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1. Do you consider yourself an introvert, an extrovert, or a mix? Explain.

I think that I am firmly rooted in the middle of being an extrovert and an introvert.  The more I have gotten to know myself, I have found out that it is equally important for me to spend time decompressing by myself away from others as it is for me to socialize in a group of people.  Working in the field of education, I find that I am more extroverted during my time at work with students or park visitors, but highly value time with only myself or my husband and my dog when I get home.  Often spending time with people throughout the day is very rewarding, but also exhausting, and I am just becoming better at realizing that I need some introverted time to recharge my batteries.

2.Think about the best class you’ve ever had. What made that class so special?

The best class I have ever taken was an Ornithology course during my undergraduate at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  For many reasons, I found this course fulfilling and worthwhile; I was very interested in the subject matter, the professor and TAs were very enthusiastic about birds and instilled this passion in their students, and part of our course each week involved spending time out in the greater Twin Cities metro area observing and recording the behaviors of birds.  With the element of being out in the field, I not only enjoyed the excuse to spend more time outside for my studies, but I also think that I was better able to learn the material than I would have if we had just stayed within the classroom.

3. What is one expectation you have for this class?

At the conclusion of this course, I have the expectation that I will have a much more solid framework to which I can complete my capstone project.  At this time, I have a general idea of the project I would like to complete, but I want my work to be as useful as effective as possible.  I hope that this course will give me honest feedback from instructors and peers in which I can best implement a curriculum for Yellowstone National Park’s education office.

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1. As a child I was very much an extrovert, but as I've gotten older I've become more introverted and tend to relish my time alone. I still crave some socialization each day (be it lunch with a friend, or teaching five classes) but I definitely need time by myself to recharge. I've lived alone for the last several years, and while I couldn't imagine doing so at an earlier age, it's incredibly satisfying to me now.

2. One of the best classes I've taken was Ed Psych. The content was interesting enough, but the professor's ability to endlessly share personal anecdotes/examples from her career as a special educator brought the material to life. I've found this to be true during several other classes taught by faculty working outside of academia (no offense to the career academics!).

3. I expect to work hard in this class, and at times be frustrated by my progress. However, I know the fruits of my labor will be incredibly satisfying.

Photo: Camel selfie in Morocco after a night camping in a Berber tent.

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David Schreiner
1. I am very much an extrovert. I love connecting with the people around me and listening to their struggles, triumphs, and general thoughts. I like to think of myself as a listener first and a sharer second.

2. I think that the best class I have taken would have to be my student teaching experience. I worked with high school seniors and it really opened my eyes up to what teaching high school can be like, both good and bad. In the end I had wonderful coordinators and support staff that were not only influential during my student teaching but after. I am a proud middle school teacher now and would not have it any other way!

3. One expectation that I have for this class is in depth research and data gathering. I do not know exactly what I want to research, although I have some thoughts, but I am very much looking forward to diving back in to my qualitative analysis genes from my undergraduate degree!

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1. I'm more of an extrovert than an introvert, but I do love time by myself to read/run/recharge. The older I get, the more I crave time by myself.

2. The best class I've ever taken was an experiential education class during my undergrad. We learned to apply tai chi principles to sport and movement and through the activities ended up in all kinds of interpersonal conflicts, which we learned to work through as a group. I use these principles all the time in my life and think about this class and its effects often.

3. My primary expectation for this class is that I can focus my research interests and start to be able to visualize a path to potential action research in my area of interest. I get so excited about my topic that it's really challenging for me to know which direction to take.

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1.    I consider myself a mixture of an introvert and extrovert but leaning more towards an introvert.  While I love teaching any size class, I really only enjoy social interactions in small groups. The larger the group the more awkward I can feel.  I can be a hermit who enjoys can hibernate in my apartment but then cook a delicious meal and invite friends over to share.

2.    I have had a lot of good classes that were generally made special by the students and the atmosphere create by the professor.  One good class was a Japanese history course that I took in college.  Through this class I became fascinated by Asian history and culture which has then greatly influenced much of my adult life (I live in China and am considering moving to Japan). Yet, the class that I consider the best was a social studies class in high school.  This class was made special by the teacher who was the type of teacher I inspire to be.  He infused the class with his love of history and took learning to a new level.  He had us reenact the French revolution, putting Louis XVI on trial and he transformed the classroom into a medieval monastery to discuss the reformation and also into a civil war hospital tent.

3.    One of my expectations for this class is to prepare and assist me in research and writing for my thesis.   I am a little intimidated and nervous about this project so I am ultimately hoping that this class will ease the way into the project.

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1. I am an extrovert, all the way. There have been some points where being home with my kids has made me crave alone time, but I think that is just because I need a break from being needed! When I am with other people I always come away feeling energized and motivated. During one of our classes I had to do phone conversations with classmates each week, and it was amazing to notice how motivating it was to actually talk to someone about class content.

