2-21

E-Mail 1

E-Mail 2

Mind Map (small version)

Mind Map

 

Email 1:

Dear Fellow Students,
 
I'm sorry Travis was sick and Matt had to rescue his brother last night, but I wanted to thank all of you for the interesting class, the helpful comments.  While I know there are challenges with the "student-centered" approach, I appreciate your willingness to engage and learn along with me. 
 
I also appreciated the reminders (to me and to the class) to not take things so seriously, remember the big picture, take the first step, etc.  I'm excited by Phil's field trip this weekend and hope to pick up a digital cameral for him to take along.  I'll be contacting LCC about how we might make changes to the Alternative Energy part of LCC's website... so let's continue to work on the links and information so that we can be proud of a potential link to our class web page, links list, and speaker series! 
 
I felt that the evaluation was helpful.  Matt:  here are the questions that I asked the class:
(just brief responses are OK)
 
What do you feel like you've learned and/or accomplished so far this term?
What would you like to learn, or do, but haven't yet?
Of what we've discussed or mentioned, what really interests you?
What are some challenges or frustrations you've had?
What additional comments or suggestions might you have for the class?
 
I'm very thankful that Bryon asked me to answer these questions.  Some times it's hard to see the forest through the trees... thank you Bryon for reminding me!!!  I'll attempt to answer these questions in another e-mail and look forward to hearing from Matt too.
 
 
Please remember to:
1) Get me your speaker ideas ASAP.  We need to make decisions on this soon.
2) jot down a few sentences about the websites you visit and find helpful: your insights will be helful to other students and visitors to LCC's website!
3) Call me anytime if you have suggestions or comments or just need a ride 336-7840  (in fact, now that we're driving further, we should share rides!  It's a good way to practice what we preach, plus it's nice to chat for an extra 20 minutes to and from).

E-Mail 2

LeRoy's responses:
 
What do you feel like you've learned and/or accomplished so far this term?
 I feel we've all learned a little more about what it means to be in a student-centered class.  I feel like I'm learning more about energy, but also feel like I'm learning how much I don't know... and how little our society knows about energy and sustainability.  I'm thankful for meeting each of you -- as students, teachers, friends, and citizens who are excited about making a living in this turbulent world we live in.
 
What would you like to learn, or do, but haven't yet?
I'd like to learn how to be more graceful and receptive in responding to your issues, questions, concerns... and get better at helping you help each other do the same for each other.  In other words,  we all have a role in creating our class experience, a learning environment, a doing environment.  We each have a place and a responsibility... I'd like to help get us to that place where we're respectful and responsive to each other -- while also connecting more to our own selves (discovering our own interests, power, integrity, purpose, meaning, etc.).
Any ideas are welcome!
Perhaps just trying to be in the present is the answer?
Chill out.
Be here now.
Be open.
Take it light.
 
 Of what we've discussed or mentioned, what really interests you?
The big picture conversation is very intersting to me.
Thinking about the technology...
Sustainability
The role of LCC - the role of public education
Local community and our personal lives
Our careers
The fate of Lansing, Michigan, the US, the planet, etc.
Core values
How do we decide -- democracy, dictatorship, or other?
Taking the next step... perhaps I don't know step #2, but am I willing to see the light that illuminates step #1?  Am I willing to "not have it all figured out" and let go of my desire to control everything and everyone?
 
 What are some challenges or frustrations you've had?
I'd like to have a more vibrant dialogue in class, on-line, and between class, even on the phone.  I feel like we're getting there.
I too am challenged with balancing my time -- spouse, children, friends, personal, professional, music, etc.  Perhaps it get's back to "the next step" and being open and having faith?
 
What additional comments or suggestions might you have for the class?
Each of you are awesome.  Thanks for putting up with me.
Keep your comments and ideas flowing.  I can't do this without you.
 
I do sense a tension that is hard to describe:
I feel like societ puts pressure on people to "learn" and to "know" things.  (do I need say more here?  think MEAP, SAT, Ivory Tower, discipline, expert, PhD, ACT, ETC.)  As a teacher or student in alternative energy I think we feel this pressure.  As we do our presentations, we feel a need to say "what we know" or "what we learned"   As a class, we all want to know more about alternative energy options?  We each spout facts that we find on the web or in our reading as if they are facts...
 
It seems to me that the tension with learning, is that the more you learn, the more you learn how much you don't know.  The more you realize that facts are but a snapshot of truth based upon certain assumptions. 

Sometimes it is in exploring these underlying assumptions that we can come up with new, surprising, and healthy answers... and different questions... and better solutions.
 
Like Einstein said (or at least as I remember him being quoted),  "It's impossible to solve a problem at the same level that created it (the problem)." 
 
Thanks for listening,
LeRoy