Culture at GCE

For my Systems and Models course, we were assigned to perform an SWOT analysis on an aspect of our high school. We were instructed to apply the framework, concepts, and breakthroughs that we have learned in unit 1 through unit 3. These are some of the concepts and breakthroughs we have learned in Systems and Models: IO psychology, Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, the commons, the tragedy of the commons, SWOT, and systems and analysis thinking. Applying these concept for the SWOT analysis served as evidence for the explanations that we offered to support our suggestions. The purpose of this action project was to put ourselves into and analytical framework and to perform an SWOT.

Below is my SWOT analysis:

A SWOT stands for Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats and is a analytical planning framework. It involves identifying the internal and external factors that are advantageous and disadvantageous in achieving an objective.
S.
- Small school
- Individualize attention
- Get to know your community members more closely

W.
- Cliquish
- Force relationships


O.
- Visitors

T.
- Competition with other school
- Sports/clubs


Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology, it's a five stage model divided into different human motivation. Maslow's ideas surrounding the Hierarchy of Needs concerning the responsibility of not just employers but school officials as well to provide an environment that enables students to fulfill self-actualization are relevant as evidence to support my analysis. We are all motivated by our needs, with the most obvious need being the need for survival itself. Only when is our lower need of emotional and physical need are satisfied that we concern ourselves with the higher needs. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a paradigm for motivating learning.

Our most basic need is for physiological survival meaning shelter warmth/cool, food, water, and so on. The GCE community meets these need because we have a heated and cooled building. Students have access to water and food.

Once these physiological needs are met, we are then able to address the need for security and safety, which includes the absence of threats and freedom from danger. No one at GCE feels unsafe, if anything they probably feel too safe.

Once security needs has been assured, individuals then are able to concern themselves with Belonging and Love. These needs are usually found within families, associations, friendships, and memberships. "GCE is like a family and is very close knit," said a senior at GCE. GCE is an extremely cliquish community. Many fall on the notion that cliques are bad and they certainly can be because that create boundaries to friendships and can encourage misbehaviors. Cliques are common in schools and are not all bad. It's a way for kids with similar interest to find each other, which helps fulfill our need of belonging. "There is also a sense of forced relationships. It seems that sometimes teachers and administrators force kids to be friends," states a senior at GCE. This is strange because this isn't Hogwarts.

The need for esteem is met through achievement and mastery and through gaining recognition and respect from others. GGE has a culture of appreciation. Final presentation and examples of excellence are things put forth allowing students to showcase their work to each other and friends/family members.

Once the need for self esteem has been met, we then develop an uneasiness to chase our talents, which Maslow refers to as self-actualization. "GCE's structure allows for innovation and control over your own destiny, " said a GCE staff.

Psychology is the study of behavior which dates back to the Ancient Greeks. Psychology was a branch of philosophy until the 1870s. In 1879, psychology began in as a self-conscious field of experimental study when Wilhelm Wundt founded the first laboratory dedicated to psychological research in Leipzig, Germany. In 1892, the American Psychological Association aka APA formed to advance psychology as a real science.

The commons is a source people have free access too. In our community this source is counseling. Everyone has access to the counselor, individuals could set up weekly meet if need be.
The tragedy of the commons is a concept in economics which states, when individuals acting independently and rationally will deplete a shared resource, even when doing so is not in their interest. One resource that we as a community abuse is our ability to take "bathroom" breaks. GCE has a very trusting culture and often times this trust is missed used.

The Six Sigma is a business model which eliminates defects in any process from manufacturing to trans-actional and from product to service. By seeking feedback from students, GCE's culture/community has benefit and thus employed this method. Total quality management is a description of of the attitude and culture of a company which strives to provide customers with service that satisfy their needs. The culture and attitude at GCE does satisfy students' needs as evident by Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Systems thinking is a management discipline that concerns an understanding of a system by examining the linkages and interactions between the components that comprise the entirety of that defined system. "The number one reason people become friends with each other is because of proximity," said a GCE staff. If we want to eliminate the cliquish atmosphere in our community, we should require students to share their lunchtime with different people every Thursday. Another idea is having a gym club which would engage and encourage conversation between students.

Works Cited:

• Teachout, M. S., & Vequist, D. G. IV. (2008). Trends in business consulting. In J. W. Hedge, & W. C. Borman (Eds.), The I/O consultant: Advice and insights for building a successful career (pp. 335–343). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Laura L. Koppes. "What Is I-O?" A Brief History of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc.-. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <https://www.siop.org/History/historynew.aspx>.

