I was running late to my seminar class today- only about 5 minutes late. I've been running late all day. But I figure late is better than never. Maybe it's because of this depressing weather that I just can't seem to make my classes ontime. My math class is at 2:10- I'll make sure that I'm early for that class.
Today's speaker was a familiar face. Her name is Dr. Dana Williams, and while I may not know her personally, I do see her all the time in this class. When I walked in, scrambling to find a seat, she was talking about the basic components of research. I assume she chose this topic in attempt to assist us with our research question. Again because I transferred late into this class, I have had a lot of questions go unanswered. I blame myself, naturally, because I could be more persistant. I'll figure it out eventually... Anyway, she addressed to us the six components of research: 1. Statement of the problem/ challenge, 2. Review, 3. Methodology, 4. Framework, 5. Development of Thesis and 6. Conclusions. Methodology determines how we decide to approach the topic and the Framework is how we decide to structure the project and how we decide to display the data. The Development of Thesis is the stage in which we must articulate a thesis. It's also the step in which we must begin to provide convinvincing details and structure the research. As for the conclusion, that is the step in which all questions prosed at the begining must be answered. The conclusion must also answer, "what new insights has your research revealed?" and "what future study should this research undertake?"
She then went on to provide example for the six step research outline. She did a case study of the Freshman Seminar class. How they came up with the idea to teach the class the way they currently do. She used the word institutionalize a lot and I found out the official name for the class is "Freshman Seminar 2010: Cultivating a Commitment to Academic Excellence and Independent Discovery." Independent Discovery- I couldn't have worded it any differently. I've come to realize that's exactly what college is: Independent Discovery. You must teach yourself, the professors are really just there to answer questions. You're education is truely up to you in every way.
Nicole McKinney
Monday, October 4, 2010
Omoluabi: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility
The speaker's name was Segun Gbdegesin and he had a very thick accent. It was quite hard to make out what he was saying but I think I did just a fine job at taking notes. And maybe not. We'll see how this goes.
He explained that "Iwa" is your character. If you loose you character you loose everything. He was talking a lot more about Iwa and some other concepts around that but I just couldnt understand him. Then he had his friend play the drums and stuff... That woke me up a little bit, but I still didnt understand what was going on. In fact, I believe that just dropped me even further into confusion.
After that he went on to talk about, "Before Socratees and Plato and Jesus, there were..." The Goddess Ma'at and Vizier Ptahhotep and Pharaoh Amenemope. And the Principles of Ma'at; how ancient Egytians learned and practiced Truth, Justice, Order, Balance and Harmony. Living through Ma'at made the Gods strong.
And then I think he tried to go on and compare Ancient Egypt and the African world, but he ran out of time. I really dont have any idea what he was talking about. I guess we need to remember to have good character and aspire to be a truely good person. That's all I could really extract out of that lecture.
Nicole McKinney
He explained that "Iwa" is your character. If you loose you character you loose everything. He was talking a lot more about Iwa and some other concepts around that but I just couldnt understand him. Then he had his friend play the drums and stuff... That woke me up a little bit, but I still didnt understand what was going on. In fact, I believe that just dropped me even further into confusion.
After that he went on to talk about, "Before Socratees and Plato and Jesus, there were..." The Goddess Ma'at and Vizier Ptahhotep and Pharaoh Amenemope. And the Principles of Ma'at; how ancient Egytians learned and practiced Truth, Justice, Order, Balance and Harmony. Living through Ma'at made the Gods strong.
And then I think he tried to go on and compare Ancient Egypt and the African world, but he ran out of time. I really dont have any idea what he was talking about. I guess we need to remember to have good character and aspire to be a truely good person. That's all I could really extract out of that lecture.
Nicole McKinney
September 24: Opening Convocation
On September 24th, 2010 Dr. Benjamin S. Carson made a beautiful speech for Howard University’s 143rd Convocation. To summarize the speech in a few words: he spoke about the purpose of a university, the amount of potential that lies within each Howard University student, and how we should measure success. He spoke about how we control our own destiny, and how we need to begin to think outside of the box. He asked us that if we do everything that’s already been done, how do we progress? He told us to take the talent God has given us and use it to elevate others. I found Mr. Carson to be very engaging. He weaved the purpose of his speech into a story that everyone could relate to. He told us how his nickname was “dummy,” and how he had a talent for getting other students kicked out of class. He spoke about he was never really the smart one, and how he didn’t like to listen during class. He made everyone smile and laugh (and I’m pretty sure he moved a couple of people onto the verge of tears).
