Category Archives: Core Competencies

Connecting Media and Psychological Disorder Mind Map Reflection

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Creative Thinking

I can form new ideas to create new things. My ability for ideation has been continually displayed throughout this project through my meticulous research of songs, unravelling their meanings and adeptly building a spectrum of prospective interpretations associated with varied psychological viewpoints. I go deeper into the emotional and psychological subtleties of a song, demonstrating my capacity to think critically about its meaning and offer creative insights that surpass standard explanations. This thorough approach emphasizes my ability to offer distinct perspectives, providing a rich and multifaceted understanding of the song that goes beyond the usual.

Critical Thinking

I consider more than one way to proceed in an investigation. My competent ability to analyze a music from a variety of viewpoints, including cognitive, psychodynamic, and sociocultural lenses, has represented my critical thinking throughout this endeavour. This comprehensive investigation not only demonstrates my ability to engage with varied points of view, but it also demonstrates the breadth of my critical thinking abilities as I navigate the complexity of many psychological frameworks. This project has not only polished my capacity to think critically by challenging me to transcend my own perspective and accept alternate ideas, but it has also demonstrated my adaptability in tackling complicated themes from a variety of analytical angles.

Reflective Thinking

I can analyze evidence to make judgements. This assignment required me to make nuanced judgments about the feelings and goals of the songwriter/singer during the development process, which not only highlighted my critical thinking ability but also required me to analyze a song. In addition to determining the artist’s sentiments, I was required to extrapolate judgments based on my understanding of how individuals from various perspectives might interpret and articulate their viewpoints on the song, demonstrating my nuanced and multifaceted approach to critical thinking.

Research Assignment Reflection

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Collaborating

Collaborating: I work with others to achieve a goal. Throughout the course of this task, our group encountered multiple occasions where we needed to work together and communicate in order to achieve our common goal. The brainstorming phase while we were formulating ideas for our survey questions was an illustration of our teamwork. Throughout this process, it became clear that we not only had the ability to create unique project ideas but also to craft meaningful and relevant survey questions based on the concepts we had developed. This encounter highlighted our team’s joint creative problem-solving abilities.

Another significant instance demonstrating our collaborative talents occurred when we were charged with answering discussion questions based on the results of our survey. In this scenario, each member of our group was responsible for answering specific questions, ensuring that the labor was evenly distributed among the three of us. This strategy demonstrated our dedication to equity in teamwork as well as our ability to split duties efficiently for maximum efficiency.

In both of these cases, our ability to successfully interact was critical to the success of our endeavor. We were able to not only collaborate well but also use our own abilities to the benefit of the entire team. Such moments of teamwork not only improved the overall quality of our work but also built a deeper sense of togetherness inside our group, resulting in a more fruitful and satisfying collaborative experience.

Communicating: I think about what I am going to convey and to whom I will convey it to. When answering the discussion questions about the survey results, one of the times that dramatically demonstrated my ability to explain the work I had produced was when I addressed the discussion questions. During this step, I made a conscious effort to react to these concerns in a way that not only made logical sense but also presented our findings thoroughly, displaying my ability to successfully convey the research findings to our audience. This method demonstrated my ability to articulate and analyse the facts we had gathered, ensuring that the relevance of our work was not only obvious but also accessible to the reader.

Another example is while creating survey questions. I had to consider who these questions were aimed at and craft queries that would make sense to them. Because I knew my questions would be answered by high school students, I made sure they weren’t too complicated or about topics that high school students wouldn’t be familiar with.

Thinking

Creative Thinking: I can form new ideas to create new things. I can also build on the ideas of others. One prominent instance of critical thinking throughout this task was when our group was brainstorming ideas for survey themes and particular questions to pose in order to collect significant data. At this point, I took the initiative to come up with unique and innovative ideas for our task. My critical thinking abilities were crucial in visualizing a variety of themes and generating questions that effectively addressed the fundamental objectives of our study.

