Post your Progress on Class Observations by Thursday, Oct. 17 at midnight

Hi everyone,

I'd like to know how your class observation process is coming along.  Please comment on this entry with this information:

1. the name of the class you are hoping to observe (like M E 200)
2. the name of the professor you emailed
3. the response you got from this professor (yes, no, no response)
4. what you're planning to do now (you're ready to observe, you need to email your second choice professor, etc.)

Thanks!

Ruth

Class Observation Assignment

All of you have emailed your first choice professor for class observations, and some of you have already heard back that you are allowed to come and observe.  If you haven't heard back from your first choice professor by the end of the day today, email your next choice professor.  You should be asking to observe during the first week of November.

Here is what you will be doing for this class observation project:

1. Before observing:

• Once you figure out which class you're observing, go to the department's website (by searching for it on www.psu.edu). On that departmental website, look for a tab about the degree program that you are pursuing, and find the class description of the class you are taking.  There will probably be a sample syllabus there (like this: http://www.mne.psu.edu/Undergraduate/Curriculum-MECore.html). Print out a copy of this syllabus to take with you to the class and to have as you prepare your presentation.  
• If you are unable to find a syllabus, email the professor you are observing to see if he or she might be able to send you a copy.  
• Also, figure out which building your class will be in and make sure you know how to get there.  

2. During the observation:

• You don't want to be late when you observe your class - try to get there at least 10 minutes early.  
• If the professor is there and doesn't seem too busy, you could go and introduce yourself at the beginning of class.  If the professor seems busy at the beginning, wait until after class to go and introduce yourself.  Don't take too much time doing this - just say your name and that you are the international student who emailed them about observing, and thank them for letting you come.   
• Sit back down in your seat and make sure you have paper to take notes on.  Take notes in three topic areas:
• what is happening in class in terms of activities and material (what topics are covered and how?)
• what the students are doing (how they are interacting with each other and with the professor)
• what the professor is doing (how he or she is interacting with the students)

3. After the observation

• Send an email to the professor you observed thanking them for permitting you to visit their class.
• Prepare for your presentation by looking at the rubric on Angel to make sure that you have information about each area.
• Practice your presentation so that you are ready on Nov. 18 or 20

Homework due Tuesday, Oct. 15 by midnight

I. Extensive Reading Suggestions

1. Post three titles of books you might like to read for fun on your blog.  I will be looking at all of the suggestions and dividing you into groups based on your choices

II. PSU Scavenger Hunt Step 2:

1. Find an article in your field of study! Copy the chart below and post the information in it on your blog by Tuesday at midnight.  You'll also be printing out a copy of the article you found to bring to class with you on Friday.
   1. Go to the Penn State library homepage: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/
   2. Hover over Research at the top (with your cursor), and then choose "Research Guides."
   3. Click on the letter of your field (for example, N for Nutrition).
   4. Take a look through the various tabs (articles, tutorials, books, etc.) to make sure you know all of the options that this research guide gives you.  
   5. Find the name of a librarian who specializes in your field of study and post it in the chart below on your blog.
   6. Choose one of the tabs that gives ideas about how to find articles (for example, choose the tab called "articles and databases").
   7. Click on one of the databases.
   8. Search for a specific topic within your field of study once you are in the database (you may need to log in using your PSU username and password).
   9. Find an article that looks interesting to you, and post the information about it in the chart on your blog.
   10. Email it to yourself
   11. Print it and bring it to class on Wednesday.
   
   

   Name of a librarian who specializes in your field of study
   Title of the article you found
   Author
   Journal name
   Year published
   Database you used to find the article

Work during class on Wednesday, 10/9

I. Professor Email

1. Make a draft of your email to your first choice professor and raise your hand to show Ruth. Here is a sample:

Dear Professor (last name),

I am/My name is (your full name), and I am an international student at Penn State.  I was wondering if it would be possible to observe your (name of class) at (time) on (date) for a class project.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Regards/Best,

(your full name)

1. After Ruth gives you feedback, send your email.  

II. Carbon Footprint Calculator

1. Go to http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/ . This is for the UK, so some things are in different units than we use in the US, but you can answer your general guesses anyway.
2. Answer the questions about your habits in the US.
3. Click next when you finish with each question.
4. Copy your results (how many earths you would need if everyone lived like you) and paste them on your blog, like this:

We would need 2.82 planets if everyone lived your lifestyle

PSU Scavenger Hunt: Step 1!

Hello, 4B!  

Here are your instructions for today's PSU Field of Study Scavenger Hunt!  Remember to find all of the information below and post it on your blog by Tuesday at midnight. 

Step 1: 
Find Classes You'd be Interested in Observing!

