Our Last Posts: #3 - A Concept That Need Clarity

The concept that I would like to have more thorough explanation on is chapter 12 of our textbook. The whole chapter is on science and I didn’t really feel like it should have been a whole chapter of the book. I don’t know if anyone else felt this way but it felt out of place. I get some of the arguments and debate that arise because of the science community, but I don’t think I completely got the clear message about how it directly related to learning critical thinking concepts. I wish that I would have been able to relate the ideas in this chapter to critical thinking because it is what my major will deal with. I will use methodology, experiments, and hypothesis reasoning while in nursing school and once I start my career as a nurse. I just wish I had a better understanding of the main reason for the publisher inserting this chapter into a critical thinking textbook and the importance of it given the subject.

Our Last Posts: #1 - What have you learned in this course?

The cover of our textbook says, “critical thinking and logic skills for everyday life,” and that is exactly what I feel I have learned this semester. I feel like I have learned how to better communicate using reasoning so that my communication with others is rational and just better. I think that the concept I liked learning about most was how emotion really affects all daily communication. It is good to be able to put that concept into perspective as I finish my time at San Jose State. I think that students are affected by their emotions regularly because it is a sensitive time in life where stress, lack of sleep, and pressure set in. I think that if I can keep this concept with me, then I will be more successful. The aspect of this class that challenged me the most was working in groups for our projects. I grew in communicating with other to get the projects done well.

Our Last Week to Post: #2 - Likes/Dislikes

My favorite part of this class was how easy it is to communicate with our instructor and how consistent the course work is. We knew every that we would have 3 posts and 3 comments every week, a test every few weeks, and 3 group projects. Sticking with the syllabus so closely helped me plan easily and finish my work. My least favorite part of this class was the group projects. Because this is an online course, it was really difficult to get in touch with all the group members and meet up for 3 assignments. Students take online classes for a reason usually because they live out of town or have scheduling conflicts, which means that finding time to get together with a group is difficult. I did not like having a big portion of our grade rely on group work. Maybe if this was a real time course it would have been okay to do group projects in this fashion and weighted heavily, but I really did not care for that structure of our grade. Overall, I really liked this course.

Week #14- Question #2: Observation

One time I was spending the night at a friends house and we were having a huge girly sleepover. All of my best friends were there for my birthday celebration. I was really excited to be able to spend time with them. We were all hanging out in the living room and I had to go to the restroom. When I was walking down the hall I over heard them talking about me and they were whispering. I couldn't exactly make out what they were saying but when I entered the room everyone went silent. I figured they had to be talking badly about me and my feelings were really hurt. I tried to act like nothing was wrong and I pulled my best friend aside and asked her what everyone was talking about, but she wouldn't tell me. I was even more hurt and felt crushed, but the night went on. They decided we were all going to get something to eat and I was irritated but agreed. When we got to the restaurant we all walked into a big room and all of my other friends and family were there to surprise me. I was shocked! I was so excited and my friend finally told me that the surprise is what they were talking about while whispering. My observations had lead me to believe that they had been talking badly. But, after careful evaluation and deciding to trust them and test them out, the conclusion was that they weren't talking badly they were planning a surprise party for. You always have to be careful and not believe something solely off of observations.

Week #14- Question #1- Horoscopes

Saturday, Nov 17, 2012 -- Sometimes you exhibit more compassion for others than you do for yourself. Fortunately, you can be a great friend for someone you want to get to know better by offering calm and practical advice today. Remember, some of the difficulties you've recently had are now your most powerful sources of insight. Integrating your own experiences into the present moment empowers you to communicate with more conviction.

I think that these predictions of my day are definitely falsifiable. The horoscope says  that I “can be a great friend for someone who wants to get to know me,” but I spent all day home doing homework and catching up on thing that solely revolved around myself. I went to see my grandma who has known me my whole life and I didn’t give anyone any advice today. The fact that it says that, “some of the difficulties I have faced recently are now my most powerful sources of insight,” is a little ridiculous. Everyone goes through difficulties and if you look at your life trying to find a difficulty then you will most likely find one. So, this means that when someone reads this they apply this to whatever may be difficult in their life at the time. But, because it is not specific, anyone could read this and relate. The last part of this horoscope is also ridiculous. Anytime that you integrate your own experience into the present and apply your own experience while giving advice, you will communicate with more conviction. Communication and advice is best when it comes from someone else’s personal experience and most people give advice and use this in the communication every day. All of this has nothing to do with being a Pisces, it has to do with being a human.

Week #13- Question #2- Internet Plagiarism

Because the Internet is so complex, plagiarism is something that is so easy for students to do. The "copy" and "paste" feature on a computer allows for students to plagiarize in seconds. I definitely agree with Sadler in that colleges should stick to their rule and enforce plagiarism. I think it would be crazy for schools to take using a computer and Internet for assignments and go back to to life without it. As technology advances, our schools need to follow to keep up with the times. Our next generations need to be using the Internet. I agree with Sadler in her argument because I think she is more persuasive and uses better examples. I think that schools should stick to using software services to detect plagiarism. But, getting rid of Internet use for assignments would limit the upward mobility of schools. As long as schools stick to their policy and take action when plagiarism is caught, I think that using the Internet is very important.

Week #13- Question #3: News Bias

I thought that one of the most interesting topics in our reading this week was the topic of “Bias in the News.” In school we are always taught to research and check our sources to make sure they are valid. We are taught that there is bias in everything that is reported and to always look at multiple sides to validate our research. The only problem is that with news, we usually just accept what we are told. I usually take the information I hear from news channels lightly but I never actually take the time to research the top stories that stand out to me. This topic has challenged me to think about the positions different news channels take and why they use those approaches. This section says that news sources will avoid airing or printing stories so that they don’t offend their sponsors. It also says that another source of bias in news reporting in gender bias. I think that this chapter has opened up my eyes to news sources and their bias and I think it will expand our awareness.