In Which Amy Sees the Light... (Myspace Blog)

Ah! (That was a long sigh of relief, in case you were wondering...)

Chemistry test #3 is done. I don't actually think I did too shabbily, considering how difficult I find the class, and by extension, how much I dislike it. I made out with a B, I believe.

Plus, all these group projects are almost done also... One paper tomorrow, one presentation Saturday, the last presentation next Thursday.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is a forthcoming end to this semester. Huzzah.

Following presentations, all I'll have to do is 1 take home final in one class (The Saturday one, which always seems to cramp my style), 1 test and the final in another class, more revisions and rewriting in English, and the end of classes and final in chemistry. While it sounds like a lot when I list it, it certainly doesn't feel like a lot.

I have to hang onto the fact that I am, really, almost done. With the semester, and with my Bachelors degree, too. I often think that I am never going to finish... that there is so much else I would rather be doing, that I would be more productive and a better parent were I to concentrate on things besides school. I must not give into such bullshit! I have to finish this degree, then into the Master's program, where maybe I'll feel like I am making a difference. Or, I hope, anyway.

So this is my affirmation for the day... I am almost done with the semester... I just have to finish and then I can take a break before I do it all over again. It feels like I'm sprinting... but the finish line is so close... I just have to not quit.

Breathe, Amy, breathe...

In Which Amy Admits to "Community Learning"... (Myspace Blog)

I am taking Chemistry this semester. I am not entirely sure that my decision was a sound one, but it needed to be done considering the fact that this class is 1 of 2 that I have failed in my entire college career (The second being an English class that I never went to...) The problem? Ohmygod do I hate chemistry.

The most amusing part of the whole situation is the fact that, originally, many years ago, I wanted to be a biochemist. What was I thinking?

So, part of my chemistry class is a lab. I have a lab partner, a lab drawer, a lab book, a lab notebook, and lab glasses. I'm apparently not yet cool enough for a lab coat... I'll get there. Oh, wait... I am NEVER TAKING CHEMISTRY AGAIN! I /won't/ get there. Yay!

But I digress. Not only do I have all those nifty lab gadgets, but I also have lab reports, due weekly, over things that we have not yet learned about. Without fail, I cannot answer at least some of the questions. Without fail, neither can my lab partner or many of my other classmates. So we have invented a wonderful solution... community learning.

As a critical pedagogist, I see community learning as a valuable tool in the classroom. Put a group of peers together, give them a problem, and let them alone to solve it between themselves. However, most teachers in the college setting look down their noses at such learning environments. But it works, as shown by my 95 in this lab class. When I don't know the answer, I find someone else in the class that does. Simple.

My daughter, upon hearing this, screamed in delight, "Mom, you're cheating!" No - community learning, I tell her. "Well, does your teacher /know/ about it?" Well - no... but it is still not cheating. Community learning. Yeah.

I'm going to go share my answers now...