Two Lessons over the Holiday
So. I learn things even outside of school. First. It is very difficult to be humble when you have parents about. I got my grades back, and when we went to Ponca for Christmas, Mom began nearly every conversation with, "Steven got his grades back. Tell him what you got, honey." I mean, I can take it for Grandma and Grandpa, but really, we don't need to have me stand up on the dinner table in front of my second cousin. Thankfully Robert was there to ease the akwardness with, "Yeah, he got two B's." Leaving me a chance to escape for the next room. (Or at least providing an opportunity to give valid information in the form of a joking correction rather than a blunt, "Look at me, I dance and sing as well" self-gratifying statement.) Thank God for my Aunt, who, being my favorite, leaned over after one of these unpleasant (for me, anyway) announcements and said, "To tell you the truth, I wouldn't accept anything less." Thanks for dimming the spotlight Aunt Julie. The stage gets awfully warm sometimes.
I must say, however, that I really do get quite a bit of gratification out of doing well. There is an argument for inflating grades that states that good students will always challenge themselves whether or not they can make a good grade in the class while poor students will remain unmotivated whether or not they can make a good grade. However, I, for one, respond best to positive reinforcement. Without something showing me that I have done well, I tend to lose interest and become unmotivated. I don't need someone to pat me on the back every day and I certainly hope that I am not the person who goes around looking for validation, but periodic appreciation most certainly gives me that extra kick to make me push the limit the next time around. Interstingly, though, negative reinforcement is quite different. My grade in Physics was wreaking havoc on my stress-o-meter this year as it went from 87 to 93 to 70 (plus 20 curve points) over the course of three tests. Each time I got a low grade, I became more convinced that I wasn't cut out for physics, and that there was little I could do about it, however, my mind said that surely with more practice, I could get better, and I was encouraged to study more (though not to attend class). When my grade was high, I was encouraged to go to class, but to study merely at the same rate. The thing that changed was my level of enthusiasm for the subject, not my amount of cram-time. This would be such an interesting behavioral science project.
I must say, however, that I really do get quite a bit of gratification out of doing well. There is an argument for inflating grades that states that good students will always challenge themselves whether or not they can make a good grade in the class while poor students will remain unmotivated whether or not they can make a good grade. However, I, for one, respond best to positive reinforcement. Without something showing me that I have done well, I tend to lose interest and become unmotivated. I don't need someone to pat me on the back every day and I certainly hope that I am not the person who goes around looking for validation, but periodic appreciation most certainly gives me that extra kick to make me push the limit the next time around. Interstingly, though, negative reinforcement is quite different. My grade in Physics was wreaking havoc on my stress-o-meter this year as it went from 87 to 93 to 70 (plus 20 curve points) over the course of three tests. Each time I got a low grade, I became more convinced that I wasn't cut out for physics, and that there was little I could do about it, however, my mind said that surely with more practice, I could get better, and I was encouraged to study more (though not to attend class). When my grade was high, I was encouraged to go to class, but to study merely at the same rate. The thing that changed was my level of enthusiasm for the subject, not my amount of cram-time. This would be such an interesting behavioral science project.
posted by tidalplateau at 1:44 PM
0 comments
