I have a few ideas that I have started working on for projects this semester. Seeing as how my main passion is writing, my projects will definitely reflect the skills within that area, that I have already built up, and will continue to improve on. I would really like to try and find various intersections between my passion in writing and my passions in other areas.
Now that we have reached the point in this program that allows us to fully take our learning into our own hands, I find that a lot of my peers as well as myself are a little hesitant in finding a place to start. Earlier in the week we watched a Ted Talk entitled 'Embrace The Shake'. This particular Talk discussed a lot about limitations and how without them, we can become paralyzed by choice. This is something I believe all ProPEL students should be wary of.
At the beginning of the year the ProPEL students were given the task of redesigning our classroom. After splitting ourselves up into small groups that were each in charge of a specific project, we began to work with large amounts of enthusiasm. We were given alot of freedom in the planning of the room as well as the physical portion of bringing everything together. The room truly looks the way we want it too, and we are all anxious to show off our work on october 8th at our open house.
Wednesdays in the ProPEL classroom are rather full of discussion. Every week we are given a topic based on events currently taking place in the world (such as the Syrian Refugee Crisis), and are then instructed to dissect the subject. after we watch videos and learn a little bit of background information on the topic at hand, we discuss points in our research that we found interesting, or questions that we have about the topic, as well as share our own opinions with each other.
I have always prided myself on being a good student. I am interested in my learning, driven when it comes to work, and easily able to follow instruction. However, recently I have found myself questioning the definition of 'A Good Student'. Now of course a 'good' student must still posess all of the properties that come along with a good work ethic, but in the ProPEL program the individual learning habits of each student are highlighted in such a way that, no single person could fit into a box of either a 'good student' or a "bad student". Instead, we are all learners.
Many people don't really understand what the ProPEL program is. And I'm not going to lie, up until a couple of weeks ago I didn't really understand what it was all about either. After spending a week succumbed in ProPEL's principles and education tactics, it has become very clear to me that ProPEL is about us.
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