How do we apply our knowledge of imagination and memory to Bauby?

Quick Write:  

What does imagination mean to you? How important is it? What about memory? Can you have one without the other?

Imagination is very important to me. In fact I love to use my imagination all the time. Now my memories are great withing themselves, However when ever I have a good or bad memory I will use my imagination to  enhance it which I personally think is a great idea. I really do not think you can have imagination without memory, I truly believe that they walk hand in hand and are very important for ones mind.

"Ni hao! (How are you in Chinese.) Frankly, I'm jet lagged. The video above was taken a few days ago in Shanghai, China. I asked the kind Chinese ladies to wave to my students.

Today we will start thinking about imagination and memory and how it applies to Jean-Dominque Bauby. We will be reading the memoir seminar style. Each student will take a section of the book, teaching a lesson and leading the discussion that day. Let's spend today getting back in the groove."

 Shanghai, China!!! Always wanted to travel to China, Maybe someday I will. The videos you took there were very nice. Good to see another part of the world through your lens. The Chinese women all seemed happy and friendly, that made me smile!

Reading the book this way helps me get a better understanding of it rather than if I were to read alone. Today was really helpful. Definitely gotten back into the groove!

How do we apply our close read of "Science of the Soul" to Jean-Dominique Bauby?

QUICK WRITE:

Reflect on what you learned in detail this week in at least one well-organized paragraph.

I have learned something new within this past week. Its a cultivation of things we have discussed leading up to this point and the biggest thing that I really can take away at this point is how strong the human brain really is. Our minds are essential in our lives and without a strong one then you will be drastically limiting yourself in all aspects of life. I tend to take a positive outlook on life now more so than ever before. I usually keep my thoughts and feelings to myself, But as of late I have been willing to express myself because I realized that sharing these things are also a critical part in growing and improving your mind. Overall what I can say is that if you have a strong mind, no matter what. You can make it through to the other side.

Step 1: By now you should have read the article about the “Science of the Soul.” 

Question: How do the ideas in the article apply to Bauby? Do they apply to Bauby?
 

The article is very interesting as it does leave room for debating the "I think, therefore I am" theory. However in Bauby's case I believe that if you were to take this theory and say that it is true then Bauby would definitely exist. He is alive and based off the theory since his mind is fully functional and he is capable of having thoughts and his feelings are intact then that would mean that he exists. Personally I wouldn't try to apply whatever was said in the article to Bauby, I do believe that humans have souls and I don't think its fair to say that if people couldn't have thoughts then they do not exist. Their is a bunch of people who are mentally impaired, But their feelings are still there so I can't say if someones brain can not function properly then that labels them as non-existing.

 Step 2: Synthesize all of this heavy thinking into a cartoon that gives a graphic reflection of your opinion on the human vs animal debate. Show your readers your opinion on what and how animals think as opposed to what and how people think. Be creative with your graphic story.

Cartoon Completed in my previous post. :)

How do we analyze the difference between animals and humans?

Humans Vs Animals: When hunger strikes.

QUICK WRITE:

I believe animals have souls, I believe that any living organism has a soul. It would be hard to explain how but that is just my belief. One good reason why i believe animals have souls is that they interact with other animals and also with humans. Animals bond with humans just as how humans bond with each other. Even though animals can not really express their feelings, We know when they are feeling happy or if they are experiencing pain.

The comic shows that there is a lack of understanding when it comes to humans communicating with animals. Humans can only speak their language to the animal in hopes that the dog will understand or at least get the gist of what they are saying. Animals understand nothing other than words that they are familiar with like a called name i.e Ginger, I believe that animals will learn overtime with repetition but if only said once it will just sound like "blah blah blah" to them.

 "I think, therefore I am."

I disagree with this saying mainly because Rene Descartes says that only thinking will classify you as existing. Now I do believe that yes having thoughts does mean that you are relevant and do indeed exist however there are many things that contribute to being alive, fully functional and very well existing in this world. Having emotions, getting sick or being very healthy, speaking, listening can all be signs that one exists. That is why i don't completely agree with the quote by Rene Descartes.

