Introduction – Technology and Literature

My name is Lauren Jackson, although I usually go by Wren. I began college at Lewis and Clark Community College and got my associate’s degree there. Then I transferred to SIUE and started in spring 2018. I just entered my senior year at SIUE and will (Hopefully) be graduating in December 2019. I commute to school from Alton and work as a massage therapist at Jerseyville so I tend to be in a car a lot. I was interested in this class because I think it will be interesting to make connections between technology and literature. I am not especially skilled with technology, however with its increase in daily life I am looking forward to learning more about it in this class. Also I didn’t realize this when I signed up, but it will be interesting to have a class with a more experimental structure.

One aspect of this class that I find interesting is the use of collaborative learning rather than just following directions or listening to a lecture. While I am a person who is used to classes with lectures and assignments, I am interested in the different approach. Also I have been in two other classes with Professor DeSpain and I enjoy her teaching style. Specifically, in my online class with her in the summer we used WordPress quite a bit so I was able to get used to publishing blogs, leaving comments, and navigating the website. One thing that makes me excited, but also nervous is the allowance for failure and figuring out how to solve a problem without having something or someone tell you what to do. I am nervous because I tend to be a perfectionist and want to be successful the first time (which isn’t necessarily realistic). However I am also excited because this form of learning will help me not only learn more about technology but will also help me to develop problem-solving techniques.

There are some parts I am more anxious about. One aspect is that there will be a lot of group work. The introvert in me squirms at those two words. Also the fact that the class is so small and I can’t really hide kind of freaks me out as well. I know that it can be beneficial, but it is something that I still have a difficult time with. Another aspect is I don’t think I have ever done a grade contract. It sounds familiar, but I don’t remember making one to determine a class grade. For some people I am sure that system seems great, but I am so used to grades being assigned that this feels strange. Making a contract freaks me out because I tend to set higher standards than what is realistic. I will definitely need to look over my contract and make sure that it pushes me to do well without being unrealistic. Finally, an aspect that is both a blessing and a curse is being self-disciplined. Having some flexibility with assignments and scheduling can be a great thing. However, I have also had times where it ends up with me putting things together at the last minute.

To be honest I am still a little nervous about the class. But I also think this will be a great opportunity to take some steps out of my comfort zone and learn more about a subject that I don’t know much about.

5 Comments

molwils

January 22, 2019 at 8:20 pm

Hey there! I am a transfer student too! 🙂 We also seem to be anxious about a lot of the same things. Generally, I too hate group work. I am absolutely terrified of the grading contract, as well! I think in the end it might be a good thing, but the idea of it still makes me incredibly anxious. I am pretty nervous about the self-discipline aspect of the class as well. It is something that I greatly struggle with. It’s nice to meet you though, and I look forward to getting to know you this semester!

wschmid

January 25, 2019 at 2:56 am

Hi, Wren. It’s nice to see a fellow Altonian(?), Altonite(?), neighbor. New technology can be intimidating. Remember that it will only do what you tell it (unless it’s poorly coded/built) and there’s almost always in ‘undo’ button. I’m glad that there is an expected failure rate built in to the class. We learn more from failing with new things than we ever could by a single success. By having experience with WordPress, you are a big step ahead of me. This is my first time using it. I’m a bit hesitant to dive-in headlong and try new features. I’d rather not end up accidentally posting some random drivel that I was expecting to be my playing around with new software. I’ll see you in class.

gaellis

January 25, 2019 at 9:04 am

Hey Wren,
I’ve also taken classes at Lewis and Clark before. My mom is one of the counselors there so it seemed pretty convenient. Like you, I tend to be someone who always tries to get things right on the first try, which is what makes me a bit nervous about the assignments we have. I also did not used to like group work very much, but I find that as long as everyone does their fair share and tries to compromise, then things usually go smoothly. I am excited to be in class with you this semester and to get to know you better!