A people's history

Josephine Baker: A Diva Who Embraced the world (Apr 9, 2014)

For this action project, we were assigned to write a people's history. We were instructed to interview someone who has been involved in some of demonstration. We recreated a page out of a history text book. The purpose of this project was to tell history through the eyes of the people. I interviewed a family friend who has been involved in several demonstrations such as the #blacklivesmatter and anti-trump rallies. I enjoyed talking to my interviewee.

I started being aware of what was happening around me because of someone who took care of me as a very young child. She exposed me to some of the singers that were a part of the growing civil right movement, such as Nina Simone and Josephine Baker. I grew up listening to music that I love and didn’t really understand.

Josephine Baker was an American born French jazz singer and dancer. Baker is also known for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. She became wildly popular in France during the 1920s. “In the 1920s she moved to France and soon became one of Europe’s most popular and highest-paid performers,” (Biography). Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3, 1906 (Biography). In 1935, Baker returned to the States and was received as an uppity colored girl (Encyclopedia). She refused to perform for segregated audiences. “White audiences were reportedly used to seeing, and wanted to see, blacks in what they considered “Negro” role --- Mammies and blues singers ---- and could not accept a black woman of style, grace, and sophistication,” (Encyclopedia). Through the 1950s and 60s she dedicated herself to combating racism and segregation in the States.

I was born in 1950, so when the civil rights movement got momentum I was in my teens, in high school. Before then, I was in a kind of protected life and was unaware of what was going on. In high school, I had an incredible teacher who had a huge impact in my classmates and I. When Martin Luther King was assassinated I entered a brief period of depression. I remember writing poetry about it and being so aware on the events of the world.

"Mississippi Goddamn" is a song composed, written, and performed by American pianist and singer Nina Simone. The song was Simone's response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, which killed four black children (Wikipedia & What happened to Nina Netflix documentary). "Alabama's got me so upset, Tennessee's made me lose my rest, and everybody knows about Mississippi goddam," are some of the lyrics demonstrating the political focus of the song early on. Mississippi Goddamn became a civil rights activist anthem and Simone's most famous protest song (Wikipedia).

In 1968, I went away to college at the University of California, Los Angeles. There was a lot more happening there about the war in Vietnam as well as the Civil rights movement. I immediately got involved in things that was available for me to do. There was a lot of things happening on my campus. Angela Davis, who was a very prominent figure in the Civil Rights movement was a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Free Angela & All Political Prisoners, Essence Mar 28, 2013.

Angela Davis is an activist, scholar, and writer. She advocated for the oppressed. In 1970, "she made FBI's Ten-Most-Wanted list after guns registered in her name were used in a courthouse takeover which left four dead," (PBS). Eventually, she was acquitted of all charges.

I eventually ended up in Washington, DC for graduate school and lived there for several years union organizer. I moved to chicago in 1982, and once again there were lots of events around U.S dictatorships in Central and South America. My social life formed by my activities, through my activism I was able to make friend with people from all corners of the world.

I was involved in the backing of the election of Harold Washington, which was a flash-point for a lot of progressive people. I have also been involved in the #Blacklivesmatter demonstrations and was at the anti-trump rally. I involved in the #Blacklivesmatter demonstration on Michigan Ave in Chicago. It was wonderful. I felt so welcome and took the opportunity to learn. I have a coworker who is African American, she belong to the Charleston South Carolina church and my Facebook post restored her faith in white people.  

BB (interviewee, Facebook Post 2015)

The Fallacy, Delusion and Myth  of Tikkum Olam, 07/06/2013. 

I was raised Jewish and one of the values that I learned was that of Tikkum olam.

Tikkum olam (לתקן את העולם), which means repair the world. Tikkum olam is a concept in Judaism and is a commandment which has come to connote the pursuit of social justice in the modern movement in Judaism (Wikipedia). The term dates back to the Mishnaic period and Kabbalistic literature began broadening use of the term (Wikipedia).

My parents all through their life had stood up against injustice, but they were worried that I would give up my financial stability in order to carry this commandment through which I was willing to do. Activism is something that is kind of sort of in my faith and is a part of who I am, which is that you make a difference in the world.


