gave the Mitchells a choice: They could either remove Barbara off the life support, in which case she would die within a matter of hours, or they could keep her on life support, in which case she might still die within a matter of days. If she survived, she would remain in a permanent vegetative state, never able to walk, talk or interact with others. What do they do? What does any parent do?

This example automatically made me think about my dog Peanut, she was a 14 year old Dachshund, Chihuahua mix. Near the end of her life Steven and I were given a choice to allow Peanut to continue living in her current state (having an enlarged heart, being overweight and unable to breathe normally) or to put her to sleep. Ultimately we wanted to keep Peanut alive for as long as possible; however, we knew that it was selfish of us to choose to keep Peanut alive. So… we did what we thought was best for Peanut and put her to rest. The most difficult thought to overcome in making the choice we did was choosing not to be present when the doctor actually put her to sleep. Due to this choice, I often wonder if she felt lost and abandoned in her time of need.

Dr. Sheena Lyengar portrays the following leadership implications in her lecture:

Americans have so often tried to disseminate their ideas of choice, believing that they will be, or ought to be, welcomed with open hearts and minds. But the history books and the daily news tell us it doesn't always work out that way. The phantasmagoria, the actual experience that we try to understand and organize through narrative, varies from place to place. No single narrative serves the needs of everyone everywhere. Moreover, Americans themselves could benefit from incorporating new perspectives into their own narrative, which has been driving their choices for so long.

Robert Frost once said that, "It is poetry that is lost in translation." This suggests that whatever is beautiful and moving, whatever gives us a new way to see, cannot be communicated to those who speak a different language. But Joseph Brodsky said that, "It is poetry that is gained in translation," suggesting that translation can be a creative, transformative act. When it comes to choice, we have far more to gain than to lose by engaging in the many translations of the narratives. Instead of replacing one story with another, we can learn from and revel in the many versions that exist and the many that have yet to be written. No matter where we're from and what your narrative is, we all have a responsibility to open ourselves up to a wider array of what choice can do, and what it can represent. And this does not lead to a paralyzing moral relativism. Rather, it teaches us when and how to act. It brings us that much closer to realizing the full potential of choice, to inspiring the hope and achieving the freedom that choice promises but doesn't always deliver. If we learn to speak to one another, albeit through translation, then we can begin to see choice in all its strangeness, complexity and compelling beauty.

Websites:

http://sheenaiyengar.com/
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/sheena_iyengar_on_the_art_of_choosing.html

Hunt Library vs. Google

Explore the Hunt Library and reflect on how you might use the Library as a resource for your studies.

The Hunt Library allows students to access many databases at one time and gain information needed to conduct research. The Hunt Library database incorporates: magazines articles, journal articles, technical reports and other scholarly material. In addition, it provides student with instant access to information without having to spend hours of time in the library searching for research material.

 

Moreover, the Hunt Library assists with locating the information needed to successfully complete research assignments. Furthermore, it not only provides students with access to a wealth of information but grants students the convenience of finding scholarly material that is easily accessible through an online environment.

 

How is the scholarly information you found in the library different from the typical information you find when you Google a leadership concept?

 

The scholarly material found in the library vs. that found by searching the internet is more inclusive and accurate.  The library provides scholarly material that cannot be found on the internet. Students should be cautious about the scholarly information found on Google. Although Google does provide some scholarly journals, not all the journals found on Google are true. Google can only provide some relative information to begin researching a topic but should not be used as the final source.

Clarity and Accuracy of Communication within the Family

Clarity and Accuracy of Communication within the Family

Each Family has their own pre established boundaries, rules, communication patterns; as well as, unique ways of dealing and adapting to change. In my family we pride ourselves on family definition, family satisfaction and rational rules. My family has been something that I have always cherished. My family is defined by our ability to communicate with one another with clarity and accuracy. My family members are known for saying what they feel. I believe that communication of any sort must be thought out thoroughly; what exactly do you want to say? What is the best way to communicate your point? This concept seems to work well for my family. Every agreement, disagreement, or liking is out on the table for discussion. Developing shared meanings and reminiscing on funny stores of the past, gives us the ability to let down boundaries and creating a family system where we all work on together.

 In our efforts as a family to communicate our feelings, we try to create family satisfaction.  Family satisfaction has many different ways of being accomplish, in my family satisfaction is achieved by ensuring that everyone in the family has the essential needs, such as: clothes, food, shelter, and all the necessities. We also try to make each other happy, even if it means doing something we are really not interested in.

 Conflicts between family members within any family system are common. Most people lack proper communication skills and speak openly and freely about topics that may make people feel uncomfortable. There are many different types of communication skills that can be used to help manage conflicts. In my family we use more of the horizontal approach: communication through taking turns. I have two younger sisters who just turned eighteen this year. That’s right they are twins and they are girls. Presently, but mostly in the past it was hard to create structure in our home. As a result, my mother came up with the idea to hold a family meeting once a week. These meetings were to talk about chores, grades and anything that we wanted to share with each other. Although, her intentions were good, we still lacked proper communication skills. To fix our communication problem my mother decided to pass around a talking stick. Only the person who had the stick could speak. This was a way for us to communicate without interrupting one another. Unfortunately, this organizational skill did not always work and we often spoke out of turn. This soon created such a problem that we no longer had family meetings and my mom started posting the chore list without allowing anyone’s input.  