However, I recognized the value of teamwork and the enrichment that other viewpoints brought to the table. I actively solicited advice and comments from my group members in a cooperative atmosphere. Their suggestions and comments were really helpful in refining and improving my first concepts. We collectively improved and fine-tuned the thoughts and questions through productive discussions and a process of reciprocal critique. This collaborative approach not only improved the overall quality of our survey, but it also served as a compelling illustration of the harmony that results from combining individual critical thinking with group collaborative dynamics, ultimately laying the groundwork for a more insightful and informative assignment.

First Peoples English 11

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My Writing

Ray Levoi, a young FBI agent, embarks on a difficult journey of self-discovery while investigating a murder on a Native American reservation. Through his interactions with the Native American community and his personal exploration of his heritage, Ray finds himself and develops a strong connection with his roots/heritage. Ray’s investigation on the Native American reservation and the people he meets such as Sam Reaches, Walter Crow Horse, and Maggie Eagle Bear become a catalyst for his personal transformation. This leading him to rediscover and embrace his heritage, ultimately providing him with a renewed sense of identity and belonging. 

Sam Reaches, a knowledgeable and reserved elder, is essential to Ray’s quest for identity and reunification with his roots. Sam becomes. somewhat of a mentor and guide for Ray via their interactions and chats, sharing priceless insights and knowledge about Native American culture and spirituality. Ray can speak up and explore his own biases and preconceptions because of Sam’s understanding and sympathetic nature.  

Even though Ray was rude to Sam toward the beginning, Sam continued to try and help Ray in his investigation and self-identity journey. Ray learns the importance of his lineage and how it affects his identity under Sam’s tutelage. Ray is guided through the complexities of Native American history, traditions, and challenges through what Sam tells him, which finally helps him come to a profound understanding of himself and a strong appreciation for his lineage. One way that Sam helps show Ray that the Natives aren’t the “bad guys”, and that there is someone else working against him, is when he showed Ray the bullet casing after Ray was under fire at Sam’s house. The FBI tries to lead Ray to think that it was Jimmy Looks Twice or ARM members, however, Sam quickly disproves that. He does so by showing Ray that the bullet casing was “federal issued”, meaning it’s something that only the police or FBI would have access to.  

A reason that most of Ray’s change is external, is because of the Natives he meets that help him see the corruption in the FBI. Walter Crow Horse is an FBI officer that Ray meets on the investigation and ends up helping him find out the truth about what the FBI is doing. Ray is often told by Frank Coutelle to discredit what Walter says as he is not part of their branch of the FBI. Though that is true, he says it because his not being part of the same branch, means that he most likely disagrees with the true motives of the FBI. As Ray and Walter became closer, he shares stories of past injustices and the longstanding mistreatment of Native Americans, making Ray question the integrity of the organization Ray represents. Another thing that Walter did to help Ray find his identity, was to invite him to grandpa Reaches’ house. When at his house, when sitting around the campfire, Ray has a vision of a memory from when he was a child. A memory of his father being drunk when he was much younger. This memory Ray has been trying to suppress for a long time.  

Maggie Eagle Bear, a resilient member of the Native American community, plays a pivotal role in helping Ray find, form, and change his identity. When Ray visits Maggie at the river, they have a deep conversation about his past and more specifically, his father. Ray shares how his father was a drunk, and reckless, and that he “drunk himself to death”. Ray told everyone that he didn’t know his father, but this is most likely because he was ashamed of him. As Ray gets his Sioux heritage from his father, this is why he is ashamed and doesn’t speak about his Native heritage. When Ray was talking to Maggie, that is the first time he opened up to anyone about what happened with his father, this means that Maggie helped him accept who his father was and is less ashamed of his Sioux heritage. This changing Ray’s identity.  

In conclusion, the movie Thunderheart portrays how Ray Levoi’s investigation on the Native reservation becomes a catalyst for his personal transformation, leading him to rediscover and embrace his heritage. Through interactions with people like Sam Reaches and Maggie Eagle Bear, he undergoes a profound journey of self-discovery, developing a renewed sense of identity and belonging.  

