Week 6: February 24

My blog post is slightly late this week, but I have a valid excuse: watching the 85th Academy Awards!

The fifth week of University Studies 311A has come and gone! This week in class we learned about the importance of problem solving in being a peer educator, and how some mentees will inevitably have problems that they will come to you with as a confidant.

Sebastian and Brad led the learning session this week, which focused on problem solving (found in chapter five of "Students Helping Students"). It's three for three, folks. Brad and Sebastian also did a great job, which worries me for my presentation on March 6th (these guys and girls are setting the bar too high!).

One of the activities we did was to look at a specific scenario of a problem that a freshman might come to us peer mentors with in the fall. From there, our group was to decide if a formative (keeping track of a goal at certain checkpoints along the way) or summative (checking on the progress of a goal once it has been completed) assessment. As an education major, I have had formative and summative assessments hammered into my skull, so I thought it was a great exercise to apply the knowledge I have already gained through my education courses and applying them to a situation that is not technically formal education.

In other news, all of ya'll need to head over to Hilton Coliseum tomorrow (Monday) to cheer on the Iowa State men's basketball team as they take on #9 Kansas in the first ESPN Big Monday matchup for ISU since 2006. With a win, ISU will have 23 home wins in a row. It's Gold Rules at 8:00! Go State!