Mid-Semester Reflection

1. After studying 21st century media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned? Please be specific.

Aside from the information and knowledge gained through textbooks, powertools and quizzes, perhaps the most important thing that I have learned in the importance of a critical mind, and how it relates to society - especially one similar to the US (a democratic and capitalistic society). I believe the lack of critical minds is the crippling

factor of this nation.

2. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?

I generally believe that I am a rather critical thinker, owning to my upbringing, education and the society I have lived in. Perhaps the most important thing I have learned in this case is how to critically analyze new forms of media. Previous forms of media such as text/books/movies are rather one, or two, dimensional. New media, on th

e other hand, has a lot more dimensions.

3. What's one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

- I would read "What the Internet is doing to our Brains" before the class.

- Install TweetDeck before class

- Try some Yak Meat

A Yak!

4. What's one thing you like me to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

Allow for more flexible responses and observations. Although the power tools are useful, we should also be careful in overusing it. THe best tool is in fact the brain itself. Responses, therefore, should not be restricted to simply what is found int he packet.

5. Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our course blog, your personal blog, our in-class quizzes, our films and our books as learning tools.

Power tools - Interesting list of analytical tools and very useful in guiding us through different forms of media. BUt it is, admittedly, limited in scope, as mentioned in Qs. 4.

Course Blog - A good way to make students read. However, I am unsure as to the efficacy of the chapter blogs in terms of students actually absorbing knowledge.

Personal Blog - Excellent way to force students to get in touch with new media. It is surprising (very surprising) that a lot of students have no HTML experience or simple blog writing experience. Perhaps a cultural difference, but shocking to say the very least.

In-class quizzes - Don't like them, but as an old chinese saying goes: "Bitter medicine is good medicine". It certainly helps students synthesize the power tools.

Films - Good selections, especially "Reel Bad Arabs", what an eye opener!

Books - The textbook is surprisingly fun to read. Stick with it.