He made the speech personal, and it was simply inspiring. There was an evident structure to his speech. It was almost like he wrote an outline for himself and tried to follow it as best he could. Nothing seemed rehearsed and yet everything seemed so prepared. He delivered his speech very effectively. Clear voice, decent eye contact, and he seemed so comfortable with himself. He even dropped a couple of papers in the middle of his speech and, without awkward silence, paused to pick them up. He then returned to talking like nothing had happened. I believe he adjusted to his audience around the very beginning of his speech when he said, “ it’s so hard to talk to a large group of people now-a-days without offending someone.” He told us how one time, in some conversation he was holding, he compared the brain of a human to that of a dog and someone responded to him with, “don’t talk about dogs like that!” He told us that his speech was not intended to offend and that if any one was offended in the process of his speech, it was just too bad. Again, he made people laugh. He went on to say it’s too bad if people are offended with what he has to say because too many people hold back what needs to be said. He talked about the amazing people who worked to have our generation be in the position we’re in. How we have a life of opportunities our ancestors did not, and how we need to take advantage of this new day.
My favorite part of his speech was when he began to tell the story of the twins attached by the head and how it was one of the most risky procedures he’d ever been faced with. He asked himself, why had they chosen him when there are plenty of other more deserving surgeons. The procedure was long and complicated. He wanted to delay anymore operation until a later time, that was until he was informed they would not be able to keep the twin babies alive for that long. And so he continued the operation, asking God how he was going to make this impossible situation possible. He then went onto say the operation was successful and that the two twins are now 7 years old and beginning the 3rd grade. All things through the Lord are possible, and that procedure was an example. Dr. Carson’s speech was one of the most inspiring speeches I’ve ever heard and I left the overflow auditorium thinking to myself, “I want to be just like this man.” All things through the Lord are possible and I control my own destiny…
Welcome to Howard University’s 143rd academic year.
Nicole McKinney
The Eloquence of the Scribes: Initiation, Expectations and Mastery- Continuing the Legacy of Howard University
I forget who the speaker for this class was, but I do remember she was a woman. She was a woman who didn't play either- there were some kids in the front row talking to much. So she paused her whole presentation just to ask them if they were finished.
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand; a representation of someone in writing. There were Scribes of the Fields and Scribes of Cattle. There were scribes of Architecture... all types of scribes. The Egyptians wrote with papyrus scrolls.
She then went on to name people like Geneeral Oliver Otis Howard. The man whom of which school is named after. She named Alaine Leroy Locke, Lulu Vere Childers, Frederick Douglass, Ira Aldride, Louis C. Cramton, George Washington Carver, Charles R. Drew, Harriet Tubman and so on. She was naming all the people our buildings are named after; Sojourner Truth, the woman whom after my hall is named.
I'm not sure why she started with scribes and then went on to naming people. At first I figured maybe she was naming some famous black scribes, but when she started naming people who weren't really known for what they've written and or haven't been known to write at all.. I knew there had to be some other connection. So I figured she connected it like this instead: Scribes write things down, and in a sense record history. Our history, written by our scribes, concerns every single person she named that day. The scribes are responsible for why we will never forget. They'll live on through the scribes work, as will we.
Nicole McKinney
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand; a representation of someone in writing. There were Scribes of the Fields and Scribes of Cattle. There were scribes of Architecture... all types of scribes. The Egyptians wrote with papyrus scrolls.
She then went on to name people like Geneeral Oliver Otis Howard. The man whom of which school is named after. She named Alaine Leroy Locke, Lulu Vere Childers, Frederick Douglass, Ira Aldride, Louis C. Cramton, George Washington Carver, Charles R. Drew, Harriet Tubman and so on. She was naming all the people our buildings are named after; Sojourner Truth, the woman whom after my hall is named.
I'm not sure why she started with scribes and then went on to naming people. At first I figured maybe she was naming some famous black scribes, but when she started naming people who weren't really known for what they've written and or haven't been known to write at all.. I knew there had to be some other connection. So I figured she connected it like this instead: Scribes write things down, and in a sense record history. Our history, written by our scribes, concerns every single person she named that day. The scribes are responsible for why we will never forget. They'll live on through the scribes work, as will we.
