Fluency/Flexibility
Of course when we discussed this in our groups during class, the results were just general, vague ideas. Some could be compared to real-life objects or situations, but some were just entirely random.
One of these entirely random ones probably had to be chemistry+archery, at least initially. After it was said though, I began to think of video game elements, specifically the 'Bomb arrow' from Legend of Zelda. It also makes me think more realistically, such as a chemical that could be coated onto an arrow that decreases its wind resistance, allowing it to fly farther and better.
There aren't really too many limits on what can be done with good chemistry. Another off the cuff idea that I can think of would probably be a chemical hardener, so that the tips do not break as easily. I'm sure some of these have been thought of, but I doubt that they're practical in any way, due to the cost of some of the processes. That isn't really the point of this assignment though; it's not to be limited by things like cost.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Blogpost #6 - Due November 5th
I talk to my family on the phone quite often, so I found it easiest to do the listening exercise by calling my mother when I had some free time, and just talked.
I found that I often listened the best when I was either particularly interested in something, or when I wasn't doing something else. Sometimes if I was trying to focus on multiple things at once, I would miss bits of the conversation. This is when most of the 'mirroring' occurred. If I was closely paying attention or particularly interested in a specific topic, I would ask about it. The parts where I would really start to drift off was near the end, when I realized there wasn't really much else to say, and my mother would either start repeating earlier things or just not talk as much- this is also when I would think of something else to say (ie: "preparing a response" to fuel the conversation). Every time this starts to happen (not just during the long conversation, any time) is usually when I ask if there's anything my mother hasn't mentioned, or if there was anything else. I can tell that she doesn't really want to stop talking, but realizes there isn't anything else to say (I suppose all parents are like this to an extent). I never really paraphrased anything though, that just seems redundant to me. They know what they said, I don't believe that they would want to hear it said again. I never really got silence much either, except near the end when there wasn't much to talk about, and I knew the problem then. We talk quite regularly, so it can be somewhat difficult to have 45 minutes of original conversation.
With agreement/disagreement, it didn't really come up much since we just discussed what was going on at the time. The only major thing was me walking home after an exam- I didn't think it was worth waiting 20 minutes for a bus to cover a distance that I can walk in less, and she disagreed. I can see her point of not wanting to walk at night, but waiting at a somewhat desolate bus stop at night is not a prime situation either. Building on the conversation always happens; one of us points out something the other didn't mention, for whatever reason. Comparing is the same for something like an argument, for me anyway. I look at both sides and see pros/cons of each, like walking or riding the bus at night.
Overall, I learned that I often don't listen as well as I could, and that it could be improved upon. I also learned that I used all of the listening tools on the list except for paraphrasing, which I don't really see the point of anyway. The only time I suppose it could be useful is when you're double checking an order or assignment from your boss or teacher, in which case you would want to be sure of what you heard. I believe I could improve by having conversations when I am not trying to do something else or am busy- this would allow me to focus more on what is being said, and actually listen more intently.
I found that I often listened the best when I was either particularly interested in something, or when I wasn't doing something else. Sometimes if I was trying to focus on multiple things at once, I would miss bits of the conversation. This is when most of the 'mirroring' occurred. If I was closely paying attention or particularly interested in a specific topic, I would ask about it. The parts where I would really start to drift off was near the end, when I realized there wasn't really much else to say, and my mother would either start repeating earlier things or just not talk as much- this is also when I would think of something else to say (ie: "preparing a response" to fuel the conversation). Every time this starts to happen (not just during the long conversation, any time) is usually when I ask if there's anything my mother hasn't mentioned, or if there was anything else. I can tell that she doesn't really want to stop talking, but realizes there isn't anything else to say (I suppose all parents are like this to an extent). I never really paraphrased anything though, that just seems redundant to me. They know what they said, I don't believe that they would want to hear it said again. I never really got silence much either, except near the end when there wasn't much to talk about, and I knew the problem then. We talk quite regularly, so it can be somewhat difficult to have 45 minutes of original conversation.
With agreement/disagreement, it didn't really come up much since we just discussed what was going on at the time. The only major thing was me walking home after an exam- I didn't think it was worth waiting 20 minutes for a bus to cover a distance that I can walk in less, and she disagreed. I can see her point of not wanting to walk at night, but waiting at a somewhat desolate bus stop at night is not a prime situation either. Building on the conversation always happens; one of us points out something the other didn't mention, for whatever reason. Comparing is the same for something like an argument, for me anyway. I look at both sides and see pros/cons of each, like walking or riding the bus at night.
Overall, I learned that I often don't listen as well as I could, and that it could be improved upon. I also learned that I used all of the listening tools on the list except for paraphrasing, which I don't really see the point of anyway. The only time I suppose it could be useful is when you're double checking an order or assignment from your boss or teacher, in which case you would want to be sure of what you heard. I believe I could improve by having conversations when I am not trying to do something else or am busy- this would allow me to focus more on what is being said, and actually listen more intently.
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