Sup
Everybody…
I want your honest opinion on this subject that I have been thinking about. Let me set it up for you…
So about six years ago, the institution decided to undergo a pretty drastic general education curriculum restructure. We went from a structure that was pretty standard and tradition to one that has been called “transformative.” The old general education curriculum dealt with something faculty, staff, and advisors called “paradigms.” Under these paradigms, students basically had specific courses within specific semesters that were responsible for taking. A sample of the paradigm looked like this:
FRESHMAN
FALL SEMESTER SPRING SEMESTER
ENG 1301 – Freshman Comp. I (3) ENG 1302 – Freshman Comp. II (3)
MAT 1311 – College Algebra I (3) HIS 1302 – World Civilizations II (3)
HED 1201 – Concepts of Health (3) POS 2311 – American Government (3)
PED XXXX – Physical Education (1) MUS 1301 – Intro to Music or
HIS 1301 – World Civilizations I (3) ART 1301 – Intro to Art (3)
PSY 2301 – General Psychology CSC 1306 – Comp. & Its Use (3)
or SOC 2301 – General Sociology (3) __________
Total 16 Hours Total 15 Hours
Each year, your semesters were broken down like this. Students were able to track their own progress a little easier and for advisors, it was a matter of checking courses off on your paradigm to make sure that you were on track for graduation or to help you catch up if you were behind.
Now we have something called “pathways” where you are given more choices/options of the courses that you can take. You have to fulfill categories within General Education which include Student Learning Outcomes, Areas of Knowledge, Curricular Themes, and you have to take what is called a Liberal Learning Seminar. You then have to plot those points on a grid in order to assure that you have fulfilled all the requirements.
Given the experiences you have had with advising thus far at the institution, how do you feel about the pathways (which you all are on) vs. paradigms? How do you feel about having options of courses to take? Within the first 60 hours of your education, would you rather have a course that everyone has to take or have different experiences as it relates to coursework? How has the process been for you? Do you understand the pathways? Would you recommend that we keep this structure, go back to what we were doing, or do something different? If you think we should do something different, what do you propose?
Mr. C
This blog is due Friday September 29 by 11:59 PM and should be at least 250 words.
I want your honest opinion on this subject that I have been thinking about. Let me set it up for you…
So about six years ago, the institution decided to undergo a pretty drastic general education curriculum restructure. We went from a structure that was pretty standard and tradition to one that has been called “transformative.” The old general education curriculum dealt with something faculty, staff, and advisors called “paradigms.” Under these paradigms, students basically had specific courses within specific semesters that were responsible for taking. A sample of the paradigm looked like this:
FRESHMAN
FALL SEMESTER SPRING SEMESTER
ENG 1301 – Freshman Comp. I (3) ENG 1302 – Freshman Comp. II (3)
MAT 1311 – College Algebra I (3) HIS 1302 – World Civilizations II (3)
HED 1201 – Concepts of Health (3) POS 2311 – American Government (3)
PED XXXX – Physical Education (1) MUS 1301 – Intro to Music or
HIS 1301 – World Civilizations I (3) ART 1301 – Intro to Art (3)
PSY 2301 – General Psychology CSC 1306 – Comp. & Its Use (3)
or SOC 2301 – General Sociology (3) __________
Total 16 Hours Total 15 Hours
Each year, your semesters were broken down like this. Students were able to track their own progress a little easier and for advisors, it was a matter of checking courses off on your paradigm to make sure that you were on track for graduation or to help you catch up if you were behind.
Now we have something called “pathways” where you are given more choices/options of the courses that you can take. You have to fulfill categories within General Education which include Student Learning Outcomes, Areas of Knowledge, Curricular Themes, and you have to take what is called a Liberal Learning Seminar. You then have to plot those points on a grid in order to assure that you have fulfilled all the requirements.
Given the experiences you have had with advising thus far at the institution, how do you feel about the pathways (which you all are on) vs. paradigms? How do you feel about having options of courses to take? Within the first 60 hours of your education, would you rather have a course that everyone has to take or have different experiences as it relates to coursework? How has the process been for you? Do you understand the pathways? Would you recommend that we keep this structure, go back to what we were doing, or do something different? If you think we should do something different, what do you propose?
Mr. C
This blog is due Friday September 29 by 11:59 PM and should be at least 250 words.
52 comments:
I only like the paradigms because it had you on the right track to graduating. But I don’t like it because everybody learns different. Everybody is not on the same learning level as each other. I like the new system we are in now because we don’t all have the same set schedule. I actually like choosing the classes I take. For example I HATE math and if everyone where all still on a set schedule they could put me in the hardest math because everybody would have to take it but the way I have it now I can choose what I want. I rather have different experiences from everybody else meaning everybody has different schedules. Also everybody is not in the same major so it would be kind of pointless to do some of those classes. The process for me has been okay. I wouldn’t really say smooth because it hasn’t been. I’ve done changed my schedule so many times at the beginning because I didn’t need certain classes for my major. I do understand the pathways. I would strongly recommend keeping the pathway. I would just make sure that the advisors help the students. Meaning make sure that the student knows the different classes they could take instead of what the classes they know of. Also the classes that the student would need to graduate also graduate with their majors.
