speeches last night

I apparently have too much time on my hands, :] and I was reading MSN news and saw this article which is a perfect example of Jerome's speech last night. Check it out:

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=350017&GT1=28103

Good job everyone! You did great! Especially Richard, that was hilarious :]

Very IMPORTANT Deadline coming up!

Now I hope none of you will decide to drop the class. But I want to warn you that tomorrow, Friday January 30th, is the last day you can drop classes and still get a full refund! It is also the last day to add a class and/or to pay your tuition and fees without paying the $100 fine.

See you in class tonight~

Comment on Alexandra's comment on Kelley's post

Alexandra and everyone else, you are doing exactly the right thing if you pick something you know and care about for your diagnostic presentation. When you've thought back on your speech and listened to feedback, you may decide that it was indeed "too much" or "too bland."

The purpose of doing a 2nd speech on the same topic is to help you refine the presentation so that it is NOT too much or too bland. This is gonna be fun tonight. And you are going to be very impressed by the improvement you make over the next month!

speeches tonight!

Anyone care to share the topics for their speeches tonight? I have several things written up, but I'm feeling a little unsure about my topics chosen so I thought I would get an idea from you! :] I can talk for days but speeches are NOT my thing. This should be interesting!

Jean's Philosophical Viewpoint

Communication is central to all human learning processes. I encourage class participation and open discussion in my courses. My philosophical viewpoint incorporates but is not limited to understandings from the Theory of Social Construction of Reality (Berger & Luckmann, 1967). According to this theoretical perspective all human knowledge is intersubjectively constructed. Any sense of objective truth and/or absolute truth is outside the framework in which humans operate to construct reality. Another way of saying this is that in a human world people create, maintain, and transform their understanding of reality through communication (their culture, relationships, and personal experiences and responses).

A notion of a reality beyond our earthbound and human existence is a matter of faith and personal belief (understandings which have been socially constructed over time ever since people began organizing). Regardless of the way in which one may construct his or her reality, the mechanisms of human knowledge construction are essentially the same -- we each are born into a family, an existing social framework and culture(s); we learn a language (or more than one) to communicate; we learn social rules and roles (socialized prescriptions/choices regarding expressions of appropriate and/or inappropriate behavior); we each build, maintain, and let go of relationships throughout our lives.

And it is in this social matrix that we become who we are over time. We construct our own realities based on secondhand human knowledge at best. We add to this historical mix our own unique experiences and perceptions. Some of us add a spiritual understanding of reality too, but no matter how we each believe these ideas and understandings may have originated, they have nonetheless been socially constructed and transformed over time in a human world. The most empowering thing we can do for ourselves in this life full of multiple and potentially conflicting human realities is to become socially responsible, educated, compassionate, critical thinkers and to trust that our own construction of reality will ultimately serve us well both personally and collectively.

-Jean

My Concerns of Speaking out loud

So I figure since we communicate through blog for class that I would express my nervousness at this point. So on Thursday I am suppose to stand up in class and talk for 5 min about something that is informative to my peers. The only thing I can vision is the words in my head but for some reason the words are not coming out of my mouth. Also I realized that hey I talk a lot but never for 5 min straight without having someone else say something back. At this point I am extremely nervous and I have counted 789 "and ums" in my speech already. Just figured I would share with everyone else.

sincerely
Completely nervous in
ClassVille

Jerome Rush Introduction

My name is Jerome S Rush Jr.

I am the third in the line of five siblings, three brothers and two sisters. I am originally form a little town called Esmont VA, which I really love because if give you the country life. I joined the military in 1989. The military has afforded me to see many places and regions I would not have seen otherwise. The military has also given me a rounded base in responsibility and ownership.

I am 37 years old, married to my loving wife of 15 years. I have two kids, Jaylen and Jordan and they are twin. They are truly the highlight of my life.

I am very out spoken and considered a jokester at all times. I say what is on my mind and wear everything on my sleeve. I is absoutly not my intention to offend anyone on my post. I try to be helpful with my comments and alway try to be respectful.

I think this is going to be a great class!!!!

Jerome Commenting on Father Oleska

All,

Here we go starting to blog and this will be one of my interesting blogs. Father Oleska was full communication barriers and bridges in his appearance and spoken tone. First I will start with his appearance. When we hear the word "Father" as a title, we immediately think "oh God!!", or I'm inadequant for this conversation, or he can only be approached by like titles or God. As soon a Father Oleska opened his mouth, then all my reason was gone. His dress communicated holy, but his spoken tone communicated Professor. This delima is like he said when he stated "to undertsand before seeking or demanding understanding." That phase really hit home with me because in my line of work, this is certainly not the case. Most of my colleagues will all demand understanding based on their rank and will almost never try to understand you or the situation.

What really resignated with me was his dress expound intelligence; his use a hand signals and facial expressions enforced his inflictions and discussion points.

He talked about speaking and acting rythms being barriers and bridges in communications. I never really thought of it like this totaly understand his motive. I feel this is more or a problem than we as communicators realize. Exspecially his points on the Teacher-Student breakdown.
My only reccomendation for this video is the speaking tone. Had it not been for his interesting point and sarcastic remarks, He soft speaking tone would have put my to sleep.

