First off, I'd just like to say that I found the syllabus final project immensely useful and a breath of fresh air. For whatever strange reason, I always approach research paper writing with a fair amount of anxiety, trepidation, and fear, and it was kind of amazing to not have that tight, self-critical ball of angst associated with this class's final project. Even more amazing is the way in which this project seems to have more practical application than most of my other writing-based assignments. My peer group was extraordinarily helpful and generous with their comments and ideas for improvement, so thanks to them!
After reading Melody M's syllabus post, I realized that I too had been reluctant to post my second syllabus reflection before it was finished. And then thought about how silly it was to consider it "finished" just because I've turned it in. I know full well that this syllabus isn't done (it has the "TBA readings" to prove it), and that's ok. I feel like, more than anything else, this syllabus is is a template to work from. I think it also has the potential to be an archive of my pedagogical and intellectual praxis. I imagine tweaking my pedagogical statement as I gain more experience teaching and have to work through my methods in a new way. I see myself using this document to record and make sense of really cool new artists I learn about and texts that help me understand them and their relationship to the world. Is it weird and selfish of me that I see this document being almost more for myself than for potential students? I envision future students looking to this document as a record of what they
are required to do; I imagine myself looking to this document as a reminder of the way I want my classroom to function and of the kind of learning I want to encourage.
