Entries in the Category "MGMT250"
What does an A student look like?
This post isn't directly related to in-course work, but I share it because it was sparked by 2 comments I heard or overheard MGMT 250 students make today during grading contract meetings:
1. "I am going to contract for a B. I am not that smart, and I think anything more than a B will overwhelm me."
2. "I have to work really hard. I am not as smart as everyone else, but I know where my strengths and weaknesses are, and I work hard."
First of all, I believe that both of these comments show an admirable degree of self-awareness, which is something we are trying to work on in MGMT 250. Secondly, however, I wonder if both of these students weren't selling themselves short. I would like to offer my own two-cents about what it takes to be a good student. I will do so with a story and then a little commentary afterwards.
STORY:
I was the salutatorian of my high school class. The student who finished first was a really hard worker. She did all of her homework. She was organized. She studied a lot for the tests. I was the opposite. Since 4th grade I had stopped doing 90% of my homework at home. I did most of my homework during other classes on the day the work was due. I was the character walking to tests with my classnotes in my hands, trying to cram at the last minute. Most of my organization came from external sources: mom, my basketball schedule, friends who wanted to study in groups, etc.
On school tests, we both tended to get perfect scores. On the SATs, however, I did very much better. "PROOF!" I thought, that I was the better student. I felt somewhat disgruntled to finish second in class rank, but I felt some sort of pride in knowing that I had done much less schoolwork overall and that the SAT told me I was "smarter."
I don't know how my former classmate did in college, though I am willing to bet that those excellent grades kept rolling in. I, however, was confronted by a massive lack of external structure, poor habits I had spent years perfecting, and a sudden fear that maybe I wouldn't be able to catch up. Workwise, college was a major struggle for me, and I soon came to realize that my high school's valedictorian certainly had the superior approach for student success. Brains may be a big part of being successful in school, but hard work and organization are must-have's.
COMMENTARY:
The above story is not subtle, so I will focus here on the questions that it raises for me:
- what does a successful student look like? to what extent can hard work and organization overcome "intellectual deficiencies"?
- when we think about success, what are we thinking in relation to? "how successful am I compared to my classmates?", "how successful am I compared to what I am capable of achieving?", "how successful am i compared to what others expect me to be?"
- how much should grades define the student experience? to what extent do extracurricular activities/interests and other relationships shape who we are and where we will go one day? I feel that I had a rich, well-rounded and relatively very happy high school experience, but I was also unknowingly developing skills that I have spent the next 10 years un-learning and re-tooling.
To bring this full circle, let me say that I am happy that MGMT 250 allows students to reflect on some of these ideas in terms of yourselves as college students in transition to adult lives. While I don't believe there is one right answer to any of the questions I posted above, I do believe that grappling with these questions is fundamental to how we shape our identities and self-esteem.
Lastly, to the 2 students I heard today, let me assure you that knowing yourselves and working hard put you in a better place for success than you might realize. You both strike me as exemplary students by any standards.
Welcome to MGMT 250 Blogging
I suppose my title is for all of us: you and me. This is my first post for the semester, and I am looking forward to hearing from everyone in all three sections of MGMT 250, since I will be facilitating the blog experience for every section of the class this fall.
For me personally, I consider relevance and respect the two most important components of a blog:
Relevance not only in that what you post is related to the course, but also-- and perhaps most imporantly-- in that what you post reflects information that resonates within you. Perhaps there was a comment you didn't get to make in class, perhaps you had an epiphany or discovered a new lens for analyzing issues, perhaps an aspect of the coursework has sparked an emotional reaction upon which you want to reflect, etc.
Respect for me is acknowledging that any MGMT250 blog will be read by instructors and peers affiliated with the class. Keep this audience in mind. Also, I expect and hope that, at times, classmates will make comments with which you disagree. I see these areas of difference as great opportunities for conversation and learning. I encourage you to honor and attempt to understand others' opinions and diversity when sharing your own ideas or comments.
Aside from tracking the blog progress, I will also be posting my own impressions of the course, the readings, the assignments, etc., and I welcome comments from you on any of my postings.
If you have any questions or suggestions, you can find me here or via any of the contact info presented to you on the syllabus or on Blackboard.
I look forward to reading your posts this semester!
-Meredith