2. Whenever I am asked to answer this question, I think of a social studies class I had in high school. The teacher was strict and difficult, and did not hand out many high grades. I remember working so hard in that class and feeling so satisfied when the teacher gave me positive feedback. The high expectations were good for me!
I also think about my time studying abroad in Guatemala. I spent some time teaching in a small town outside of Antigua, and my journal entries describe the lightbulb moments when I realized in a tangible way that education was a true gift that could empower students.  This was a significant perspective to gain as I began my teaching career.

3. I am intimidated by the thesis project, and I am hoping to have a better understanding of my topic and the process as a result of this class. I do not like sharing my work, especially work that feels "in progress," and I am expecting that I will be stretched with this during this course (which is a positive thing)!

Photo: This is my family hiking near Grand Marais, MN. The messy hair, smiles, and tan faces make me miss summer on this cold winter day!

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1. I would definitely consider myself an extrovert. I love talking to others! It sometimes takes me a little bit to warm up to my surroundings but then I seem to take off and carry conversations on and on! I would rather be with a group of people than by myself and even look for things to do after school like hang out with colleagues or friends. I get really passionate about learning with and from my students and having conversations about things that mean something to them.

2. During my undergrad, I had two favorite classes. One was teaching Elementary Social Studies and the other was Classroom Management K-8. What made these classes special were the professors that were very energized and passionate about what they taught. I find Social Studies to not be as highly valued as a curriculum or content area and this class really opened up my perception to making it important to students I worked with. Classroom management is something I am always trying to fine-tune to this day as an educator and that class gave me so many ideas for scenarios that could take place in a classroom. I want to continue building on my knowledge of these classes and keep reflecting to gain better insight for years to come.

3. I expect to be challenged in this class while gaining helpful knowledge on discussions and investing time into research for my capstone thesis/project.

Photo: This is a picture of my husband and I at Fenway Park in Boston when we visited over MEA break last October.

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1. I consider myself an introvert, but sometimes I wonder if I just feel drained from social interactions because I have anxiety and some other issues with people stemming from my childhood. I love and am fascinated by people, but I am most relaxed when I'm at home. However, I've also had days of long, constant social stimulation as a teacher that have left me feeling an adrenaline-pumping sort of positivity-high. It's something I am always reflecting on.

2. The best classes I've ever had have had a few things in common. Even though as a teacher I believe in student-centered learning, I've noticed that, as a student, my favorite classes have been ones where I've had a teacher who is extremely insightful and enigmatic without having to be loud or performative in any way. I guess 'wise' would be another word for them. Their presence created a calming and safe learning environment. They made me feel seen. In these classes it felt like there was a social-emotional learning component in addition to the content. My favorite classes are usually discussion, writing, and reflection-based.

3. I expect to have some epiphany moments and get some great new ideas/plans to make my curriculum more structured, more meaningful, more engaging, and more effective. I expect to gain a lot of insight from my professor and my peers. I really hope I can continue to grow as a teacher and as a person in this class.

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1. I used to think I was pure extrovert, and many people who know me assume that to be the case, but the more I've gotten to know myself, the more I've realized I need introvert time to recharge back up to my full extroverted power. I'm never afraid of speaking in front of people or being the center of attention, but sometimes, after a day of teaching or a party, I just want to go home and sit in peace and quiet.

2. The best classes I've had have always been the ones with the most demanding professors who expected a lot of students and provided support for students to meet their goals.

Mine is a tie between my World Languages Methodology Course while I was completing my MA in German (in my home state of Michigan) and the Math Methodology Course during my licensure program at Hamline.  In both of these courses, I felt like the professors:
-REALLY knew what they were doing
-gave clear expectations and guidelines
-were always willing to help
-expected nothing less than our best efforts.

Those traits of professors made me want to work harder, both for myself and for them, and I still often refer back to my coursework and methods learned in those classes 6+ years later. They continue to inspire me both inside of my classroom and in my ongoing learning outside of the classroom.

3. I expect to be challenged and supported by this class, as well as to narrow down my research ideas. Hopefully narrowing it down will make it easier for me to decide between a project and a thesis.

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1. On the introvert/extrovert spectrum I am definitely more extroverted. I am a coach after school in the fall and I recognize that spending time with that group of human gives me energy most days, something I miss when that season ends and I spend time after school with fewer social interactions. I recognize my limits though and am always awed people who seem to never exhaust their desire for human interaction.

2. This is a great question because right away the lens of "as a student" or "as a teacher" influences the answer (of course it's important to note that in any "best class" all of the humans play both roles at different times). Any great class features the majority of participants engaged, dedicated, and respectful. Another key quality is some measure of intellectual discomfort (as much as the students' maturity level allows) as true discovery takes place

3.  My expectation for this class is to be challenged to implement a change in my classroom that is both measurable and within the broader context of best practice research.

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1. I would consider myself a mix between an introvert and extrovert.  I need to my alone time to 'charge' especially if it is going to be a big group of people I do not know.  I am more comfortable with a small group setting.
2. I think the best class I have ever had would be "The History of India".
This was my second class with this professor and he was an amazing lecturer.  This was also a class that I had limited background knowledge on, so everything was fascinating.
3. As for this class, I have the notion that the Capstone Project will be challenging just from hearing others' experiences. I hope this class will help break the task down to being manageable.

