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Reflection on the seminar leading process

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作者：
I now feel depressed, after leading one seminar of an undergraduate module. Depressed, because I am not happy with my performance. It is already the third week in the semester, so it is definitely time to reflect on this, digest this, and move forward. 
I am not happy with my performance, because I did not get to discuss deeper questions. However, it relies on the questions students posed. This then is the dilemma. I started today with the activity of breaking up small groups for them to discuss questions they find. I did not get enough response. 
So the problem is to solicit the emergence of the questions that interest them and associated strongly enough to the study objectives. I can impose questions I come up with or decide to use questions proposed by the convener. I would also need to see how it goes in their small group discussion. 
What would be the better move? Maybe start with the core topic of the week, and then impose the first question. 
What should the first question be about? What is its purpose? Actually today the first question student B asked was quite good. The last question I posed was also not bad. Maybe a better organisation will help? Or is it a manifestation of the imposture syndrome? 
To think about it backwardly, I will have to mark them, and their result is partly my responsibility. I have channelled my design at preparing them for essay writing. I still think that this is the right direction. However, I would want more time to talk about more details. 
So what are the kinds of purposes I would like to achieve?

  1. analytical thinking
    1. This I have done, by posing the differences between concepts. 
    2. I can reduce this in future sessions
  2. historical understanding
    1. I have not done much about this
    2. I feel that I cannot do this too much
    3. I need to identify ONE crucial fact to turn their attention to
  3. critical personal argument
    1. I think today's format, more freely discussion, helps this for those who speaks up
    2. I think I need to design a debate or sorts to encourage this
I can do better. Think about this tomorrow.


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