Bashar psy introduction

Who We Are: Student Introductions

Due to Canvas 3/4 by 11:59 pm.

To introduce ourselves and begin building our class community, please create a discussion post in which you share a reflection about who you are and your thoughts on feminism and gender studies. Your initial post should be about 300-400 words (roughly one page, double-spaced if it were a paper).

In your post, please include:

  • Your name, pronouns, year at Cuyamaca, and some of your interests or hobbies (feel free to share anything else youd like your classmates to know about you).
  • Why you decided to take GEND 116.
  • What you are most looking forward to in this class.
  • Your current perceptions of feminism and/or gender studies. This could include ideas you already have, conversations with friends or family, or messages youve noticed in popular culture and social media (whether supportive, critical, or both).
  • Both Laura Rendn and bell hooks ask us to reimagine education as something beyond information transfer. Rendn reminds us that true learning happens when we honor both the intellect (pensante) and the heart/spirit (sentir), creating a more holistic and humanizing pedagogy. hooks similarly pushes us toward creating spaces where teachers and students alike bring their whole selves into the process of learning. If we were to practice Engaged and Sentipensante Pedagogy together in this online class, what might that look like in our discussion boards, assignments, or interactions? Be sure to include at least one quote or example from ourreadings to support your reflection.

Attach a picture of yourself so we can start to put names to faces. If youre not comfortable with that, you can instead share a picture, meme, or piece of art that represents you/something you enjoy.

Peer Engagement Requirement:

Due to Canvas 3/6 by 11:59 pm.

After posting your reflection, you are required to reply to at least two classmates. Superficial responses will not receive full credit. Instead, your replies should demonstrate engagement with what your peer shared by:

  • Asking a follow-up question
  • Noting a connection or similarity with your own experience
  • Offering a different perspective and explaining why
  • Reflecting on something they said that stood out to you

Each reply should be at least 4-6 sentences and should contribute to building a thoughtful and supportive classroom community.

Example 1 Amal

My name is Amal, and my pronouns are she/her. I am currently a student at Cuyamaca College. I am married and have four children, who are a big source of motivation for me in everything I do. I moved to the United States ten years ago because of the war in my home country, seeking safety and a better future for my family. Since moving here, I have focused on building a stable life, learning the language, and supporting my children as they grow. Outside of school and family life, I enjoy cooking, spending time with my family, and learning new skills that can help me in daily life and work.

I chose to enroll in GEND 116 because I want to learn more about social issues, gender, and equality in the US. I now have a unique perspective on how other societies perceive gender roles and opportunities as a result of moving to a new nation. I believe that this course will make it easier for me to comprehend the difficulties and struggles that women and families have faced throughout history.

Hearing about my students’ experiences and viewpoints is what I am most excited about. Everybody has a story to tell, and I believe hearing other people’s perspectives can teach me more about society and people in general. The connections between feminism and gender studies and culture, employment, and family also pique my curiosity. According to my present understanding, feminism is about equality and justice for all people, regardless of gender. Although there are numerous ways to interpret feminism, I think this class will help me grasp it more thoroughly and clearly. Bell Hooks characterizes education as a “practice of freedom,” in which both teachers and students completely participate, while Laura Rendn stresses that learning should involve both “pensante and sentir,” integrating the mind and heart. Sharing personal stories, responding to others with respect, and fostering an environment where everyone feels at ease while learning and developing together are all examples of engaged and sentipensante teaching in action in this class.

example 2

My name is Raad, and my pronouns are he/him. I am currently a student at Cuyamaca College, and my major is Business Administration. My goal is to transfer to San Diego State University (SDSU) to continue my studies and complete my bachelors degree. Outside of school, I like being busy, learning about business and being an entrepreneur, and spending time with family and friends. I want to learn skills that will help me do well in business and that will also help me understand people and society better.

As part of my general education requirements, I chose to take GEND 116. I also think it is an important class that can help students understand gender and equality problems in society. There is a lot of talk about gender, identity, and justice in the media, at work, and in schools these days. As someone who wants to work in business someday, I think it’s important to know about these things because companies and groups hire people from all sorts of backgrounds.

The best thing about this class for me is hearing what other people have to say. We all have different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. I think that learning from each other can help us all grow and understand each other better. I think that the class discussions will help me learn more and see things from different points of view.

At the moment, I think that feminism is about making sure that men and women have the same rights, chances, and treatment. There are different ways that feminism is shown on social media and in pop culture, and people often have strong feelings about it. I want to learn more about feminism’s history and gender studies’ different views because of this.

We should think about education as more than just getting information, says both Laura Rendn and bell hooks. Rendn says that learning should involve both the mind and the heart. She calls this “sentipensante,” which means that you should think and feel at the same time. Bell hooks also says that school can be “the practice of freedom,” where teachers and students talk about important things. Engaged and reflective pedagogy might look like sharing honest reflections, responding to peers with respect, and making a supportive space where everyone feels like they can participate and learn from each other in an online class.

WRITE MY PAPER


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