Morning Pages: July 17, 2002

My writings thus far have been scattered, haphazard and I'm not certain if they are leading me anywhere or not. Actually, my real interest this summer is looking at the process of social action - or the lack of that process (?) - in the Summer Institute. I'm interested in hearing the teaching stories that come out while we're here - perhaps I'm looking at the critical incidents that occur here.

The topic or issue I'd probably want to explore - if I were to pick one - would be the question of "Why students don't take more responsibility for their learning?" They should, in fact, not only take that responsibility, they should demand taht the power be handed over to them. Who has the right to tell another what they need to learn? I don't know the answer to that - but it is an interesting question.

In a way, this is what my work with Kelly is digging at. The three case studies in my research were selected precisely because they were successful in taking the responsibility for their own learning. What I'm trying to know then is why were these three students able to do that and others weren't? Why were these three ready and the others not?

There's some kind of connection with not worrying about the grade and responsibility. At first I was thinking that I didn'tk now which came first - but now I think that once they surpass the grade issue they are then able to accept that responsibility because then the grade doesn't mean that much - the value being shifted from grade to knowledge and skills.

I'm really feeling sleepy here right now. Keep losing my train of thought - unable to hold even the barest bit of a sentence in my mind! My eyes are crossing as I write because that is ... see another spot where I completely lost the sentence. I'm certain it is quite obvious about where I'm dozing because my handwriting, I'm certain, becomes much messier.

Have a wee bit of a headache this morning.

I love Beth, she is truly a gifted and talented writer - she loves the whole process. I wish I could emulate her in that respect. Did you know that she reminds me of Robin McComas when she writes - she holds her pencil the same and her penmanship is round, like Robin's is.

YAWN

Several people in here write with those skinny leaded pencils and I don't hear pencil leads popping as they do when I use them. I'm all about intensity and pressure - as both person and scribe!

YAWN

Good God, I'm boring myself! No, seriously I think I"m just not getting enouhg sleep. I also just realized that I forgot to wear my patch - perhaps I'm counting on the nicotine as a stimulant and without my patch - no nicotine.

Oh, it is close to time for me to leave. Going to meet Christopher at Dr. Blairs to get his keloid cut off...finally! I've asked him many times and he's always refused. Oh, what a difference a girlfriend makes!