I get a migraine just thinking about the class we had after the test. Yet, it is important to analyze it formally in reference to the decision making process. Personally, I think that I attempted to COMPROMISE more than any of the other 4 ways. The reason I decided in this manor was because I kept in mind that our proposal had to be unanimous. For example: I was in favor for the essay to be on the next exam when another student was not. It seemed that more people were in favor for there to be an essay in comparison to those that were not in favor. I felt that this particular student was choosing to ACCOMMODATE and let the class decide for him even though that is not what he wanted. Although I did not agree with this student I still defended him because his opinion mattered, regardless if we agreed or not. I was focusing on the class as a whole instead of just pushing what I wanted for myself, like most members of the class were doing. If I had the power to choose a different approach to this whole conflict, initially I would have chosen to have the professor be involved in helping us make our decision. I like that we had the opportunity to voice our opinions and have the freedom to act without the typical reign from a teacher, but it was complete chaos. With a more defined person of authority, I think there would have been more respect, as well as structure, involved in the process.
This is why there is a teacher to begin with, but I’m glad I was a part of this exercise because it was beneficial to understanding and learning the decision making process.
Well said but I believe there were more individuals who were not in the favor of the essay but since we had to accommodate everyone’s need the class decided to keep it but just reduce the points.
ReplyDeleteI guess thats the best option not to put too much points on the essay.
ReplyDeleteObviously, all of us were fill up our mind by "we can tell what professor do for us as long as we all agree!" But, all of us, at least for a while, forgot about that the man also said "we can not limit him in anyway." In other words, we are simple give him options. Its kinda discouraged me a lot since its not like we can flip the mountain but only try to bargain the few cents with a hardcore old business man. So be in ease, he will do some favor for us, but do not expect too much.
ReplyDeleteThank You, for calling me the particular student. My name is Valentin. As, I saw it was 3/4 of the class who did not want to have any essay on the next exam. I saw how the majority of the class just easily gave up their main point. They were under huge pressure from the minority that wanted to have an essay. I actually was neutral what to have on the next exam, because I do not care. My point was heard and I probably got to be hated by many people from the class. All I wanted was to protect those people who gave up their ideas, I did want to be a hero. I am not SUPERMAN. NO! I am just a regular person who tries to stand up for those who face any unfair decisions, or ideas. Hopefully, you are not offended by my comment on your post.
ReplyDeleteSincerely, Valentin Kovalenko
The decision making process is kind of weird. Not always does the majority get what it wants. Sometimes ethics can have a bigger influence on the situation. Like Valentin said the minority who wanted the essay was able to exert enough pressure on the majority. Maybe the majority felt guilty about chopping the whole essay off the exam. I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but the essay stayed aboard.
ReplyDeleteIts very difficult to make 70 people happy....I think in the end though it worked itself out. And yes Alexa I agree it was nice to have the power to decide what we wanted with out a professor, but at the same time some chaos was the price.
ReplyDeleteI was very much against the essay myself, but I caved pretty early in the process. I realized that pushing the essay out was going to be very difficult and I started to accommodate to what the class was doing, against my own wishes. I think the particular student, whom you mention in your post (I see that he has replied here as well...), ended up doing what all of us non-essay people were negligent to do; he stood up alone and became that one guy who held the point alive on the stage. That was an admirable action, but almost all of us naysayers had already given up hope and ended up convincing him to give up the point. Strange world...
ReplyDeleteAll in all a very informative and fun class though.
I was all for the essay as well as a pretty decent sized group around me and I know personally I wasn't going to budge with the essay so figured that if we couldn't come to a decision it would just stay the way it was, which was having an essay. I knew that no one would risk losing the extra points and curve over not having an essay. Beyond that though I was pretty indifferent do everything else but tended to agree with most of the proposals you put forward like the multiple multiple choice questions. Overall I'm just glad we got the extra credit chance and curve.
ReplyDeleteCompromising is very important, especially when it comes to such a big class! I feel that people should say what they want, then everyone decides what's best for everyone and not just a certain individual. We have to think what works best with most of the people, if not everyone. At the end, I was happy when the decision I must admit.
ReplyDelete