If anybody has entered the IA with the most doubts, it would be me. I am what you describe as a learner who prefers tests over projects. Most of the times, I disliked giving other people feedback, I felt it was a waste of their time and mine and that they’re better off getting feedback from a teacher. I believed in grades and following a concrete rubric. You might be asking yourself, why did she join the IA? Up until two months ago I would have answered, “I still have no idea”.
Now I answer with the clearest explanation: I joined the IA because I prefer test, dislike giving others feedback and believe in just grades. You see, I needed the IA in order to change these things I had locked in my brain, so I unconsciously joined the program to change my perspective on learning. I would have never thought about it in this way until recently. As being an editor for the magazine, it was my duty to give feedback to others, but at times I’d find myself really taking my free time to work on somebody else’s article. At these times I was being what you would call a giver, and it felt good. I’ve never experienced the feeling of helping somebody reach their success, but it gives me pride in my work and others. Before the IA, it was about me, me and me. What can I do to outshine the rest? Being part of this magazine has shown me what true collaboration really feels like. It’s not easy or simple, it quite the opposite. You get frustrated and at times you just don’t want to do it, but everything changes when you all have one goal. The goal to create a perfect product that will be worth all the work. That goal kept us together, that goal reminded me why I was staying after school helping someone out or pulling 3 hour Skype calls, giving my peers feedback. I would have never thought I could grow so much as a learner AND a person, and I’m proud to say I would not have gotten that in the other program. There’s something challenging and fascinating about working on the same article for three months. My article would not have been the same after the first prototype and I think every single person in my class would say the same. We strived for perfection and I truly believe we reached it. I can now stand in a large crowd and have more confidence when I speak. I can write up a blog post in 30 minutes whereas last semester it would have taken me more than an hour. I can give pages of feedback and enjoy every minute of it. I’m surprised by how much my brain has grown this year and I can’t believe I’m just figuring this out now. Although I will not be joining the IA next year, the skills I learned and the person I’ve become will stay with me forever.
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2016
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