Work Cited:

• Jane Henderson. "Josephine Baker: A Diva Who Embraced the World."St.Louis Post Dispatch. N.p., 9 Apr. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/josephine-baker-a-diva-who-embraced-the-world/article_2f021e35-4c81-5388-a537-b4dcee3f3503.html>.
• Tikkun olam. (2016, February 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:15, March 19, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tikkun_olam&oldid=705653548
• WW1239. "Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam." YouTube. YouTube, 24 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQjGGJVSXc>.
• Biography.com Editors. "Josephine Baker Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.biography.com/people/josephine-baker-9195959>.
• Harrison, Joyce. "Baker, Josephine." Contemporary Musicians. 1994. Retrieved March 19, 2016 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3492800011.html
• Josephine Baker. (2016, March 19). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:26, March 19, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Josephine_Baker&oldid=710884336
• Y.A Korff. "The Fallacy, Delusion and Myth of Tikkun Olam." Algemeinercom RSS. N.p., 7 June 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/06/07/the-fallacy-delusion-and-myth-of-tikkun-olam/#>.
• Mississippi Goddam. (2016, February 1). In Wikipe
  dia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:16, March 19, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mississippi_Goddam&oldid=702716257
  "EXCLUSIVE: Watch a Clip from 'Free Angela and All Political Prisoners'"Essence.com. N.p., 28 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.essence.com/2013/03/28/exclusive-watch-clip-free-angela-and-all-political-prisoners>.
• PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/race/interviews/davis.html>.
• BB, Interview. March 12, 2016.  

Invisible Man

In my Equality course, we explored the inequalities experienced by people based upon race, gender, and class. We examined theories that identified and try to explain the existence of inequality. The readings on these theories were done in order to gain knowledge necessary to engage in discussions and challenge each others' ideas. We looked at what actions have been taken in the past to promote gender, race, and class disparities and what we can do now to overthrow the institution that perpetuate them. For this Action Project, we were assigned to write and analytical essays applying key ideas of race, gender, or class theorist to Invisible Man. We were also assigned to accompany our essay with a corresponding page from invisible Man that utilized blackout/decorative design elements to illustrate key points of our analysis. The purpose of this action project was to demonstrate mastery of key concepts from racial, gender, or class theorist we discussed in class.

Below is my analytical essay and blackout/decorative image:

GN, Analysis 2015.

Age estimating

For my Systems and Models course, we were assigned to design and conduct a sociological experiment and write a research paper, which had a minimum of 2,500 words. We were instructed to ask ourselves a question, state a hypothesis, design an experiment, conduct an experiment, gather data, and draw a logical conclusion. The purpose of this action project was to demonstrate the scientific method. We had to prepare a plan, which we used as a schedule to hold ourselves accountable of who, when, and where we will observe? How we will measure our observations? I chose to look at which gender is better at age guessing. I struggled with the planning of my experiment. I am proud of completing this action project.

Below is my research paper:

"TouchByte: Smart Technology: Intergrated Solutions. Web. 01 Mar. 2016

Hugging a Porcupine

Systems and Models is a STEAM course, in which we analyze people, systems, groups, and organizations from the inside out, outside in, and their interactions. We studied the psychological architecture within groups and people through observations and data analysis. For our first action project, we were assigned to create a self-portrait and write an artist statement. The purpose of this action project was to combine all of the information we learned about ourselves through the various psychological assessment activities and create an artistic rendering of ourselves. Our artist statement will explain our self-rendering. I experienced an artistic block, and combated it by surrounding myself with inspiration. I am proud of my artistic rendering.

Title: Hugging a Porcupine
Medium: Paper, Pen, and Pencil
Size: “6.5” inches by “9.5” inches

GN, "The Porcupine" 2016

In our class, we took a series of psychological assessments. A psychological assessment refers to a process of testing to help arrive at some hypotheses about a person and their personality, behavior or capabilities. The Myers-Briggs 16 personalities test was a major influence because it reaffirmed my beliefs in how I perceive the world and make decisions. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an introspective self-report questionnaire that has become the golden standard of psychological assessments and a multi million dollar business because of its concept that everyone can fit into one of 16 personality types.

The MBTI reports tells you your preference for each of four pairs: Judging or Perceiving, Thinking or Feeling, Sensing or Intuition, and Extraversion or Introversion, these four preferences together make up your type. My results concluded that I was an ENTP-A (extremely, extroverted, intuitive, prospective, and thinking) personality type. This means that I am knowledgeable, energetic, argumentative, and insensitive. I am the ultimate devil’s advocate. I thrive on the process of shredding arguments for the simple reason that it's fun. My personality type can be perceived as vexing and my quarrelsome fun oftentimes inadvertently burns bridges.