Photo: I'm getting married in June, so this is one of our engagement pictures.

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1. Do you consider yourself an introvert, an extrovert, or a mix?
I would say a mix. If I am in a group of people I know or a situation I am comfortable situation I am an extrovert. Otherwise I would consider myself an introvert.
2. Best class I've ever had.
The class that comes to mind in Number Theory during my second here of getting my teaching degree. The professor helped me see connections with different math topics I had never thought of before. I loved seeing those connections and it helped me gain a better understanding for why different things worked, and therefore made me a better teacher.
3. What is one expectation you have for this class?
Currently I see completing my Capstone Thesis/Project as this crazy daunting task - I am hoping this class will help break it down for me and give me the confidence to complete it.

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1.
I'm an introvert. I get my energy from being alone or from small gatherings. I am quite sociable though and if at a large event, I have no trouble connecting with people. People tend to assume that I'm an extrovert because I am able to converse readily with people but I am definitely an introvert.
2.
The best class I ever took was 'Anthropology of Globalization' that I took in grad school. The class was special because it was small and we sat in a circle each period to discuss. The professor was knowledgeable and she had high expectations. The coursework was challenging, the content was interesting, and the class discussion was stimulating.
3. What is one expectation you have for this class?
I would like to clarify my research question and begin to put things together in a cohesive way - it feels a bit murky at the moment. I'm also hoping to return to research or some other avenue related to education (but not teaching) and would like to create my thesis/capstone in a way that prepares me for this.

Photo: I love both traveling and doing yoga so this photo of me in Bali is perfect to share.

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1.  Do you consider yourself an introvert, an extrovert, or a mix? Explain.  I am both.  I certainly suffer from social anxiety, so sometimes I avoid social situations such as funerals and weddings. However, I surprise myself and enter into challenging social situations imaginable.

2. Think about the best class you’ve ever had. What made that class special?  A class at Hamline with Nancy McGinley Myers about Diversity.  She opened my mind to new ideas and how to create equality in the classroom.

3.  What is one expectation you have for this class? I would like to develop my burning questions for my Capstone and be passionate about it.

This is me doing some mission work in Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas México.  I'm the tall person on the right in the back.

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Guten Tag!! I'm Samantha. I'm currently teaching German at a high school in MN. Here are my responses!
1. I consider myself to be an extroverted introvert. I "recharge" with time by myself, but I also enjoy the company of others and can hold my own in large crowds and conversations with new people!
2. One of the best classes I've ever taken was the science methods course offered at Hamline with Bill Lindquist. It was hands-on and driven by student questions/discovery!
3. I expect that this class will help guide and narrow my research ideas for my capstone project.

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1. I'm an extrovert, generally.  But there are times when I walk into a crowd of people, like at my son's hockey practices, and just sit by myself.

2.  Intro to Children's Lit. I took it as an undergrad, 15 years before I even thought of teaching. Figured it would be easy. It was one of the most difficult classes because it forced me to see the world from the perspective of a child. I hated being a kid and always thought like an adult. It taught me I can be a critical thinker without being condescending and cynical.

3.  Since receiving the license, I haven't taught. My expectation is to salvage the investment of time and resources in the MAT program into a useful professional development experience.

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1. In the past I have described myself as an introverted extrovert. I very much enjoy my time with my friends and co-workers, but when I'm done, I'm done. At that point I need to retreat for a bit, preferably to the barn for some equine therapy, or on a run to clear my head.
2. I think the best class I ever had was actually when I was in an audiology program. It wasn't the best as far as academics, but the professor was so great and encouraging. Obviously I decided audiology was not for me, but she absolutely believed in me and it was my first time as an adult learner that I had truly felt that.
3. An expectation I have for this class is to be able to apply what I learn. I love when I am able to build something new for my students based on new learning for myself.

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1. Do you consider yourself an introvert, an extrovert, or a mix? Explain.
I would say that I am a little in between. I am definitely an extrovert in informal settings and while teaching. I love to talking to people and just getting to be myself without any inhibitions. However, I do appreciate spending a lot of time alone with my thoughts, a good book, candles, and some coffee.
2.Think about the best class you’ve ever had. What made that class so special?
The best class I ever had was my first college-level Shakespeare class. Even though this was a huge lecture class (100+), I loved my professor's enthusiasm for Shakespeare. I hated Shakespeare in high school, and he allowed me to see the genius and art in the words.
3. What is one expectation you have for this class?
I am still unsure what my expectations for this class are, but one thing that I am definitely expecting is to get a narrower focus for my research and getting useful feedback on my way there.

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1. Do I consider myself an introvert, an extrovert or a mix? (When you post your selfie do no need to repeat the question) No doubt 100%
introvert. Need time to recharge after teaching, love people but need more alone time than my peers.
2. Best class I every had.  Educational anthropology class in my PHD program.  Professor caused me to stretch as a learner & that was what got me to complete my dissertation.
3. One expectation for this class?  Students will find me accessible and a good listener.