Wk 2 Comment1: Golda Lawson-Cohen

Original Post for Golda Lawson-Cohen found Here and below.

wk2 comment #1: Golda Lawson-Cohen

It’s all invented and the 9 dot puzzle got me thinking how linear I sometimes get when trying to figure out a solution to a problem. This holds true when I am working on keeping motivated on something. It doesn’t matter what that something is but thinking outside the box helps in solving how to keep that motivation going even when I feel less motivated because I tell myself that the choice is to do it now and get it done or do it later and have it over my head.
Another story I would like to share is when I had the opportunity to teach small local college computer applications. With the start of each class, I would have students so worried about their GPAs that they would have a terrible time in focusing on the material that was being taught. At first, I would attempt to calm them down with saying, “you do the work, and you will get the A.” After reading the chapter about “Giving an A” I realized that if I just gave them the A that they wanted the course would have gone smoother. It is in retrospect that I realize that administration would not care for this idea. So starting out with the A and having points taken off would probably show the student that if they worked hard the A would still be there ev

en with a few points taken off and that they were human. Somehow

, it would be a win-win situation. Administration would get what they wanted and the student would have less stress knowing that they had the A to start with and it would be up to them to keep it. This is definitely a spinoff of what our book has to say. I found it a good compromise.

Response to Golda Lawson-Cohen's post found HERE and below:

Golda, I enjoyed that you put your own spin on the chapters by telling us a story which affected you. I have also found that when you start the students all off with an A they tend to start the course off with a little more drive than when you stat everyone off with zeros. I always tell my class at the beginning of the semester that everyone is starting on the same playing field and the A is theirs to lose. When my lower  grade students hear this they perk up because many of them have never thought of themselves as being capable of earning an A, so knowing they have one they really do work harder to keep it.