The reasons behind the reasons for studying
I often ask my students to discuss the reasons behind the reasons they are taking my course, or are enrolled in the graduate program on electronic culture.
This is important, because by recalling your motivation, actually recalling it before each class, you can improve the chances that the class will meet your needs precisely. You can see what is of value to you in your personal needs, and remain attentive and motivated by the subject, or even ask for more information on the subjects you need to know about.
As we discuss motivation, students usually begin by stating what I would call their immediate objectives, things like changing careers, learning about a new profession, or just simply getting a job. I ask them to look for the larger issues behind those objectives. Of course, to get a job means to pay the rent, to put food on the table, and so on. But after that?
Since my courses are focused on the evolution of e-culture, and are taught in English in a French speaking country, students often mention the desire or motivation to learn more about other people, to have more contact with people from different cultures, and improve their ability to communicate in English. This is certainly a benefit of studying and working in a field is driven by the connectivity of the internet. But I ask them to look deeper. Is their motivation just to have more contact, to learn more, accumulate vast stores of knowledge, or is it to do something with that knowledge? Of course, we usually agree, their motivation is to accomplish something with that knowledge and ability.
One student recently said her deepest motivation was to share something of herself with others. This is really one of the most promising aspects of e-culture, the area where it has already excelled in many ways. I told a friend recently that file-sharing, the current buzz word for illegal copying of programs, music, films and so on, may be seriously flawed in the protection of intellectual property, but that, he had to admit, even the sound of the word was pleasant.
Sharing--generosity--is the first step in opening up lines of communications and accomplishing something in the years to come.
This is important, because by recalling your motivation, actually recalling it before each class, you can improve the chances that the class will meet your needs precisely. You can see what is of value to you in your personal needs, and remain attentive and motivated by the subject, or even ask for more information on the subjects you need to know about.
As we discuss motivation, students usually begin by stating what I would call their immediate objectives, things like changing careers, learning about a new profession, or just simply getting a job. I ask them to look for the larger issues behind those objectives. Of course, to get a job means to pay the rent, to put food on the table, and so on. But after that?
Since my courses are focused on the evolution of e-culture, and are taught in English in a French speaking country, students often mention the desire or motivation to learn more about other people, to have more contact with people from different cultures, and improve their ability to communicate in English. This is certainly a benefit of studying and working in a field is driven by the connectivity of the internet. But I ask them to look deeper. Is their motivation just to have more contact, to learn more, accumulate vast stores of knowledge, or is it to do something with that knowledge? Of course, we usually agree, their motivation is to accomplish something with that knowledge and ability.
One student recently said her deepest motivation was to share something of herself with others. This is really one of the most promising aspects of e-culture, the area where it has already excelled in many ways. I told a friend recently that file-sharing, the current buzz word for illegal copying of programs, music, films and so on, may be seriously flawed in the protection of intellectual property, but that, he had to admit, even the sound of the word was pleasant.
Sharing--generosity--is the first step in opening up lines of communications and accomplishing something in the years to come.
posted by Bob at 8:59 PM
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