The Reflective Essay

This reflective essay is based on the Freshman Inquiry class of Columbia

River Basin at Portland State University in 2007. The learning process in Freshman

Inquiry Program helps me get through the struggle during the first year in college at

Portland State University. My perceived strengths and weaknesses as a self-directed learner are based on the four University Studies Freshman Inquiry Goals: critical thinking, appreciation of the diversity of human experience, ethics and social responsibility, and communication. The experiences with the Freshman Inquiry curriculum and pedagogy are plenty. However from this class, I learned how to analyze the article, write the abstract and research paper. The most impression in this class is that I actually learn how to write the paper more efficiency. It improves my writing and communication skill. Even though I first thought that this class is pointless because it has nothing to do with my major. After all I know not only to focus on my major because what I learned from this class can be use in my business class also. My opinions over other classes outside my major have changed because someday I can use information from class in the real life. The Freshman Inquiry does not only focus on my writing and communication skills. It also helps student to work as a team with other people in the class. If we think of the real life situation, every job requires the work as team even though you might hate the team member.

Overall experience in this class is great. However my recommendation over the course assignment is may be less reading. The reading material that we have for the class even it relates to the topic of the course, it does not get the attention from the student. Like this topic may be come up with other activity rather than reading the book.