Final Student Evaluation - Siena Heights and Beyond

Communication Final Paper by Andrew Daywalt

Adult Learner - LAS 301

Adult Learner was an interesting class right out of the gate. As a required University class, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it ended up teaching me one of the harshest lessons about not only the reality of college courses, but also the expectations of “real life.” The course material was the pretty standard fare of personal/self exploration and trying to understand the world as we, as students, branch out from childhood for the first time, or at least that is what I gained as a young student. While that information is valuable, the aforementioned lesson was somewhat indirect and self-inflicting. For the majority of my time in my Adult Learner class I kept up a solid grade, but made one critical error that left me with an unsatisfactory C letter grade. By missing the turn in date for my final paper, I was given an automatic zero on the assignment, an error that has had a lasting effect to this day. Now I know it's generally not considered kosher to talk about bad grades on a professional portfolio, however what is valued and learned from this conundrum far exceeds that gut feeling to ignore mistakes, major errors, and examples of irresponsibility. The C earned in my Adult Learner is the most unfortunate, yet one of the most valuable lessons that I have learned as a university student, and I'm not afraid to declare such a mark, especially as it is reflective of a course that is meant to introduce students to education as an adult. An unintentional, yet effective lesson. The chosen sample from this course is the final paper that was never officially graded.

Grade Earned: C
Instructor: Mary Brigham
Semester: Winter 2014

Big Idea Final by Andrew Daywalt

Fundamentals of Professional Communication - PCM 301

My fundamentals of Professional Speaking class was your basic introduction class, but as the basis for the topic of my major, that kind of raised the stakes. Prior to this course, I hadn't considered the implications of “communication” or what it really meant. This course solidified that I was earning the right degree by tying together the fundamentals of many of my other interests into a practical and professionally useful manner. Art is communication, philosophy is communication and society is built upon communication. Yes, this course was basic, but it was the perfect introduction to a topic that would shape the next two years of my life.

Grade Earned: A
Instructor: Mary Raymond
Semester: Winter 2014

Professional Speaking - PCM 340

Like many other students, Professional Speaking began as the single most frightening class, especially as someone who hadn't previously taken a public speaking course. While the first couple of weeks were certainly nerve-wracking, the fast-paced nature of the class in conjunction with an instructor that refused to allow any of his students to be afraid of an audience, the course quickly transformed from a nightmare into one of the greatest realizations of public speaking, confidence and social building skills. Even if I had not learned to speak in front of a small crowd, this class played a major role in harnessing self-confidence in the face of complete strangers like nothing else. Thank you, David Hayes, for pushing us to become more outspoken individuals.

Grade Earned: A
Instructor: David Hayes
Semester: Winter 2014

Big Idea Final by Andrew Daywalt

Special Topics: Social Media - PCM 485

Social media and communication are two things that go hand in hand in our world today. As an individual that has grown up surrounded by computers and the ever evolving internet, the introduction and deep integration of social media into all facets of my life has become second nature. With all that being said, this course introduced me to aspects and uses of social media that I hadn't originally considered. The professional use of social media is far more complicated than it seems on a surface level. A natural approach is optimal, however one quickly comes to learn that making something constructed an intentional seem natural is no small feat. I would also like to thank this course for finally pushing me along to understand and enjoy Twitter both personally and professionally.

Grade Earned: A
Instructor: Mary Raymond
Semester: Winter 2014

Communication Skills in Management - BAM 441

Communication Skills in Management was at the intersection between the subject and study of communications, and the act and experience of being a manager. This class wasn't quite a management course, but also wasn't quite a communications class, but a healthy combination that dealt with how managers lead and direct a group of individuals through key communication. A managers job primarily deals with the language, in one form or another, shared between them and their employees on a daily basis. Communication must be healthy and executed properly in order to see results, respect and healthy long-term relationships that benefit the efficiency and viability of a manager to employee relationship.

Grade Earned: A
Instructor: Jeanne Doonan
Semester: Summer 2014

Intercultural Communication - PCM 329

Intercultural Communication was an incredibly interesting class for me, especially as an individual that has a moderate amount of experience communicating with people from around the world as well as specific individuals from other nations and are steeped in the cultures there. The main point of this course wasn't memorizing the cultural norms of specific people and place around the globe. Instead, the main goal was to teach us, the students, how to properly communicate with people from outside of our own culture with the right amount of caution, not too much or too little, and an open mind. Culture is rarely a simple subject, and this course acknowledged this fact in every way. As a student of Siena Heights' Intercultural Communication course I am far more satisfied with my intercultural experiences.

Grade Earned: A
Instructor: David Hayes
Semester: Summer 2014

Intercultural Research Paper by Andrew Daywalt