            The structure and roles within my family have never been completely defined. Since I was little I have been telling my mom what I was going to do or what I think she should be doing. For example when I was two I put a straw up to my mother’s nose and told her to “suck up this will hurt”.  Remember I was only two! Rationally, I think that my mom is afraid of being “the bad guy”, so she calls it; as a result, she lacks the ability to discipline my younger sisters. Therefore, I often take on the role and responsibilities of my mother; dropping off and picking up my sisters from school, washing everyone’s clothes, cleaning, helping cook dinner, buying things for the house, and going grocery shopping. I feel that her lack of discipline is going to have a big impact on how my sisters grow up or what they chose to do with their lives. It is hard to take on the role of being a mother, but I have learned over time that I am NOT a mom and  I cannot stress myself out because my mom’s lack of discipline towards my sisters.

            The ability that my family has to work together, to help each other and to live happily with one another is astonishing. I know that no matter what I do or say, my family will always be there for me. Most families cannot define what it means to be a family, to have family satisfaction and or be able to adapt and establish rational rules the way my family has been able to. I consider myself very lucky!

Intellectual Perseverance

To define a person’s character, critical-thinkers must have and build upon nine different character traits (confidence in reason, intellectual humility, intellectual courageous, intellectual empathy, intellectual integrity, fair-minded, intellectually engaged, intellectual perseverance, and intellectual autonomous).

 Among the nine traits listed above is intellectual perseverance; intellectual perseverance can be defined as: ones willingness and consciousness to obtain and practice his or her intellectual insights and accuracy despite difficulties, obstacles, and frustrations. In addition to have a firm understanding of his or her rational principles despite oppositions from others, one must overcome resisting confusion and breach unsettling questions in order to achieve a deeper understanding or insight and arrive at a desired conclusion.

Intellectual perseverance is the beginning stage of thinking, in this stage one starts to notice associated problems in his or her thinking, but is deficient in the information needed to reveal solutions. Most problems are not easily solvable and can sometimes be complex in nature. Intellectual perseverance presents a person the ability to work though such complexities despite related complication and/or frustrations he or she may encounter. For example: In my UCF Cornerstone class, intellectual perseverance was essential to understanding how to effectively manage multiple related activities without affecting the quality of the experience each of my team member received.

Partnering with Marine Recourse Counsel, a non-profit organization in Brevard County, our team chose to participate in the activities highlighted below:

1.      Mangrove beach cleanup: to collect mangrove propagules off the shore of a local beach and to provide a safe housing.

2.      Removal of invasive species from Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

3.      Planting of native species at The Museum of History and Natural Science, Cocoa FL.

You can view the results of our efforts by visiting: http://titusvilleshorelinerestoration.weebly.com

As team leader, intellectual perseverance gave me the ability to:

·         Manage each of the above listed activities

·         Correspond with Marine Recourse Counsel

·         Assigning and delegate associated tasks for each project

·         Solve all unresolved problems

Summarized below is the lessons learned from my UCF Capstone project; highlighting the team’s intellectual perseverance.

For each major phase of the project, identified below is what worked, what didn’t work, and ways our team could have improve.
Project Phase/Task	What Worked	What Didn’t Work	Ways to Improve
Propagule Pick-Up	Meeting everyone at a central location and carpooling. Cut down on cost into the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge	Walking from two ends of the beach and meeting in the middle. The walk was too much for some volunteers	Have checkpoints on the beach were volunteers can drop off findings; not have to carry such heavy loads.
Invasive Species Removal	Removal of the invasive species was successful with the help of Marine Resource Council volunteer	The first site was already cleared from invasive species. Our contact with MRC had to relocate the entire team and our volunteers.	Have a team member volunteer to scout out the area prior to arrival to allow for any last minute changes.
Propagule Planting	We planted 6 new native plants for the Museum of Natural Science	We had planned to plant mangroves out at the Wildlife Refuge, however that was not possible.	Due to last minute changes in planting location, out team was not familiar with the types of plants we would be working with. We did not have any control over this.
Recruiting Volunteers	Reaching out to the local cub scouts and boy scouts	Posting flyers around BCC and UCF at both Titusville and Cocoa locations.	Recruit volunteers from all generations; to educate both children and adults.
String Activity	Having Marine Resource Council there to assist with recognizing the invasive species	We were successful with this activity	Allow volunteers to become familiar with the invasive species prior to arriving for the activity so they can actively point out the invasive species.
Targets analysis: How effective was the project/team?
Achieve goals and meet project objectives? We were able to effectively meet all of our goals and objectives.
Meet deadlines? We met all of our target deadlines by staying true to our timeline. Most activities were done on the original date assigned; however, we had to push back our planting date due to the shuttle launch.
Monitor and stay within budget? We were able to stay under budget for most activities were based not based on money.
Communicate about the project? We were very effective in communicating. We met after class and on weekends. We also used Grouptable and emails as effective ways of keeping in touch.
Resources assessment: Were the resources allocated to the project (time, money, personnel) appropriate, sufficient, and efficiently used?
Yes, each of our activities had an allotted amount of time. During this time, with the help of 10-15 volunteers, we were able to effectively meet each of our objectives. We collected over 800 mangrove seeds with a goal of 500 and successfully removed 12 Brazilian Pepper trees.
Lessons learned: What are the key lessons learned that can be applied to future projects?
We feel that education was one of the most vital parts of our project. We believe that having the resources to educate people on why these projects are so important is essential to our success.