Week 5/7-5/13: Creativity and the Ideal Conflict Manager: Part 2

Summarize what you liked most and what you liked least about this class. In other words, what were the strengths and weaknesses of this class? Would you recommend this class to other students? Why or why not? I have taken more online classes at San Jose State than I have in-person classes, and I absolutely loved how the blog assignments and responses were all due by the end of the week but 12 hours apart. I have a class where the assignments and responses BOTH had to be 24 hours apart and this was difficult to manage when other projects and papers were also due. I liked the option to be able to do the conflict project either all alone or as a group. I work full-time and take 11 units each semester, so flexibility is needed. Often a professor assigns a project for a group, and only 1/3 or ½ of the group participates. I enjoyed how responsive and available the professor was. The idea to be available in IM is genius!! I disliked was how much lead time was given for projects. I am a person that likes to get a SUPER head start knowing the middle and end of the semester get crammed with assignments, quizzes, projects, and papers. I also liked least that this class did not have a final study guide since it is a cumulative test. I have found that cumulative tests are difficult to study for since it is 16 weeks of material. Not knowing which answers were wrong on tests was also hard for me. I never know which terms, concepts, etc., are wrong so statistically it is expected that I will also get those answers wrong on the final questions. I would highly recommend this class to another student. In fact, a coworker of mine was admitted into SJSU for the Fall 2012 semester and I have requested she take this class!! It is easy to manage, the professor is responsive, understanding, and knows how to teach remotely.

Week 5/7-5/13: Creativity and the Ideal Conflict Manager: Part 1

After reading Chapter 16, it is apparent that people have such negative views of conflict because many people do not know how to manage it effectively or efficiently. While this is taking place a conflict may be filled with heightened emotions, avoidance, silence, and may be leading to violence or a terminated relationship. All of these previously mentioned factors are usually seen as negative, so people often assume all conflict is correlated with negative emotions, thoughts, and actions. As more people become more educated on the subject of conflict, its numerous forms, and the ways in properly managing it- conflict is feared much less. We fear the unknown and if the mass population does not choose to enroll in a conflict or communication type class, they will always fear conflict. It is a shame we do not incorporate communication studies more frequently in our school systems since it is an imperative part of our family, professional, and other parts of our lives.