tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347002624328577997.post2288501368239599361..comments2023-10-29T04:39:08.157-07:00Comments on Creative Arts Anonymous: What's Your Motivation?Dr. Cheryl Carvajalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323455180953109460noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347002624328577997.post-17539464735701200842010-11-05T04:46:33.645-07:002010-11-05T04:46:33.645-07:00The Mother, I waited tables, and, actually, it was...The Mother, I waited tables, and, actually, it was a lot of fun. I doubt that his waiting tables will be a permanent gig, though... it wasn't for me.<br /><br />Walking Man, you know I teach college, but I'm not going to say you should finish your degree. You sound the like the kind of person who will get far more out of a class than those in search of a grade or credit only. I audited a bunch of classes while a graduate student, just because I wanted to be in there and experience something fascinating. Grades were a bigger motivator for me in undergrad, but by the time I reached my masters level, I wanted to learn, and nothing upset me more than a prof who not only wasn't teaching anything, but intentionally tried to prevent my learning something beyond the trivial crap he taught. I think you'd like my class... no lecturing from my pulpit. I tend to teach by the Socratic method, with LOTS and LOTS of questions... letting you decide much of what you do for yourself. Sounds like you'd do that without my encouragement.<br /><br />Stephanie, I think you're right... and I also believe students learn from each other, and a couple of perceptive, involved students can work wonders for the rest of a class. My list of motivations is really limited by the setting I'm discussing, and while many hold several of these motivations at once (and might connect them), they are still often distinct. Some people see the grade as a sign to others of their worth, but for some the grade is a sign that they learned something. It is only as they move through college that they realize that teachers often give grades, and a great grade may have no bearing on whether they learned anything. That said, I am a participant in the life-long school of learning. College didn't end that for me, and I will forever be exploring new ideas and new information, just as you do.Dr. Cheryl Carvajalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323455180953109460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347002624328577997.post-84034390442279169612010-11-04T07:09:23.952-07:002010-11-04T07:09:23.952-07:00I think, and this is just my opinion, that motivat...I think, and this is just my opinion, that motivations are often more complex, a combination of several factors. Grades, for example, are often driven, at least in part, by the view by others. <br /><br />I'm driven to excel and I compete against myself. When I was in college, that included good grades, but wasn't limited to it. I wanted to do the best I could do and, in those classes where I worked my tail off, but didn't get an A, well, I was far more proud of that then classes where I learned little, no matter how easy the A. <br /><br />Since I've always loved learning (and have yet to stop), I don't know if that's motivation. If I'd just been motivated by a love of learning, I would never have left the library in college, learning eclectically all the things that interest me. Now, I just spend spare moments trolling Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Astronautica.<br /><br />I probably learned more useful information studying the other students and the interactions of those around me than all my classes combined. <br /><br />But I can think of twenty different factors, having to do with my own personality, my history, the way I grew up, different teachers, etc. that influence the way I'm motivated. Self-respect is probably at the top of the list, but it's a list. I wonder how many of us have complex motivations or if it's just one of my many weirdnesses.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347002624328577997.post-75019971869518823062010-11-04T06:58:47.601-07:002010-11-04T06:58:47.601-07:00I never saw the inside of a collage class until I ...I never saw the inside of a collage class until I was 46 (56 now), loved it, loved the perspectives of them who would speak up (both mature and immature outlooks) and loved the discussion of the finer points of whatever the class was.<br /><br />Loved the English classes best of all took every one they offered. To me it was like reliving the 5 years I worked in a major art museum. Not so much learning new things for me but why the things I was doing already worked and names for them.<br /><br />To me the worst were the GPA grabbers. Them that worried more about the grade than the information. I loved going head to head with them. In one scholarship competition open to all at the school I was awarded both scholarships for 2k worth of free dough. I didn't brag about it but my little ol' 3.6 beat out all of their 4.2's.<br /><br />Then I broke my neck and never got to use the damn money. Someone did though so that was cool.<br /><br />So now what is my motivation?<br /><br />I can read books I like by authors I never would have touched (mainly the Eastern European of the 19th century) before I spent that 1.5 years in school and understand them and their underlying theme of comparison. <br /><br />I should finish the last 23 credits I need for an AA degree but I don't really see the point now that I have been taught how to learn and pretty much am self motivated besides my siblings all have advanced degrees and it would give them one less thing to think ill of me for. hahahahahaha<br /><br />Your motivation for 50k words in 30 days? *shrug* You needed a change of pace anyway Shakes.the walking manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058913927297370740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347002624328577997.post-70631102197985972692010-11-04T06:05:37.621-07:002010-11-04T06:05:37.621-07:00Totally unrelated, (sorta) but I got the rare trea...Totally unrelated, (sorta) but I got the rare treat of watching the Goth tutor Stretch on how to write an essay yesterday. Wow. That kid can not only write, but knows WHY he does what he does. I think he has a future. <br /><br />Or he'll wait tables and starve. Either way.The Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157821003454766570noreply@blogger.com