Thunderheart Dir. Michael Adapted, Performers Ray – Val Kilmer, Walter – Graham Green, Frank – Sam Shepard, Sam – Ted Thin Elk, Maggie – Sheih Tousey, Tri Star, 1992. DVD

Core Competency Reflection

Critical Thinking

Ḵayx̱(“kai-hh” –mink) teaches us to think critically and persevere when faced with a challenge. Mink teaches us to observe, analyze, and critique information and experiences. Our inquiries provide us with opportunities to question and investigate as well as develop and design plans.

Question and Investigate – It was vital that I apply my critical thinking and questioning skills in this project to build a good idea on which to write our essay. We created an essay about the main character Ray Levoi in the film Thunderheart and how he changed during the film for this assignment. The question was whether Ray’s shift was more external or internal. This compelled me to reexamine the circumstances surrounding Ray’s identity shift. To find the answer to this question, I had to go back and explore and rewatch parts of the movie to figure out what was causing his change. Though Ray’s transformation was not one or the other, I concluded that the cause of his transformation was mostly external. He would not have gone through the changes he did if it hadn’t been for the people he encountered along the way. In my essay, I go into greater depth on why the change was primarily external.

Creative Thinking

Sḵewḵ'(“sk-oww-k” –raven) teaches us to be creative and playful in all that we do. Raven teaches us to generate new ideas inspired by others or by our own personal experiences. As Creative Thinkers, we can generate unique and innovative ideas.

Generating/Developing Ideas – As I investigated the intricate shifts experienced by Ray Levoi in the novel, this task provided an opportunity to display creative thinking. The causes for his shift were not immediately apparent, necessitating innovative and critical thinking on my part in order to produce thoughts and comprehend what inspired his new sense of self. This entailed analyzing several options, such as influential mentors, life-changing experiences, or the wisdom of supporting characters. I obtained a better knowledge of the aspects influencing Ray’s progress through creative thinking.

Furthermore, I investigated if Ray’s change was caused by external or internal forces. I produced a well-rounded view of Ray’s journey by analyzing the impact of contacts with diverse people and exposure to different cultures, as well as Ray’s own self-reflection and personal growth. This creative thinking method allowed me to compose an article that depicts the complicated nature of Ray Levoi’s change as well as the dynamic elements that drove his character development.

Communication

Tḵáya(“tuh-kai-ya” –wolf) teaches us to communicate clearly. Wolf teaches us how we can connect and engage with others; gather and share information; and cooperate with others by listening to and respecting each other.

Acquire, Interpret, and Present Information – This essay provided an excellent opportunity for me to demonstrate my ability to clearly explain information. This task allowed me to exhibit my ability to properly communicate the knowledge and insights I had gained. I was able to deliver the facts to the reader in an easily understood manner by organizing my thoughts, arranging the essay coherently, and utilizing brief language. This experience reinforced my ability to articulate ideas and communicate complicated concepts in a clear and straightforward manner.

One Goal I Have For Myself

Some of the things I do to stay mentally and physically healthy include…

I find myself often feeling stretched thin because I don’t often think of ways to maintain or improve my mental health. Some ways that I might try to improve my mental health when feeling stressed are by doing things like prioritizing self-care. Doing activities that make me happy, trying to have a well-balanced diet, and getting sufficient sleep are some examples of ways I can prioritize myself. Another thing I can do to help my mental health are to practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Taking maybe 10 minutes a day to meditate or listening to some music I enjoy are simple ways that can help me achieve this goal.

Spanish 10 Core Competency Reflection

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Creative Thinking

My Artifact: My Spanish Family Tree

I can develop a body of creative work overtime. I have demonstrated this through my Spanish family project by producing creativity through this project. This project allowed for a lot of creativity through choices that were up to me. I chose to do a PowerPoint showcasing all of my family members and speaking about them. I chose to do a PowerPoint because I thought that would be the best way to show my creative ideas. My artifact is my family tree with Spanish translations for all of my family members. I showed creative thinking through this project by using my own creative ideas to produce a project that well presents my family in the Spanish language. Creative thinking is shown quite often throughout Spanish 10 through means such as projects, conversations, and much more.