About Jake

Hey y'all,
So for starters, this whole blog thing has me all kinds of confused, but I think I have it figured out now.
Well like I said last Thursday, my name is Jacob Merritt, but most people call me Jake. I am 20, own my own car, and live on campus in the dorms. My mother and brother are living in Missouri right now while my father is stationed in South Korea. His being in the Air Force has been a major thing in my life, and moving every few years has definitely made me who I am today. I've lived in Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Florida.
I've been working since I was 15, first at a cafe in Florida, then as a lifeguard, and my last job was here in Fairbanks where I worked at Sears for two years. I am currently working out at Eielson at the high school with the drama program, it is something I love doing. I am a history major, I hope to get my degree and then teach at the high school level.
After graduating I am planning on moving to New York City with a friend, at least for a few years. I would like to end up living in Wilmington, North Carolina. There is not really a reason for the particular city, but I've heard good things about it and I do enjoy the weather in North Carolina.
I enjoy watching television, reading, and driving in my free time. I consider Gene Kelly an idol, and hope to someday perform one of the shows he was in when he was on Broadway.
That's pretty much all there is to me, just a kid with a lot of dreams.
-Jake

Kellie's Response to Father Oleksa

There were a couple of Father Oleksa's comments that hit me:

1. "Communication is approximate and never perfect. Every married couple knows this." SO TRUE! My husband and I are working on 11 years, and I believe that we communicate well. There are obviously times when he doesn't hear what I meant to say, and I'm sure that he feels the same way, but somehow we still get to the same place without to much angst. I have watched friends marriages over the years fail, and one common factor in the failed marriages is lack of understanding/communication.

2. "Adjust to the rhythm of the culture or you will be fired." This should be applied not just to your work culture but all aspects of your life.

3. and then "Afternoon siesta is a wonderful institution." ABSOLUTELY!

finally, those baby sounds were pretty funny...

All About Kellie

Hi all -

My name is Kellie Fritze...full-time wife and mom, full-time UAF staff, and part-time student. I grew up in Seattle. My Aunt and Uncle (moved to Fairbanks in 1957) lived here in Fairbanks and I thought what a great summer trip that would be, so after my Junior year of college I jumped on the ferry in Bellingham and made my way to Fairbanks. Needless to say, it's been a VERY long summer trip - now 20 years later.

Although I love to travel, read, spend time at home, I am not able at this point to do much of any of these things. My priorities are family, work, and now classes. Our son is in first grade, and I volunteer weekly in his classroom. Our daughter will be two in April, and she is a crazy girl - extremely active, loud, and hysterical. She keeps us all laughing :-) .

I am looking forward to completing this course and experiencing this alternative way to take classes.

All About Alexandra

Hello everyone!

My name is Alexandra, Alex for short! I'm 23 years old and I am a Business Administration major here at UAF. I was born and raised in the sleepy little town and wouldn't have it any other way! I am the single mother of a beautiful 3 year old pit bull :] who is my pride and joy! I have a great big wacky family that completes me. My parents have been married 30 years, and I am lucky to have two older brothers who are amazing people. The little light in my life is my 2 year old nephew who is my world. My friends are the greatest gift I could have every recieved. They keep my young and real and always are sure to keep me true to myself. I wouldn't trade them for the world. I am big into art, especially painting, photography and ceramics and I try to do something artistic every chance I get. I also LOVE the outdoors, and try to spend as much time in them during the summer as I can, but I'm not a fan of snow or cold so that hinders me in the winter :]. I'm hoping to have my bachelor's degree by August 2010 and start a new adventure outside of Fairbanks. Until then, I'm employed at an insurance agency and I also bartend all while doing 3/4 time school so I keep really busy! I look forward to brushing up on my communication skills through this class but I HATE public speaking so this should be interesting! I look forward to getting to know you all! Thanks!

OH! also, I have a blog of my own if anyone would like to check it out! http://alexandrarhody.blogspot.com/

and...the pictures are me obviously and my two of my best friends Blake & Alejandro.

All about me!

Hi! I'm Amy Borneo. A 32 year old wife and mother of 3. My daughter Brenna is going on 13 this April. Lord help me, I'll have a teenager! I have two boys, Eddie who will be 10 this next month, and Giuseppe who will be 8 in March. I moved up from Oregon in August 1994, and met my husband Ed the beginning of September 1994. We've been together ever since. I go to school part time, and will earn my associate's in accounting this next semester. I will probably go on to my bachelor's, but may take a little time off. I work full time for Robinson and Associates, and love it!

I keep busy not only with work and school. My daughter is in comp soccer, and I take her to games and practices. My sons are in baseball during the summer, and I catch as many practices and games that I can. I am also active in my church. I serve on the pastoral council and help teach a second grade sunday school class.

I love to travel, hike, read, camp, take pictures, and spend time with my family and friends.

Response to Father Oleksa

In response to Father Oleksa's presentation, I wanted to say that I found it interesting how he explained the different ways that people communicate with each other. I never really thought of everyday communication as a rhythum, and how if your not on that same rhythum the communication doesn't compute with the other person as well as you would expect. My husband comes from a "high rhythum" family, and I would say I am from a "slower rhythum" family. Father Oleksa's expanation of his family's leaving ritual really reminded me of my family. It was hilarious because my husband is pretty much like his wife. Once you say your leaving, he is out the door, where two hours later I am ready to leave for real.

I never would have thought of my husband and my communication rhythum out of sync, but it really explains and makes sense the different ways we were brought up, and how that has affected our style of communication. I also agree with how Father Oleksa says that it takes years to change a given behavior, such as my husband's rhythum having to slow, and my communication having to speed up so that we could meet in the middle and make for a happy marriage!