Web Site Web link
Patterson, DeAnna Rose. "A History of Three African-American Women Who Made Important Contributions to Music Education Between 1903 and 1960." OhioLINK ETD Center. Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK, June 2011. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. .

Monday, November 28, 2011

Reflection... (Steeve)

Freshman Seminar was something else. In both good and bad ways, the course ended up benefiting me in several ways. I learned a lot about African-Americans and our history and I learned a lot about Africa and her history as well. In the end, I could just expect a credit for the Afro-American cluster just by taking this course. Along with teaching me much about our history and its significance, Freshman Seminar also got me back into doing research and doing group presentations.
On the other hand, Freshman Seminar taught me a little over nothing about college life and Howard University. I didn't learn how to use the metro trains or buses, how to get a library card, what RSVP points are, what a provost does, who our dean and department chairs are, and the like. I had to learn everything about Howard University from the upperclassmen I met in the Honors program and the organizations I'm involved with at school. Granted, Freshman Seminar's uselessness in this matter has taught me self-reliance and improved my assertiveness. I didn't have to rely on a required course to tell me what to expect from college and professors, how grades work, financial aid tips, how to take an audit course, change a class to pass/fail, take a consortium course or study abroad, and where the school of social work is located. To be honest, I still don't know how to do some of what I've stated, however, I'll figure it out.
In the end, I've become acclimated to the university and learned about African-American history simultaneously. Though I'm not sure how a student who isn't involved in campus life would know how the school works, I'm confident they too will figure it out. I must say though that perhaps I would have made fewer mistakes had Freshman Seminar been there. Say it required at least an hour or 2 of proven study time (a form with a tutor's signature for example) a week so freshmen students don't spend all of their free time playing Call of Duty. Or perhaps the course could have required that students meet with their TAs once a month to discuss their classes and college life and ask any questions. My favorite is always, "what do you wish you had known your freshman year?" That questions seems to always bring up teachers and the administration building, but it helps freshman students to weed out the more secretive details of college life and make less mistakes.

Group Presentations Reflection (Steeve)

I had fun listening to our fellow groups' presentations these past few weeks. Their research into film, race, culture, and the like really helped me see things in a different light. I specifically liked how each group presented differently. The group right after mine, for example, used voice overs and pictures to present their question and conclusions in an interesting way. The Q&A section was also interesting. We discussed Tyler Perry's influence and his work and we discussed the effects of Freshman Seminar on our first year at Howard University.
We did have some problems, however. Each week we had presentations, there was always a problem with technology. The week my group presented, we had to wait for a projector before we could start. When we did receive the projector, we had to spend time trying to get it to work. The following weeks, the other groups didn't get to use a projector. The groups ended up presenting their PowerPoint presentations on their laptop or simply leaving it alone and simply discuss their findings.
Other than the projector, I only really had a problem with how some groups were going over in time. In the second week of presentations, only 1 group presented. In 50 minutes of class, only one group managed to present and they spent almost 20 minutes on it. My group stuck to the rubric's time designation. We spent a little less than 8 minutes presenting and left another 2 minutes to questions and answers. My group surprisingly worked very well together. Our presentation ended up being very well put together, and everyone presented their parts clearly and effectively.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Self-Reflection (through the lens of freshman seminar)


My first semester at Howard University has been an amazing experience. When looked at through the lens of freshman seminar, I can say that it has been interesting. Freshman seminar was not at all like I expected it to be. It was more of an African American studies course, and while I learned a lot, I learned nothing about Howard University or college life. When talking to junior and senior friends I discovered that freshman seminar used to teach freshman how to get around campus, obtain information, get library cards, and basic information that applies to college. The class used to get students acclimated to college life. It has been a full semester and I still do not know what a provost is or what the provost does. I did not learn how to get around D.C. or how to use the metro. In past years freshman seminar taught this. I would say that when observing my first semester of freshman year through the lens of freshman seminar, one could see that it was very difficult. Any information I needed I had to find myself, and after wasted time using the trial and error method I found where I needed to go to get things done. In a way, freshman seminar taught me to be more responsible and to take initiative when it comes to certain things.
            Even though freshman seminar was ineffective at teaching me about college life and what to expect from Howard, it was effective in teaching me more about African Americans, and how we have influenced so many things. However, I feel that if that is going to be the main goal of freshman seminar then the name of the course should be changed, and freshman should receive a African American cluster course credit. I also do  not like how we have to do so much work and it is only a pass or fail course. If we do good on quizzes and presentations that we devote 3-4 weeks to, we only get a P or an F. And then to make it more interesting if we receive a F, the grade lowers our GPA, but if I receive an A or 96% for example, it doesn’t help my GPA at all.
            Overall freshman seminar added a lot of confusion to my first semester, but it still taught me a lot. Even though it wasn’t things I wanted to learn about at the moment, I’m glad I now know them.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Group Summary Blog (presentations)


The group presentations were very good. Some groups were more prepared than others but I still learned a lot. I learned about how black scholars have transformed so many different fields such as: medicine, film, dance, music, film, and protest. The group that discussed film and other fine arts was good. I had no idea that scholars and blacks had transformed so much within that field. I enjoyed their presentation and how they made a mini- video of them talking about the different things that were changed and then switched back to a regular presentation. The use of technology was integrated very well.  The group that discussed protest was very enlightening and taught me a lot about the protests that have happened here at Howard, old and current. However, they went over on time, which prevented the last group from presenting that day. They were also not prepared as they all had Mac’s and the Mac’s could not connect to the projector. This made it very difficult to see the videos and the slides they had. The final group to present had the same problem. They could not connect to the projector so again everyone had trouble viewing the PowerPoint. In addition the film group, and the protest group and the final group had problems with reading directly off the screens. They all read word for word. Overall though, the presentations were good and very informational. I learned something after each presentation.
            My group was good. We presented well, and each of us had our information memorized and separate information that could not be memorized put on the slides. We didn’t read much off of the slides. We were fully prepared and gave a solid presentation

Sunday, November 6, 2011

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf

This play was very touching. The way the actors explained their stories made it possible to visualize the scenes in you head. Throughout the play, the girls described events, both good and bad, that took place in their lives. From heartbreak to rape, the actors truly portrayed the emotions and thoughts women who have experienced such events would have. The singing was amazing and the acting was two thumbs up. I found myself completely astonished from the beginning to the end. I was very impressed at the overall outcome.