1. Go to http://schedule.psu.edu/
2. Choose “University Park” for campus
3. Select whichever subject interests you (preferably your future field of study).
4.  Click on “Additional Search Criteria,” and then scroll down to choose the days of the week and times that work for your schedule
5. Remember that you’ll be able to have Wednesday, November 6 from 9:05-11:05 free, but that you can observe whenever is convenient for you (outside of other IECP classes’ times).
6. Click “Search Courses.”
7. Read through the descriptions to see which classes you think sound interesting.
8. Write down the class names and numbers (for example, BIOL 003), days (MTWRF) times, locations, and the name of the professor. 
9.  Click on the professor’s name for their email address (or search www.psu.edu for with their name (choose “people” next to the search field)).
10. Copy the table below and post the three classes that you would be most interested in observing.

	Class #1	Class #2	Class #3
Class name and number (for ex.: Ag 113)
Days it meets (MTWRF)
Time it meets
Location
Professor’s name
Professor’s email
Reason you’re interested in observing it

Step 2: We'll save this for later this week. :)  Just do step 1 by Tuesday at midnight.

World Café Reflection Questions

Post-World-Café Reflections: Copy and paste these questions to post on your blog and answer them by Tuesday, 10/1 at midnight.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you think!

1. How did you feel about your discussion experience?  What did you enjoy and what was difficult?

2. Which letter from #5 on page 1 of the worksheet was hardest to decide in your group? Why do you think it was the hardest?

       a: "most possible for me to do in the same situation" -> "least possible"
       b: "most likely to be remembered in the future" --> "least likely"
       c: "most affected/changed by their experience" --> "least affected"
       d: "most courageous" --> "least courageous"

3. Was it easy or difficult to come to agreements with your groups?  What made it easy and what made it challenging?

4. Were you happy with your group’s definition of courage?  What would you like to change, if anything?

Unit 2 Reflection Questions

Thanks to Hamad, Daniel, and Fahad for a great presentation on Friday!  I think it helped us all think about what life might be like on another planet.

Here are some questions that I'd like you to think about and answer on your own blogs.  Please copy and paste these into your own new blog post and publish your answers to your blog by the end of the day on Tuesday, Sept. 17.  I'm interested to see what you think!

1. Do you think humans will need to move to another planet?  Why or why not?

2. If it does happen that some humans move to another planet, would you volunteer to go?  Why or why not?

3.  Read this article about people who have signed up to move to Mars: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/09/tech/innovation/mars-one-applications/index.html  What is your reaction to this story?

4. What do you think Ray Bradbury wanted the readers of "All Summer in a Day" to understand?  What did you think after reading this story?

Eyal Press Lecture (Sept. 9, 2013)

Several students went to Eyal Press' lecture on September 9 and I have compiled their observations and reactions below (each color represents a different student).  Thanks for sharing!

Main point:
- telling people's stories about standing up for your rights; gives you confidence to stand up for what you believe in; he is really confident
- He focused on one main point, which was having courage!  In other words, to say something different than others do.
- Sometimes life makes you pick between choices just like the ones in the story.
- He was describing the characters he chose (why did he choose them? people who defied authority, defended their conscience)
- Press' main idea, in my view, is to make all readers understand the real situation of each character, or each person who made so tough choice at that moment.
- Why he wrote the book and why he chose these people

Something you agreed or disagreed with him about:
- I agree that even if you are alone, you should do what you believe in, not what everyone does
- I agree with him that we need such a kind of person that he mentioned in his book in order to change our world from good to better.  Those people are considered game changers.
- I agreed with him almost on everything especially the main point.
- I disagreed with him about Edward Snowden.  He is not a good man because he showed private information.
- I agreed with all of them, the characters both in the book and in the lecture, are in a specific condition.
- I agree with him in everything

A question you would like to ask him:
- What made him think to write the book?
- If he were Edward Snowden? Would he do the same as Edward did?
- Which person does he feel neutral about?
- I wonder about his indication of the characters as "heroes" who were pushed by different driving forces but it looks like got the same result.
- If he had a chance to meet Snowden, would he meet him?

Description of what it was like to be there:

Estimated number of people in the audience	~100, 150, 150-250, 300, >300, ~350
Average age of people in the audience	freshmen, 18-25, <25, 25,  20-30, 30
How the audience acted during the lecture	- quiet, disciplined, interested - quiet and listened carefully - interested and thrilled - interacting - listening carefully - they were good listeners
What the auditorium looked and felt like	-it would be scary to stand in front of all these seats, it is really huge - it looked like a very formal place and I felt like I was a critic - very quiet and interested - he was a little confused
Your reaction to tonight’s event	- it was amazing, I got excited on the things you believe in, it gave me hope - it was a really nice and good experience to present such a kind of lecture, especially since it was in English - educating - it gave me a chance to know some new characters - thinking about the meaning of one man fighting against all - I was very happy because I didn't miss a lecture like this

Welcome to 4B Reading!