Social Interaction of the Class

Some of you are concerned that asserting your opinion in the class, or participating in provocative discussion will harm your grade. Please be assured that this is not true. Although grading in a creatively based class does involve a level of subjectivity, I work very hard at the point of grading, to evaluate the work, the effort, and the comprehension of the course content. I do not view this class personally, I view it professionally. Although I genuinely like this class very much, that is a consideration that is secondary. The main point is that teaching has a purpose - which for me, is to stimulate growth - creatively and intellectually, and to introduce you to a way of thinking and working that will contribute to your life as you go forward. I do try to prod you in both gentle and more direct ways. It comes from an overall perspective that I work to balance. The balance is between how much of the stimulus comes from me, and how much comes from all of you towards each other.

As you know, I value attendance highly, as I think much of what happens in this class is based on process that evolves over time. I laid that out in the fist class and I think you have seen that develop over the course of the semester. But in the end, attendance and class participation are only 35% of the grade. Here for your review is the grading system from the syllabus:

Research, attendance and participation 35%
In class assignments 30%
Final project 35%

But the other criterion that I value and believe is part of the process of learning, is fun. In game design, the idea is called creative play. What I hope you will understand about this class, is that all of it - discussion, production, ideas - are integrated into an overall creative play - an environment where I hope profound learning is a by-product of experience.

The central kernal of the class is your own experience - how this process may reveal some inner aspects of yourself, and how that can be translated into a creative tool and become part of your language. The composition of that kernal is emotional, psychological and social - all aspects of human identity. The more you are able to take hold of this process and bring your own honesty and openness to it, the more you will get out of it. You have all done a wonderful job so far, it has been extremely interesting to be involved with you this semester. When we get together to critique the projects, and the class as a whole (as I appreciate your feedback as well), this understanding will be the lens of evaluation.