kcookso

January 26, 2019 at 3:58 am

Hi Wren,
I am also a transfer student. It was quite the switch for me, before SIUE I was at Southeast Missouri State so it is really a very different area and a different atmosphere. I transferred to SIUE because it was closer to home, last semester my commute was an hour and half twice a week and an hour to work three days a week. I was always in my car and was pretty much a walking zombie! But I have moved a bit closer to school and work now so it is only a half hour drive to both work and school. So I am more of a human now and can focus on school a bit more. The technology has also been quite the switch for me, at SEMO we used a website called Moodle instead of Blackboard. So it was a little nerve wrecking starting out here in higher level courses while trying to relearn a new website. So hopefully with having just learned a new website, I can learn this one quickly too!

cmorone

February 6, 2019 at 2:06 am

Hey Wren! I, too, will be graduating in December! I agree that, while collaborative learning is a different learning style than we as students are used to, it will be good experience for us to expand our horizons. Also, I am quite the introvert as well, so group work sounds scary to me sometimes. When this happens, though, something in me just turns me into a more extroverted person for the sake of getting work done. I look forward to working with you in class, and hope your anxiety about this class will come to a halt soon.

molwils

January 22, 2019 at 8:20 pm

Hey there! I am a transfer student too! 🙂 We also seem to be anxious about a lot of the same things. Generally, I too hate group work. I am absolutely terrified of the grading contract, as well! I think in the end it might be a good thing, but the idea of it still makes me incredibly anxious. I am pretty nervous about the self-discipline aspect of the class as well. It is something that I greatly struggle with. It’s nice to meet you though, and I look forward to getting to know you this semester!
wschmid

January 25, 2019 at 2:56 am

Hi, Wren. It’s nice to see a fellow Altonian(?), Altonite(?), neighbor. New technology can be intimidating. Remember that it will only do what you tell it (unless it’s poorly coded/built) and there’s almost always in ‘undo’ button. I’m glad that there is an expected failure rate built in to the class. We learn more from failing with new things than we ever could by a single success. By having experience with WordPress, you are a big step ahead of me. This is my first time using it. I’m a bit hesitant to dive-in headlong and try new features. I’d rather not end up accidentally posting some random drivel that I was expecting to be my playing around with new software. I’ll see you in class.
gaellis

January 25, 2019 at 9:04 am

Hey Wren,
I’ve also taken classes at Lewis and Clark before. My mom is one of the counselors there so it seemed pretty convenient. Like you, I tend to be someone who always tries to get things right on the first try, which is what makes me a bit nervous about the assignments we have. I also did not used to like group work very much, but I find that as long as everyone does their fair share and tries to compromise, then things usually go smoothly. I am excited to be in class with you this semester and to get to know you better!
kcookso

January 26, 2019 at 3:58 am

Hi Wren,
I am also a transfer student. It was quite the switch for me, before SIUE I was at Southeast Missouri State so it is really a very different area and a different atmosphere. I transferred to SIUE because it was closer to home, last semester my commute was an hour and half twice a week and an hour to work three days a week. I was always in my car and was pretty much a walking zombie! But I have moved a bit closer to school and work now so it is only a half hour drive to both work and school. So I am more of a human now and can focus on school a bit more. The technology has also been quite the switch for me, at SEMO we used a website called Moodle instead of Blackboard. So it was a little nerve wrecking starting out here in higher level courses while trying to relearn a new website. So hopefully with having just learned a new website, I can learn this one quickly too!
cmorone

February 6, 2019 at 2:06 am

Hey Wren! I, too, will be graduating in December! I agree that, while collaborative learning is a different learning style than we as students are used to, it will be good experience for us to expand our horizons. Also, I am quite the introvert as well, so group work sounds scary to me sometimes. When this happens, though, something in me just turns me into a more extroverted person for the sake of getting work done. I look forward to working with you in class, and hope your anxiety about this class will come to a halt soon.