In addition to the MBTI, I took several psychological assessments which reaffirmed my beliefs that I am a very direct, assertive, logical, and analytical individual. Through the Enneagram, which assesses motivations, I learned that I was an Eight (The challenger). Eights enjoy taking on challenges that gives them opportunities to exceed themselves in some way. Some famous Eights are Martin Luther King, J.r, Lyndon Johnson, and Saddam Hussein. We are motivated to be self-reliant, to prove our strength and resist weakness, to be important in my world, and to be in control of situations.

I wanted my art piece to reflect all of the qualities I was assessed with having. I did not want a cliche self portrait. Keeping the results in mind, I decided to draw a picture of a porcupine. Porcupines are small rodents with an over-abundance of attitude. I am prickly like the porcupine. According to the DiSC, an assessment tool used to improve teamwork, I am directive, assertive, confrontation, and analytical. I pay attention to the meaning of pattern of information I receive, I look at logical explanation to almost anything, and I tend to devalue the "people" (emotional) parts of situation. Porcupines have a coat of quills used against predators. My quills are my words. In our defense, our spikes are preemptive attacks to protect our own feelings. Because of our fear of vulnerability we have developed this armor. We are resourceful and fearless in the face of danger. The traits listed above are oftentimes viewed negatively and I can personally regulate the degree in which they are expressed.

We reviewed a couple of experiments such as the Marshmallow Experiment and the Stanford Prison Experiment. Me being goal-oriented was very instrumental when partaking in our class mini version of the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment. The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment was a series of studies on delayed gratification. We were offered a choice between one small, immediately reward of 1 marshmallow or 2 marshmallows if we waited for a approximately 20 minutes. I love challenging myself and waited for approximately 30 minutes.

The Stanford Prison Experiment was most intriguing to me because it showed that under certain circumstances people can be "evil". The Stanford Prison Experience was a study of the psychological implications of becoming a prisoner or prison guard. Based on the attributes accorded to me by the various assessment, if I was in a position of power such as the one designed in the Stanford Prison Experiment I would abuse such power. I am not an evil person. My characteristics are double-edge swords. As an Eight, I have to capacity to persuade others to follow in all kinds of endeavors from making peace to wagging war.

The last test we took in class was the TKI, which assesses how you deal with conflict. When dealing with conflict, my strongest strategies were competition and compromisation. My lowest score was an avoider, which means I never shy away from conflict. My results were competer (9), compromiser (8), problem solver (7), Avoider (5), and accommodator (1). I agree with these results because I have employed these conflict resolution styles in the past.

In order to glean an understanding on the art of writing artist statement, I interviewed my friend Linda, a local artist whose work has been featured in local coffee shops around the city. "An artist statement allows the artist to communicate their thought process to an audience. It is important to remember though that it isn't a space to dictate or sway your audience's viewpoint or feelings on the pieces." I kept her advice in mind during my writing process and creation of the piece. I want my piece to be left to interpretation. Everyone has a different perception of me but these perception are woven with a single thread; the Porcupine.


Work Cited:

• Lillian Cunningham. "Myers-Briggs: Does It Pay to Know Your Type?"Washington Post. The Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Feb. 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/myers-briggs-does-it-pay-to-know-your-type/2012/12/14/eaed51ae-3fcc-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html>.
•  "The Myers & Briggs Foundation - My MBTI® Results." The Myers & Briggs Foundation - My MBTI® Results. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2016. <http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/my-mbti-results/>.
•  "Porcupines, Porcupine Pictures, Porcupine Facts - National Geographic."National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2016. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/porcupine/>.
• "Home." Stanford Prison Experiment. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2016. <http://www.prisonexp.org/>.
•  "CPP - The People Development People." Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2016. <https://www.cpp.com/products/tki/index.aspx>.
•  JACOBA URIST. "What the Marshmallow Test Really Teaches About Self-Control." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 12 Feb. 2016. <http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/what-the-marshmallow-test-really-teaches-about-self-control/380673/>.

Chap it up!

For my Digital Media course, we were assigned to create the "ideal" blog post about something we loved. We composed a post about something that we loved using the required blogging elements, which are having a title, blog intro, creative commons image, video, or audio. I chose to post about chap-stick. We also had to create a 2-3 slides presentation, find an video, and properly cite and a creative commons image. The purpose of this course is to help student help harness the full potential of digital platforms. I enjoyed working on this assignment. I struggled with creating the list of required elements of a blog post.

Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Milano. Lip Balm homemade. 2012. Wikimedia. Wed. 2/3/2016

I love lip balm because it moisturizes my lips especially during the winter when they get a little dry, chapped, and cracked. I used lip balm before going to bed for a deep moisturizing session. When I wake up in the morning my lips literally thank me. Lip balm soften my lips, relieve discomfort, adds a healthy color ( since I am not a lip stick kind of gal). Finally, lip balm prevents aging.






 


Works Cited:

- World of Vegan. "Best Vegan Lip Balm ♡ Kissably Cruelty-Free!" YouTube. YouTube, 18 Apr. 2014. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DanaqRw6Dl8>.

- Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Milano. Lip Balm homemade. 2012. Wikimedia. Wed. 2/3/2016

Capsule - Book Bound

Our action project for Book Bound was a digital portfolio that offers an overview of our learning and experience of the course. Book Bound is an humanities course, in which we explored the definition of reading, evaluated its importance, explored works that are considered "classics" and understand the criteria necessary to earn such stature. We read The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald as an example of a "classic". I was indifferent about The Great Gatsby. I thought the plot was a bit diluted, but very thought provoking. We investigated the literary canon, critique it, offer alternatives and additions. The literary canon is the Great book list. The idea of a literary canon implies "official status" and to be entered into the canon mean gain to certain privileges. Also, we research roles necessary to build a library. We visited two libraries (a public library and school library) to familiarize ourselves with the inner-workings of a library, to find inspiration and guidance for our vision of our school library. I envision our school library with tons of work space, infinite availability of books, recording booths, computers, art/cool posters plastered on the walls and comfortable chairs. I enjoyed our field experiences because I learned about the different search engines for academic research offered at the library. For this action project, we were assigned to put together a portfolio of our best work throughout the course. My favorite project was our choice for the canon slideshow.


Storyboard:

Before embarking on our Book Bound adventure of the importance and history of reading, we took some time to remember and contemplate who we are as readers. Through the use of StoryboardThat, an autobiographical web-tool we were able to tell the story of our lifespan as readers, specifically on learning to read. Our stories had to include at least 5 frames and captions. We considered plot point such as: when and where we were when we first began to read, who helped us learn to read, what struggles we faced as readers, and how we felt reading in school as we crafted our stories. Prior to completing this activity I talk to my mom who has been very instrumental in my development as a reader for specific details about my reading history. Moms played a huge role in my classmates' reading stories as well. This assignment allowed many of us to dive into ourselves and create connections between our reading patterns and our history with reading. I had lots of fun working on this assignment. I struggled with how to start, but my conversation with my mom helped clear the haze. I added more details to my story and proofread. I am proud that my reading story shows my progression.

Slideshow:

What is a classic? How does something acquire such status? What does such a title suggest about the thing itself? These were some the questions we were presented with in the beginning of the course. Classic "belonging to the standard authors of Greek and Roman antiquity" "of the highest class; approved as a model" from the french word classique (17c.) from Latin classicus is a term used to categories books of the highest caliber. Certain books receive this status and end up on required reading lists across the U.S. These grouped together, literary classics are referred to as "the canon". The literary canon is the great book lists. They are texts that have been deemed worthy to be read by anyone who considers themselves cultured. For this assignment, we chose a book we believed belong in the canon and created a slideshow justify our choice. Also, we presented and defended our book selection to our peers. I wanted to share my enthusiasm for the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan with everyone hence why I chose to publish this assignment. I struggled with finding images of scenes for theme illustration. I added more details to the lesson plan portion of the presentation, added an image, and proofread.

Literary Journal:

We were assigned to create our own literary magazine/journal in team of 4s. Literary magazine is a periodical magazine/journal dedicated to literature. Literary magazines publish short stories, poetry, literary criticism, letters, interviews, essays, and many more. Our literary magazine consisted of external submission, pieces from all group members, and images. This assignment showcased different types of literature. I really proud of the pieces in the magazine. We split up different tasks among ourselves. Miscommunication impacted our quite a bit, but in the end we pulled through. I fixed the page set-up.

Literature Poster:

We created propaganda literary posters based upon a guiding question about literacy. We research the answer to our guiding question using reliable sources. My guiding question was "How many books does the average american read yearly?" The average American read 12 books in the past 12 months according to the Pew research center. The purpose of this poster and course is to promote literacy. I want to encourage literacy in the most effective way as possible and this assignment allows me to do so. I was difficult to come up with a concept for my drawing. I used paper and pencil. I am proud to have persevered.

GN, Literature poster 2015.