Welcome!
Welcome to my Portfolio! My name is Katie and I am an elementary education and international business double major. I chose this unique combination because my passion lies in working with children in extreme poverty in third world communities. Over the last three years, I have worked with an orphanage in Haiti, bringing them art, physical therapy equipment, and, most recently, starting an English Literacy program. As you move your way through my portfolio, you're going to see a lot of those kids I just mentioned. They have moved me and my life in ways I never thought possible. Over this semester, I had chance to write about my love of those kids, my passion for teaching children, and much more. I was encouraged to think broadly and deeply about the topics I thought, talked, and wrote about. I was told to question what I hear and learn, instead of blindly accepting everything I am faced with. Finally, I was encouraged to write about my passions and then to take those writings and look at them from different angles and perspectives. I hope, as you read through this website, you have to the chance to see the joy I have for writing, the thought and intention behind my opinions, and the passion I hold for the topics I breach. Look through the pictures and see some adorable faces. Click on a few of the quotes, and see where it leads you. Explore and enjoy!
~ Katie Finch "whatever you are, be a good one" |
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Midterm Reflection
October 13th, 2014
1. What connections are you making within this class, and to other classes you are taking or have taken since starting college?
This class has started to open my eyes to different kinds of ways we can relate to other people in this world. There is literacy, which I discovered could cover an enormous range of topics and skills, to inquiry, researching and talking to others about something we are genuinely interested in. This class has made me think a lot about redefining old limits and thinking outside my own little box. It has made me question the words I read and listen to instead of blindly accepting them as truth.
These connections and ideas have also begun to slip into my work in other classes. I am taking a class on the fundamentals of education, for example, and I have found that by questioning what I learn and inquiring more about a subject, I not only learn more, but I also learn more deeply. In my liberal studies class, my professor has also tried to encourage us to look at things in new ways. I believe this writing class has enabled me to do that more successfully and on a deeper level in liberal studies than I would have otherwise.
2. How would you describe your writing process? Has it changed at all since the start of the semester?
My writing process tends to vary, depending on what I am writing. I am, very much, a spur of the moment writer; I have to feel inspired to write, even if it is a more technical paper. Many times I will research anything I need to know for the paper, and look over the questions I will be asked. Then, I mull over the information for a while until I feel comfortable with it in my head. During that process, I run through paper topics based on the assignment or idea, and when a good one hits, I start writing. This can take anything from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the paper and the situation in which I am writing it.
This process has not really changed for me since beginning this class. I have, however, done much more deep thinking about my topics than before. I have found new ways of thinking about my topics and digging deeper into their meaning and potential. For example, instead of wondering why something happened, I have started looking at how, when, who it affected, what decisions were made during this time, and how they affected the outcome. My list of questions has expanded from a few set questions, to limitless curiosity. This new process has added a new level of depth to my understanding of the topics, and therefore, my writing.
3. Reviewing the syllabus and your initial blog post, how would you describe the extent to which you are meeting your general semester goals?
Looking back on my initial blog post, I don’t believe I have, yet, met my goal of improving my technical writing abilities. However, given that we have not yet done our inquiry research project, there has not been a chance to really do so. I believe I have gained a new insight to my questioning ability, however, that will make achieving my goal much more successful.
4. Please discuss your thoughts on the feedback you have received from peers and your instructor on your written work.
The feedback I have received this year has been very helpful. From peers, I have received valuable feedback on expanding possible paper topics, making my writing succinct and powerful, as well as encouragement. From my professor, I have been forced to think deeply, yet again. In the past, when an instructor has given feedback it has been an instruction to change this or that. With Dr. Rand, however, I am given questions and suggestions, and these are not about the direct content of my writing, but rather the idea that drives it. I have found this much more challenging, but also very successful. Both forms of feedback have allowed me to improve my writing and create successful papers.
5. What are you proud of in the work you’ve done in the course so far? This could be your written work, class participation, collaboration, etc
So far, I am most proud of my written work in this class. In my writing, I feel that I have been able to improve my ideas and thinking. For example, with my Literacy Project, I felt extremely accomplished at being able to successfully portray a complicated idea while also making it meaningful. In the past, this has not been the case. Often, my ideas become too shallow or my meaning is muddled, taking away from the success of the paper. My peer advice, as well as the advice from my instructor, helped me expand my thought process and more clearly portray my meaning. The knowledge I gained in this class seemed to have a tangible result once I finished the project, which only added to my sense of accomplishment.
This class has started to open my eyes to different kinds of ways we can relate to other people in this world. There is literacy, which I discovered could cover an enormous range of topics and skills, to inquiry, researching and talking to others about something we are genuinely interested in. This class has made me think a lot about redefining old limits and thinking outside my own little box. It has made me question the words I read and listen to instead of blindly accepting them as truth.
These connections and ideas have also begun to slip into my work in other classes. I am taking a class on the fundamentals of education, for example, and I have found that by questioning what I learn and inquiring more about a subject, I not only learn more, but I also learn more deeply. In my liberal studies class, my professor has also tried to encourage us to look at things in new ways. I believe this writing class has enabled me to do that more successfully and on a deeper level in liberal studies than I would have otherwise.
2. How would you describe your writing process? Has it changed at all since the start of the semester?
My writing process tends to vary, depending on what I am writing. I am, very much, a spur of the moment writer; I have to feel inspired to write, even if it is a more technical paper. Many times I will research anything I need to know for the paper, and look over the questions I will be asked. Then, I mull over the information for a while until I feel comfortable with it in my head. During that process, I run through paper topics based on the assignment or idea, and when a good one hits, I start writing. This can take anything from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the paper and the situation in which I am writing it.
This process has not really changed for me since beginning this class. I have, however, done much more deep thinking about my topics than before. I have found new ways of thinking about my topics and digging deeper into their meaning and potential. For example, instead of wondering why something happened, I have started looking at how, when, who it affected, what decisions were made during this time, and how they affected the outcome. My list of questions has expanded from a few set questions, to limitless curiosity. This new process has added a new level of depth to my understanding of the topics, and therefore, my writing.
3. Reviewing the syllabus and your initial blog post, how would you describe the extent to which you are meeting your general semester goals?
Looking back on my initial blog post, I don’t believe I have, yet, met my goal of improving my technical writing abilities. However, given that we have not yet done our inquiry research project, there has not been a chance to really do so. I believe I have gained a new insight to my questioning ability, however, that will make achieving my goal much more successful.
4. Please discuss your thoughts on the feedback you have received from peers and your instructor on your written work.
The feedback I have received this year has been very helpful. From peers, I have received valuable feedback on expanding possible paper topics, making my writing succinct and powerful, as well as encouragement. From my professor, I have been forced to think deeply, yet again. In the past, when an instructor has given feedback it has been an instruction to change this or that. With Dr. Rand, however, I am given questions and suggestions, and these are not about the direct content of my writing, but rather the idea that drives it. I have found this much more challenging, but also very successful. Both forms of feedback have allowed me to improve my writing and create successful papers.
5. What are you proud of in the work you’ve done in the course so far? This could be your written work, class participation, collaboration, etc
So far, I am most proud of my written work in this class. In my writing, I feel that I have been able to improve my ideas and thinking. For example, with my Literacy Project, I felt extremely accomplished at being able to successfully portray a complicated idea while also making it meaningful. In the past, this has not been the case. Often, my ideas become too shallow or my meaning is muddled, taking away from the success of the paper. My peer advice, as well as the advice from my instructor, helped me expand my thought process and more clearly portray my meaning. The knowledge I gained in this class seemed to have a tangible result once I finished the project, which only added to my sense of accomplishment.