Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I thought my first summer subject would be enjoyable, with all my time and focus spanned on one single module, especially since it was a Corporate Communication major, something I always had a passion for. I don't feel this way after the 2nd lesson today. Class participation constitutes a substantial 30%, with outrageously challenging standards (in the opinion of an average performer aka me). For those not in SMU, do read the participation expectations and you will realise why university students do not suffer any less stress than brokers working at NASDAQ.
To earn participation points:
1) please listen before speaking,
2) recognize when the conversation has moved past your comment and exercise self restraint (don’t backtrack), and
3) make certain you are contributing intellectually (not just repeating or saying anything that comes to mind).
In addition to merely speaking up, you could:
1) play devil’s advocate,
2) become a resource provider (somebody who brings to the class that one-in-a million comment/article which adds to our conversation),
3) be a synthesizer (after hearing the last five comments, I think what we are really saying is….),
4) serve as a model builder (here is how all the pieces fit together and here are the critical philosophical issues), and
5) add through lateral contributions (here is the relationship to other class or other cases/topics we discussed).
Since this is a social media class, your ability to effectively engage the blogosphere can also impact your participation grade. For example, if you ask a meaningful question on a blog that results in a real conversation thread, then please print and save that exchange and submit the record to your professor.
How are you guys taking all of these? I'm totally freaked out, honestly. Those could be orthodox expectations of SMU students in the professor's opinion (give credit to those who upsets the general market), but to me this requires characteristics of reading every available printed media on paper and online EVERYDAY, listening very carefully and virtually registering what all your classmates have said 1 minute ago and possessing a good grasp of the language to summarize all the information. I am not able to do that because I ain't God.
After the first lesson, we were assigned a reading of 50 page pdf file on new social media, as well as a list of other websites and podcasts. After the second lesson, we were given 3 thick stacks of case studies and 4 other pdf files for our daily bread, to be digested before the third lesson on Monday (there are three lessons each week, on Mon, Tues and Thurs, for consecutive 7 weeks). I can forget about borrowing my Virginia Andrews tradegy novels this summer. Just read and rant about RSS feeds, blogospheres, social networking business models, IP protection across the globe, blah blahk, every single living hour till June the 1st. And 16 days later, I would commencing on learning how to appreciate how to tailor communication strategies for different cultures. HOW FUN, MY FRIENDS.
I don't think I can schedule any meet-ups at all. With a mountain load of readings, endless research, managing my aggregators, and frequent project meetings to complete the insanely intensive regional projects.
Conclusion. I have to learn to be internet-savvy, and start engaging in REAL web conversations. (i need to go back to my multiple open tabs on Cyworl's international growth)
it's Wednesday, April 30, 2008 now
