Final thoughts.

Technical writing. Not a very enticing course name. But it fit into my schedule and was taught by a professor I didn't hate yet, so I registered. I learned a lot of useful information that will actually serve a purpose in my future, which is a lot more than I can say for many of my other. What I like about technical writing is that it is practical, and the documents created are actually relevant, seen, and used by others. You never realize how much thought and revision goes into something like instructions until you are the one writing them. Use clear and concise wording, make the font big enough to see clearly, include images when necessary. Its a lot to keep in mind. I enjoyed techincal writing much more than I thought I would because its more than just writing memos, e-mails, and leaning about margins. We were able to understand, analyze, and even create our own technical documents. Technical writing includes a lot more than just times new roman on a white 8 1/2 x 11 page. There is thought, creativity, design, and imagination that go into these documents. I can say with confidence that when I begin my career, whether it is in the teaching education field or somewhere else I will take everything I learned about creating attractvie and effective documents. I am glad that I took this class becuase I believe I am pretty good at technical writing, which is something I would not have known about myself had I not taken this class. I was able to combine my artistic/creative talents and my writing abilities to work in a new and interesting field.

the "fake" job I really want . . .

Job Posted on School Spring :  Elementary Teacher in Roslindale, Ma 


Trying to find a job ad whose qualifications I meet and whose description sounds enticing is a daunting task. Upon graduation I will have a degree in both English and Elementary Education. Going onto sites such as Monster and Simply Hired and typing in the search box "elementary teacher in Boston, Ma" yielded over 150 results. My strategy was to start at the top of my list and work my way down trying to find an available position that I was qualified for and interested in. What I found with the first few was that I was either qualified OR it sounded like a job I would want. The two biggest dead ends I came to were the fact that I will not have my Master's degree and I do not speak Spanish (both of which would be helpful in many cases). One thing I found interesting and challenging was that none of the ads give any kind of ballpark figure regarding salary. In the real world this would play a part in my choosing  job, although I believe I am not the kind of person who would weigh only this factor.


The job that I decided to apply for is as an Elementary teacher at the Edward W. Brooke Charter School. They write, "The Edward W. Brooke Charter School is a public school, located in Boston, founded in 2002, serving 450 students in grades K-8, and with over 1,500 students on our waiting list. Our students are 98% black and Latino, 78% qualify for free and reduced lunch, and their MCAS performance has ranked them consistently among the highest ranking schools in the city and the state." What interested me in this particular school is their dedication to excellence in education along with their vision to help their largely (98%) Black and Latino student body have the opportunity to attend a high-ranking preparatory high school, and even attend acclaimed 4 year colleges. This school's passion for education transcends the elementary school years and aim to build strong and educated individuals, amongst a demographic that is often overlooked and underestimated. Looking at this job ad and at the school's website has really ignited  my desire to teach. I grew up in a middle class, mostly white community and I am adamant about stepping outside of that "comfort zone" when I become a teacher. I want to work in diverse/challenging communities, various states/regions, and possibly even outside of the country. 


With my degree I would be qualified for this job, but more importantly this is a job I would WANT and would LOVE. The challenge of closing the "achievement gap"  is one I would be qualified and motivated to meet. I watched this amazing video on their website and it made me wish that I already had my degree so I could apply today.

The dreaded group project

        Working in groups is a nightmare. In my experience, 1 person (usually me) ends up doing all of the work while the rest of the group slaps their name on the project right before it's handed in. In group projects everyone has their own idea of how it should go, and in college everyone is so busy that there's never any convenient time meet outside of class and work on the project. Usually the trouble starts right away. Picking groups in class can be like choosing teams for dodge ball in gym, with everyone nervously looking around trying to link up and not be the awkward last pick.
       
         Working in a group with Donna and Lynda has really been a breath of fresh air. We just kind of looked at each other and decided right away it would be a good group. I think we were right. Together we have researched and compiled a powerpoint on recommendation reports. It it not an area of expertise for any of us, but because we were all willing to put in an equal amount of hard work, and communicate effectively the work seemed 10x easier. I didn't feel the usual pressure that our group's grade depended on me. We all worked together to read, compiled what information we found most important, and divided it up so that we are all speaking for equal time during the presentation.

I think that this project has really made me less apprehensive of group work and has showed me that in a good group everyone is willing to step up and take on responsibilities. I am happy with my group and the work that we have done.

Brainstorming for Document Design

So I'm sure that like everyone, my initial thoughts on designing a flyer for prospective BSU Students has led me to, where else, Bridgew.edu . Exploring our school's website further I have found that certain pages are definitely more helpful than others. I am trying to focus on a particular aspect, rather than rambling about all the amenities our university offers. Choosing the right college is a difficult process, with many factors to consider. . .so I got to thinking. . .

What aspects/qualities of BSU do I want to highlight with the limited space of an 8 x 11 piece of paper?

The goal of my flyer will be to create an image of a place where you will get not only obtain a quality higher education but have the freedom to create a flexible schedule and explore social and extracurricular activities/events.
I want to emphasize that BSU has the quaintness and comfort of the suburbs while still managing have the accesibility to two major cities, Boston and Providence. Focusing on the balance and variety that BSU offers will allow my flyer (hopefully) to reach a variety of perspective students.

I will definitely be using information from the Undergraduate Admissions page on the BSU website: http://www.bridgew.edu/admission/ . This page will allow me to gather statistics about the campus, available majors, campus life, housing options, information about tours, extracurricular activities, and any other facts that may spark interest for a potential applicant.