Nicole McKinney
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Abandonment, Dismemberment and Reawakening: The History and Legacy of Howard University
Her name was Georgia M. Dunston and she had nothing but encouraging words to share with us. She was so excited for our arrival here at Howard University, she barely got into her power point slides! She called us the problem solving generation; how the generation before us, her generation, messed everything up for us. How they've left us with so many problems and unaswered questions. She said we are part of the knowledge revolution and that knowledge alone is no guarantee of success- that you also need wisdom.
Her powerpoint began with, "Age of the Human Genome Knowledge." We have 23 chromosomes and trillions of cells. Cells that contain such important information concerning our appearance, and some concering specific talent's we'll inherit. She said that a genome doesn't just tell us about our biology, but it also tells us about our history.
She asked rhetoricaly asked us: "Who taught the DNA how to make the body?"
She told us the genome study was the study of human kind. She told us that genomes are the language of God and that theyre the language of life.
I couldn't really grasp too much of what she was saying, but what I got out of it was- we are the next generation of cells. Our DNA, our cells, derive from our parents; the earlier generation. We are the generation to create the next cell generation. And that hopefully we will be able to fix the mess the past generation has created for the next generation to come.
Nicole McKinney
Her powerpoint began with, "Age of the Human Genome Knowledge." We have 23 chromosomes and trillions of cells. Cells that contain such important information concerning our appearance, and some concering specific talent's we'll inherit. She said that a genome doesn't just tell us about our biology, but it also tells us about our history.
She asked rhetoricaly asked us: "Who taught the DNA how to make the body?"
She told us the genome study was the study of human kind. She told us that genomes are the language of God and that theyre the language of life.
I couldn't really grasp too much of what she was saying, but what I got out of it was- we are the next generation of cells. Our DNA, our cells, derive from our parents; the earlier generation. We are the generation to create the next cell generation. And that hopefully we will be able to fix the mess the past generation has created for the next generation to come.
Nicole McKinney
Learning, Wisdom and the African World Experience
Because I transfered into my Freshman Seminar class late, I didnt really know what I was supposed to do the first time I got there. Was I just supposed to sit there and listen? Was I supposed to take notes? What is this paper they gave me? What is an e-portfolio.
I am writing these next couple of posts completely from long term memory..
I cannot remember the name of the man who spoke to the class that day. I think it might have been Dr. Carr? Well anyway, he spoke about the many things that originated in Africa. Like, for example, how writing came from Africa. He also spoke about Egypt and the many discoveries they'd made, the Gods whom they'd worshipped, and the kingdom they'd created. Then he went on to show us Egytian symbols and what not until he ran out of time.
One thing he said that stood out to me, was when he said "Howard was originally an integrated school: black, white, native american, asian, etc." I walk around now and see at least a couple of white students, a couple of asians here and there... but hands down, anyone would say this a majority black school; An HBCU.
And yet there is still so much diversity. While it may not look "integrated", looks could never be more decieving. We have a black student from Nigeria, a black student from Jamaica, a black student from England, a black Student from the US Virgin Islands.. Even the differences between the black students that reside in the different states of the US show great diversity. A black student from California is different than a black student from Nebraska. A black student from Florida is different than a black student from Maine. A black student from Texas is completely different than a black student from Massachusetts. I can say this with reassured confidence because I've recently made this one friend from Texas, and he is an utter and complete culture shock for me. I'm starting to believe that this is really going to be a very different college experience for me.
Nicole McKinney
I am writing these next couple of posts completely from long term memory..
I cannot remember the name of the man who spoke to the class that day. I think it might have been Dr. Carr? Well anyway, he spoke about the many things that originated in Africa. Like, for example, how writing came from Africa. He also spoke about Egypt and the many discoveries they'd made, the Gods whom they'd worshipped, and the kingdom they'd created. Then he went on to show us Egytian symbols and what not until he ran out of time.
One thing he said that stood out to me, was when he said "Howard was originally an integrated school: black, white, native american, asian, etc." I walk around now and see at least a couple of white students, a couple of asians here and there... but hands down, anyone would say this a majority black school; An HBCU.
And yet there is still so much diversity. While it may not look "integrated", looks could never be more decieving. We have a black student from Nigeria, a black student from Jamaica, a black student from England, a black Student from the US Virgin Islands.. Even the differences between the black students that reside in the different states of the US show great diversity. A black student from California is different than a black student from Nebraska. A black student from Florida is different than a black student from Maine. A black student from Texas is completely different than a black student from Massachusetts. I can say this with reassured confidence because I've recently made this one friend from Texas, and he is an utter and complete culture shock for me. I'm starting to believe that this is really going to be a very different college experience for me.
Nicole McKinney
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)