If there is indeed a physical (scientific) basis for thinking and feeling, what in your opinion is the basic difference between animals and humans?

The basic difference between animals and humans would be language. I think that communication is so often forgotten for its importance in society. With common language we can communicate our thoughts and feels to one another and with animals and humans having that difference its very hard to bridge that gap.

How would you characterize Bauby’s life after his stroke? How has his severe physical impairment affected his feelings or thoughts? Has locked-in syndrome changed his identity as a human being? Has it affected his “soul”—whatever that is? Why or why not?  

I would characterize Baubys life after his stroke as very sedimentary. He has no control over his life anymore, Although the physical impairment is so great, I will say that it has not affected Baubys feelings or thoughts. At first he may have thought that this would soon be over but after the realization came into place that he does indeed have locked-in syndrome Bauby's identity was sort of changed. I think it was changed in a minor way however because now he would be known for the associated group of symptoms instead of for what his occupation was before. I don't believe Bauby's soul was affected at all, He is still the same person on the inside and made the decision of enjoying life even after such a tragic incident occurred. After hearing this story, It makes me realize that there is so much in life to live for and that giving up on it is never the best option. Thanks Mr. Bauby!

How do we begin analyzing Jean-Dominique Bauby's character?

QUICK WRITE:

This week 1 (No Effort) I wasn't here for the peer editing, I got into the class late but I will do my best for future works. 1 (No Effort) I didn't get the essay because I wasn't in class, But I will definitely try and make it up. Participation in the Socratic Seminar, 4 (Exemplary) I think the my participation in the Socratic Seminar was very good. I enjoyed discussing the public selective schools in full detail and I had many questions to ask for the other classmates whom knew a little more than I did on the topic. To that end, 3 (Proficient) I made good connections with the text into our discussion but I still wasn't quite sure what the whole topic was about even though I got most of it there is still more I can learn. We reflected on what is known as locked-in syndrome and this is new to me as I have never heard of this syndrome before so I had many thoughts to share about it, Such as the cures. If there is one, How do people get the syndrome?, What it would be like living normally and suddenly having the syndrome change your life?. (4 Exemplary).

MIND MAP:

Heres my mind map

How do we use questioning to evaluate locked-in syndrome?

QUICK WRITE:

Identify the people, places, things, ideas that make life worth living for you personally.

There are so many things that make my life worth living at this very moment in time. Going through my mind right now as i sit down and reflect a couple of the most important ones are, Graduating school, Going to college, Going further with my education. Those are goals that are in no specific order along with my family and sustaining a great career and being independent.

 3,2,1:

3 Observations
a) People with locked-in syndrome cannot move their body.
b) Locked-in syndrome makes the human body paralyzed.
c) He seemed happy to still be alive and with his family.

2 Questions
a) Why do people get locked-in syndrome (What are the causes?)
b) Is there any cures or treatments for locked-in syndrome?

1 Feel, Reaction or Emotion
a) I feel really bad seeing people with locked-in syndrome, It doesn't look like a pleasant way to live life. 

Quick Write Response after reading:

There is so many things to look forward to in life that can keep a person going and motivated to continue living their lives the best way that they can. A person with locked-in syndrome has no ability to enjoy life physically what so ever and can still find joy in living life after they have made contact with such a neurological disorder. I guess what I am trying to say is, A humans mind is capable of making bad situations good, and good situations even better. It is all up to the individual and how they choose to go about it. Everyone is different and with that being said, What we consider a reason to live/ daily motivation will hugely vary from one individual to the next. However one thing is certain that if you keep a positive outlook on your life then it will yield greater satisfaction and thus make for a better quality of life.

How do we define and understand mindset?

Quick Write:

If you could change any attribute or characteristic about yourself as a student, what would it be? Explain.

