Swimming Or Floating

"Swimming or Floating"

Doing nothing more than you are asked, but just enough to get through, can describe the statement "Students will float to the mark you set." Mike Rose states this in the selection "I Just Wanna Be Average". Many people in this world will do what you ask of them, and that is it. Nothing more and nothing less; similar to when I ask my kids to "Clean the kitchen" or "Clean your room" they go as far as putting the dishes in the dishwasher or picking up the big items on their floors. I have learned from experience that if I want these things done correctly; I have to give multiple tasks with step-by-step instructions, and then maybe I will be lucky enough to have half of the tasks completed. This same effortless situation occurs between students and teachers, for instance; the instructor gives the student an assignment to read a chapter in the textbook and take the quiz at the end of the chapter. The student follows the instructions from the teacher and does not go beyond that point.

When we begin school our education experience is; go to school, and do what the teachers tell us. While in school the teachers encourage us to do our work in exchange for something nice, similar to giving a doggie a treat for sitting or fetching. In kindergarten we are rewarded with stickers, treats and other satisfying pleasures. As we move along; to elementary, junior and high school, our rewards turn into points with letter grades. The "letters" are based on the work and behavior that is carried out while we are still children. These letter grades are intended to determine how well we will do in our futures. Receiving your first "bad" grade can make or break you, depending on your character. Some will work hard to bring that grade up, others can become discouraged and not try as hard. Not everyone has the same drive and ambition that it takes to be that "A" student.

"If you want to become a successful person you must have good grades", this is something along the lines of what we are told while in school. Is this enough motivation to make you want to be an "A" student? I believe that motivation is necessary, to get and maintain good grades. Motivation could just be a few words such as "good job" or " nice try" this can help direct you and get you to do a little more than you would normally. Extrinsic motivation, with tangible and intangible rewards can sometimes help, certain people work better with a little praise or a little threat. Rose explains "There's been a good deal of research and speculation suggesting that the acknowledgment of school performance with extrinsic rewards-smiling faces, stars, numbers, grades- diminishes the intrinsic satisfaction children experience by engaging in reading or writing or problem solving." I do not agree, in my own educational experience, I do better when my work is acknowledged, whether it's to let me know that I need to do better or that I did a great job, this can make me more sure of myself.

In a previous semester, on the first day of class I had an Instructor who told the class to "write the shit down, look the shit up", this instructor was very blunt to say the least. I thought that he would be one of my favorites. He kept me frazzled and somewhat confused the entire semester, the teaching method used was very different than any other I had ever experienced.

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