I feel as though I had an absolutely fantastic semester in this class. I got to do so many interesting things such creating Cologne and making Rocket Engines. I never would have imagined I would be doing all of that last semester. I also had so many questions about science answered during my time in this class. For example, I finally had an understanding of how fire works, which is something I honestly never understood before.
More importantly, I learned a lot about myself as a learner. I learned that I do in fact like structure when I am learning. I can prove that with all the worksheets I have completed. These worksheets were a large part of the points earned for the sections. This is because, to me, there is a certain structure that makes me feel comfortable doing them. It is just that when I am given too much freedom I tend to fall apart. For example, I spend entire section doing labs and worksheets, but it is in the last week I do all the write ups. If there was a certain structure for doing the write ups, such as having them due a day after they are preformed, it would work a lot better for me. Maybe I should not depend on the teacher for a structure. If I want to succeed as a student I need to start implementing the structure myself.
I feel as though I was motivated by curiosity every time I decided to do a lab. I was curious as to what I was going to learn from each thing. When I am motivated by curiosity, it causes me to do labs that I would not have expected me to do. For example, the day before I did the Fire Test Lab, I did not think I would burning different materials and recording the colors of flames it produced the next day. The curiosity is what motivates me to do new things. I am also curious as to if I am able to do some of these fantastic things. Honestly, I was unsure, at first, if was going to be able to create my own cologne. But I was curious to see if I was able to put the work and effort into creating cologne. I think I am only not motivated by curiosity when it is something I have to do. When I have to get 250 points each section, I am not motivated by curiosity. In that case, I am mostly motivated by the obligation to earn all 250 points. I do not complete worksheet because I am curious about them, but because I need to get points for my section.
My largest takeaway from this class was being able to finally have my scientific questions answered. I have never really had a class that was based around scientific topics such as chemistry. All the things I learned from this class made me realize how much I did not know about this world. Knowing I know so little about the world motivates me to learn as much as possible. Along with that, I am so grateful that Andrew is able to answer the questions I have when I am confused and do not understand something. To be honest, I also ask a lot of stupid questions, and Andrew always tries to answer them. Maybe he was actually tired of me doing that, but it did not seem like that to me. It made the class feel like a very safe environment even though it is filled with things that can kill me.
More importantly, I learned a lot about myself as a learner. I learned that I do in fact like structure when I am learning. I can prove that with all the worksheets I have completed. These worksheets were a large part of the points earned for the sections. This is because, to me, there is a certain structure that makes me feel comfortable doing them. It is just that when I am given too much freedom I tend to fall apart. For example, I spend entire section doing labs and worksheets, but it is in the last week I do all the write ups. If there was a certain structure for doing the write ups, such as having them due a day after they are preformed, it would work a lot better for me. Maybe I should not depend on the teacher for a structure. If I want to succeed as a student I need to start implementing the structure myself.
I feel as though I was motivated by curiosity every time I decided to do a lab. I was curious as to what I was going to learn from each thing. When I am motivated by curiosity, it causes me to do labs that I would not have expected me to do. For example, the day before I did the Fire Test Lab, I did not think I would burning different materials and recording the colors of flames it produced the next day. The curiosity is what motivates me to do new things. I am also curious as to if I am able to do some of these fantastic things. Honestly, I was unsure, at first, if was going to be able to create my own cologne. But I was curious to see if I was able to put the work and effort into creating cologne. I think I am only not motivated by curiosity when it is something I have to do. When I have to get 250 points each section, I am not motivated by curiosity. In that case, I am mostly motivated by the obligation to earn all 250 points. I do not complete worksheet because I am curious about them, but because I need to get points for my section.
My largest takeaway from this class was being able to finally have my scientific questions answered. I have never really had a class that was based around scientific topics such as chemistry. All the things I learned from this class made me realize how much I did not know about this world. Knowing I know so little about the world motivates me to learn as much as possible. Along with that, I am so grateful that Andrew is able to answer the questions I have when I am confused and do not understand something. To be honest, I also ask a lot of stupid questions, and Andrew always tries to answer them. Maybe he was actually tired of me doing that, but it did not seem like that to me. It made the class feel like a very safe environment even though it is filled with things that can kill me.