I really wouldn't want to change anything about myself as a student to be totally honest. Ive spent most of my time trying to change things about myself as far as being a student goes, But now that i have changed in such a drastic way, All that i am looking to do is improve on what i have already changed. For example i never used to get up early to make it to school on time, Now i do it everyday and it feels great to be able to get up in the morning and go through my daily routine before heading out to school. How would i improve on that? Simple, There are times were i will stay in bed just to get an extra 10mins in but i can always just get up. So its little things like that, In which i can change in order to improve on myself as a student overall.

REFLECTION:

Before you leave today, post a reflection at least one-paragraph in length connecting what you wrote in today's Quick Write to what you learned from your reading so far.

While reading I looked back at my quick write just to see if I what I wrote would connect with this first chapter. Now one thing I definitely learned is that there are 2 different mindsets in which individuals can carry the (fixed and growth) mindsets. I always understood that people could have certain mindsets that would either restrict or let them expand their normal thinking. What I didn't know is that one could have a fixed mindset which in my own interpretation means that one is already well-off and believes there is nothing more he/she can do in order to build on what they already have/know. I always believed that people have what is referred to as a "growth" mindset in that, No matter if they have great or little knowledge that individual will still continue to learn and enhance what they already know. I think both mindsets are connected however, As you can changed from one mindset to the other with reasons. Now this is something I would like to learn more about is that; Why and How would a person change from a growth to a fixed mindset or from a fixed mindset to the growth mindset. Once I learn what are the causes and effects I will better underlying question which is "how do we define and understand mindset?".

How do we define and understand grit?

Quick write:

One time where i really failed was on my permit test. This is a funny story actually because i had only studied for about a week. And i told my father "I'm ready, take me this Friday." He responds "Are you sure?, I didn't even see you reading the driver's manual." Of course i told him yes i definitely am ready and we went. After taking the exam i was talking to my dad as if i had aced the permit exam, The teller calls my ticket # and i look at my dad and say "I'm going to be driving tomorrow!" As soon as i get to the counter, She looks at me and says "Come back on Monday, You failed." I felt so embarrassed i told my dad lets hurry up and get out of the DMV. I hadn't felt that bad in a long time. Ever since then i have taken all the essential steps in order to assure my success in any test or exam that i take.

Read these statements and decide if you mostly agree or disagree with each. When you have finished share your answers with a partner.

1. Your intelligence is something very basic about you that you can't change very much. (D)
2. You can learn new things, but you can't really change how intelligent you are. (D)
3. No matter how much intelligence you have, you can always change it quite a bit. (A)
4. You can always substantially change how intelligent you are. (A)

Read these statements about personal qualities and character and, again, decide if you mostly agree or disagree with each one. Then, share your answers with a partner.

1. You are a certain kind of person, and there is not much that can be done to really change that. (D)
2. No matter what kind of person you are, you can always change substantially. (A)
3. You can do things differently, but the important parts of who you are can't really be changed. (A)
4. You can always change basic things about the kind of person you are. (A)

Angela Lee Duckworth stated made three claims;

•  That I.q and how well off a student is does not determine whether or not that student will be successful.
• Children who have grit, overcame failure regardless of their I.q or Failure.
• Grit can be taught to children by simply leading with example. 

REFLECTION:

Grit for me was developed over years and years of basic trial and error. Life is a learning process and throughout my childhood i had no problem with school. Things came easy i was a fast learner and did well in school naturally. Safe to say when i was younger i didn't have any grit at all because i didn't fail consistently. When i grew up and experienced more of what life has to offer, i realized that i would fail more than once before ultimately succeeding in whatever it is i was doing at the time. This class makes me realize that i am a gritty person, Ive always worked hard to achieve my highest and greatest goals, no matter if i am not smart enough or not strong enough or just not ready. I give my best and go through the process always looking at the end result and the rewards that it would yield. School is definitely where most individuals will learn if they have grit and/or build it slowly through perseverance. I will always be improving who i am as a person and will always be interested in constantly developing my grit!