The Great Feeling of Completion

I haven't posted for awhile. It seems I've been focused on writing two, 30 page, book reports for my Assessing and Teaching Communication Arts class, and reading about gender communication for my Special Topics class.

The feeling is one of relief now, since I've just submitted my final paper for Gender Communication! I'm officially done with my first semester as a graduate student.

I've survived, I think. It's just a matter of waiting for grades to be posted.

Now it is off to a much needed vacation with my precious family.

Lynelle

Does My Husband Recognize Me?

I've just completed my first week in "Reading in Gender Communications." I like this class, even though I wasn't sure I would.

The content is challenging to read, but very good. The two authors I've read so far, Van Leeuwen and Kramarea (who insidentally, made up her own last name) have been fascinating. I don't quite know what to make of what I've read, but I'm glad for the exposure.

Conversations with my husband are interesting these days. :) Poor guy! I'm reading all of this material on gender communication, plus I'm just finishing the class where we've focused on interpersonal communication. He probably doesn't know what to make of me right now!

I've been trying all kinds of things out--really without meaning too. I've just been remembering things I'm learning as we talk. So far, I think it is good. Hopefully he does too. Perhaps we need some "metacommunication" to find out what he thinks. I'm kind of afraid to ask.

Lynelle

Two 30-page Book Reports Due Soon

Since this is my first semester in Graduate School, everything is new to me. I have not had any reference points, really, for the quality of my classes.

However, I felt from the beginning that I was getting a good deal in COM502 Graduate Seminar. There was a 30 page syllabus--Wow! But, it was clear. I appreciated that.

My other class, Assessing and Teaching Communication Arts has not been so clear. I've been confused from the start on the content of the course since the textbook is an interpersonal communciations text called "Looking Out, Looking In."

While I've enjoyed the content of the book and the discussions and learned a lot already that I'm applying to my life, the class is dissapointing in that it is not addressing the subject matter found in the course description.

I'm also finding thinking about writing two, yes--two, 30 page book reports, with out a grading rubric, overwhelming. I've been reading the books all semester, so that's not the issue. I've just never written something of this length before--let alone without much guidance.

I may say more thoughts about this, after the papers are written.

Lynelle

I Can't Stop Blogging

I found out I really like posting to this blog site. Even though my assignment with COM 502, where I was required to blog twice a week is over, I've decided to continue with it.

Who knows, I may continue blogging throughout my whole post-graduate experience. What's interesting to me is that I thought I would dislike posting to the blog, since I've never been much of a journal keeper.

I like it though! The forum seems to be helpful to me in sharing my thoughts and feelings about what I'm learning and experiencing.

Who will be my audience for these blogs? Probably no one. :) That's alright.

Perhaps someone who is thinking about earning an online degree will read these entries and find them helpful. Who knows!?

So, until next time--I'm off to study at my computer again.

Lynelle

I can IM

I wasn't planning on adding another post during this class, but my experience online tonight demanded it.

I became an IM user. Yes, Instant Messenger and I became companions. It was a whole new experience for me.

Blessings on my classmates, Bob, Brenda and Christi who helped me figure out how to communicate on IM by their great example.

It was a bit confusing having four people all "talking" at the same time, but for the most part we figured it out. We had to go back for clarification a couple of times. Overall, I found it a fascinating study in group interaction--in a whole new medium for me.

I could tell that the others were more familiar with the format. They were quicker and seemed really comfortable. I assume I'll be comfortable with it soon, too.

It was humorous at the end, when I didn't even know how to sign off. We all said "good night" and then I had to ask, "how do I get out of here?"

Our IM chat was a great way to wrap up my experiences in COM 502.

Lynelle

My First Class--Over Already?

It seems almost unbelievable that I am approaching the final week of my first post-graduate (and online) class. What an incredible experience.

I feel like I've entered a whole new world. I think I have.

Just yesterday I was visiting with a friend (and former co-worker) in my family room and gestured toward my desk when I was talking about my classes. I realized by his expression that he was confused by this non-verbal. I have an armoire-style desk, so he couldn't see that my computer was inside. I laughed and explained that the desk and computer are the location of my class in my mind. When I "go to school" it is at my desk.

Right then I realized that I'm forming a bond with my computer and the immediate environment around it. That seems strange, but it makes sense to me.

All of my classmates and professors have become part of this physically small world. It is ironic that this tiny territory opens up into a vast, expansive world of information and knowledge.

How grateful I am for the introduction to graduate school provided by COM502 Graduate Seminar. It has been HARD WORK, and I'm glad. I feel like I've been given tools for the project ahead.

Lynelle

So Glad to Find This Web Site

While I was doing my research for the library research project, I found a web site that I really like. The site is called Christian Cinema.com. It seems to address one of my areas of interest--how we communicate the Christian message through film and television in an effective way. I hope to pursue this topic for my thesis paper eventually.

This is not an "academic" site, but it does include some articles that are well thought out--by film industry professionals. I'm going to enjoy reading more of these, I think.

The site also has information about many different aspects of Christian film production and the availability of films that speak up for my beliefs. I think this will be a good resource professionally and in my personal life.

It includes reviews of films from a Christian perspective and information about new movies that are coming out from Christian producers.

I've book marked this site in my personal web pages and in my folder for future research during my education. I'm excited about it because I think it will be a site to get a lot of use. It may also connect me to other sites of interest, I expect.

Here's the address: http://www.christiancinema.com/

Lynelle