Week 10

This week I have learned what is useful information and what isn't. Although it's easy to find a lot of interesting things on the internet, I've learned that without a reference it means nothing. It could have been made up if it's not supported or backed up on real facts. I suppose I have always been told this but like Thom said in class, sometimes we are told something over a million times but we do not soak it in until we are ready to learn.

On a different topic I have learned that we need to pay more attention to the information that is being handed to us about what is for homework. Everyone seemed to be confused this week even after having a major discussion on the issue, but it's all a matter of focus and paying attention. I still enjoy the topic of Pirates and I love the group I was put in. I've learned it takes a lot of time to research something and you need a lot of patience or else you won't do your best.

You can't give up!!!

Yarr!

This week was also about pirates, along with the rest of the term and I am very excited for it. We learned more on how to research our questions and we are narrowing our questions down to one major subject to study. Myself along with a few other people are going to research how Captain Hook has changed through the media, and everything that comes along with him. It seems like a great topic to allow all of us to learn more about pirates; real and fake.

Week 8

Last week seemed to be a big change for me because we went back to our old routine with all three teachers in the classroom instead of teaching their individual subjects. I like learning in Aquinas both of these ways but miss the classes individually. On Tuesday we were all given a great suprise and everyone seemed to really enjoy it, we were told that we would be learning more about pirates! Inkshedding about what we already knew about piracy, etc was extremely hillarious and everyone had a lot of fun.

We were given an article to read on pirates and we brainstormed questions on the white board. Once everyone chose a question to further research we brought our finding's back to the class on Thursday. It was difficult for the majority of us to find what we wanted exactly so on Thursday we learned better ways of finding answers, and the material we are looking for. Although we weren't actually talking about pirates on Thursday it was still good to learn how to search for information.

Week 6

I have learned so much from the last two classes that I'm not too sure what to think of it all. In Religious studies we watched an awesome video that taught me all about Buddhism and how they live each day so full and grateful. I think their religion is very understandable and is very similar to my views towards life and it's obstacles. I took a lot of notes from this movie, I'm very excited to see where we go with it.

In english it is, as Brittany Arsenault said, not moving very fast. Doubt has it's many discussion's and idea's but how far can we actually go with it. I understnad that Doubt is a major topic to even glance at, but the play however can only be reviewed so many times before it gets old. I thought that my views have changed a bit on the play after reading about Shanley. I have learned much about him as to why he wrote the play and his beliefs on nun's and preist's. This actually made me change my thoughts on who was innocent, on right and wrong in general.

In journalism we finished the series "College Days and College Nights", it was extremely funny and I'm sad it's over. We started to watch a movie on paparrazi which is also very funny and informative. My interview with Brittany went awesome and we both have so much to write about although our recorded interviews are on her computer and won't send to me so I'm not sure what we will do. This week was very interesting overall and I'm looking forward to my next Occassion at the Playhouse tuesday night!

Week Five.

Reflecting on what I have learned so far is easy to tell you that this class makes me want to pull my hair out, but try and see this in a good way. Before, during, and after class my mind is constantly thinking. Aquinas hasn't failed to give me a headache twice a week yet! We read, we write, we discuss, and we fight; the fighting is the best part. Reading through everyone's learning blog's, Brittany A and Brittany M's blogs really fit with my outlook on this course. Although I love to read and write, we haven't moved off of the topic of Doubt yet. Each prompt allows me to explore my own opinions and beliefs. The discussion we have after bringing our assignments in also help me open up with how I feel. I love what this class teaches me which is to explore your thoughts and opinions, but it seems to be getting pretty repetitive.

Journalism without a doubt is my favourite class, but Russ and Thom, don't get offended, journalism is what I have always been interested in. I'm excited for our turning point presentations next week and I feel this will help everyone understand each other a little more. Each and every one of us has gone through something in their lives which causes us to believe, feel, doubt, and do what we do. This is going to bring our class together if it hasn't already. Aquinas is a great place for us to get what we have on our minds and say it aloud or write it down through ink shedding.

We can't force ourselves to stop thinking, but Aquinas forces us to think ten times harder.

Learning Blog 2

I will regretfully say that I have lost my memory in terms of remembering to write a learning journal each week, sorry.

Let me start by saying that Thom, Russ, and Michael, you were right. I have not done this much writing in my entire life, but there are no complaints here! I love this course and I have been learning so much at every class.

The Rwandan war criminal (old topic, I know) was a very interesting assignment to start the year off on. I can't remember the last time I have ever been so interested to just find an answer. The subject of Rwanda alone can be explored forever, let alone war crimes, criminals, justice, etc. I have learned many researching skills and techniques to finding what I want through libraries, books, and of course the world wide web.

Doubt was by far my favourite lesson learned. Experiencing a play for school was a dream come true for me, I wasn't only reviewing it as an assignment but I was enjoying every moment. I've learned more about religion through this play as well as english and journalism perspectives.

Now that we are officially divided into our classes it has cleared a lot of things up for me like how to look at things differently in one class from the next. Three classes back to back include a lot of information in one run of a day. I feel that each assignment is worth doing because it not only teaches others of your understanding but it allows you to understand better yourself.

I'm not sure if i'm making any sence at all but what I mean to say is that by writing personal opinionated reflections with many of the things we read, it gives everyone a greater understanding and an important discussion at the end of the day.

What I’ve learned in Truth in Society

I’ve learned that this is a very open class and I’ll be asked to share my thoughts and opinions everyday, all day. I have always been comfortable writing and reading what I write instead of speaking on the spot about what first enters my mind. I don’t work well under pressure but I know I will get used to it. I have learned that we all have things in common in the class, reading and writing is an obvious one, but we also get along great so far and I know I’ll be able to rely on them when I need to and vice versa.

I have learned more than what was “taught”, what I mean is when I’m reading someone’s work for example I learn new things about writing skills, different ways to look at things, and also more about the writer, like how they think and feel. By doing this a lot in Truth in Society it teaches me how to open up, not just with my self conscious ways of expressing myself under pressure, but how to let my opinions and thoughts explore. Reading my classmates work encourages me to push to my best ability because everyone is so good at writing. I want to be the best I can be and with everyone’s talents, opinions, advice, and friendships, I can easily “learn” to be the best that I can be.