Breaking down the difference between paradigms and pathways helps me to realize that even though having the freedom to choose and create your own college pathway, college itself is so hectic it would be in a student’s best interests to just have everything set out for them to follow like a paradigm would. Moreover, specifically speaking freshman should definitely not have the option to choose what they want simply because your freshman year of college is the most significant factor to graduate on time. When a student is on a paradigm schedule it is very easy to follow what needs to be completed in the four years of school whereas a pathway allows one to pick and choose which classes they want and don’t want to take without knowing if they classes they chose fulfill the requirements they need to get all the hours for graduation. In that situation students end up running into problems towards the end of their senior year resulting in them cramming in extra courses they never knew they needed which can either cause lots of stress or add another year to what was only supposed to be a 4-year journey. Although I would rather gain experiences through my choice of courses, I plan and I WILL graduate in four years therefore I would much rather have my courses set out for me by my advisor to take along with everyone else. So far the process has been fine but along with all the other freshman, im only taking prerequisites as of right now so the work load hasn’t became real yet. However, as I enter into my major im more than sure being on the pathway will only get confusing as I move forward. I understand the pathways and I would not recommend that we keep this structure because like I stated before, the paradigm schedule is more manageable to get to the end by having everything already laid out so by your senior year you have nothing to worry about.
Based on my experiences I've had so far I prefer paradigms over pathways. Paradigms and pathways are the same exact thing except paradigms are a structured way of telling an individual what courses are needed for them on their set major. Pathways are great in the sense that it allows us to have freedom of speech and explore other courses, but it can also lead us off track. For example as freshman coming in most of us knew what we wanted to major in, but we never got told specifically what courses we need for our desired goal to be met. I love having the option on what course I want to take, but at the same time it doesn't really matter if I need certain classes to graduate with the degree I want. Within the first 60 hours of my education I would love to have different experiences as it relates to coursework this way I feel as though I'm getting the true college experience. Even though I come in with a freshman class I shouldn't be obligated to take the same courses as everyone because we all have different majors. The process for me has been going well so far because I have an advisor who understands what I need and what I desire. I understand the pathways but I prefer going back to the paradigms. Another choice could be that students who are undecided or just don't want structure should have the choice of choosing a pathway or paradigm. We are all here for a reason and I would think that someone who wants to be the most successful would choose the option with the most structure. I personally don't want to be in college longer then I have to so for me I choose paradigms.
I feel like the paradigm was great for students that will keep them in line for courses they need to take to be able to graduate on time. But I don’t like it because some students might not be interested in different courses they are in with the paradigm system which will make them not like that certain system that they are in. I like the option we have now that we can choose whatever course or class we want to take because we won’t be in that certain class that we are not interested in and nobody wants to be in a class that they are not interested in because it would be boring. My first 60 hours I would want to be able to take different courses then everyone else to experience something different then everyone else because if everyone experiencing the same thing then college wouldn’t be something everyone would look forward to going because everyone gets the same experience. The process with me is going good because when I tell someone about what went on in the class that that person may not have they say that class sounds interesting, so they haven’t experienced it so maybe if they are interested then they can proceed to take the particular course. Yes, I understand the pathway and I think it’s best for everyone. I recommend us keeping this structure because now it’s giving people meanings to experience different things in college and not just those courses they need to graduate.
I think that pathways are better for college students especially in situations where students choose to double major or minor in something because the individual can pick the courses that help them reach their minor or double major while also completing the 60 hours required before an individual can even get into their major. Of course, for a double major it’s a little more complicated than that, but if the two majors are similar in route then it is still helpful. In opposition, if our classes were chosen for us like the paradigms, we wouldn’t be able to choose classes that work in our favor we’d just have to take what we are assigned. I also believe that we are paying far too much money to not have the option of taking classes of our choice. I think that some of the required classes that we have to take such as First Year Experience (FYE) should not be required because it is overall a waste of time. I say it is a waste of time because the things we learn within the class are the same things we learned within an hour at ramdition and I believe that we are all intelligent enough that we don’t need two semesters of the tenets of social justice. Yes, we do also learn about liberal education, but it could very easily also be added to ramdition. The class is very unorganized and it is probably one of my harder classes but it has the least amount of purpose. The process in which WSSU goes about selecting classes for freshmen does make me want to go back the paradigms because everyone was given a time to select their classes but anyone with a late appointment wasn’t able to get into many of the good classes. I am a Biology major and I wasn’t able to get into my biology lab at first. I had to purge for it. So, for situations like that it is unfair. Yes, I do understand the pathways. Overall, no I don’t think WSSU should do anything different.
I think that both paradigms and pathways can lead to very successful students. Some students prefer to have their work done as fast as possible and would prefer to graduate early. This kid of student would want paradigms for the way they pick their classes. Some students want to be well rounded in everything along with getting their degree and don't mind taking their time to get the degree that they want. Those type of students would prefer pathways for the way that they pick their classes. As for myself I like a bit of both. I want to get my degree relativity quick but I would also want to take a few fun classes here and there. So I guess I would prefer pathway classes. As for myself there is one class that I do not like that should not be required with this new program. The FYE Diversity class does not feel like a class at all. Every time I go to that class it feels like I could be doing something better with my time. The fact that the majority of our grade is based on out of class activities is a huge waste of my time. I live off campus so it is a complete burden to attend many of these events and keeps me from going home after my classes are over. Other than this class I have enjoyed my other classes from the pathway program so far. If I had to just take my main classes needed for my degree I think I would just be stressed out all the time.
There are many pros and cons to both paradigms and pathways. I feel like that paradigms are for students that already know what they want to do and that’s really all they want to focus on. Which it’s not a bad thing but it doesn’t give them the opportunity to really explore other opportunities that are available. By being on a pathway I feel that it is a good thing because we have the opportunity to explore different things while we are still taking the most important classes dealing with our majors. Pathways are a good way for students who are undecided about what they want to do. This is a great way for students who are still searching to explore different areas that they could be interested in. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to explore different areas even though paradigms are easier and keeps you on track more, people should still have that opportunity to explore different areas. Within the first 60 hours of my education, I like that fact that I have different experiences that relates to my coursework because I am exploring and learning new things while I am taking courses to help me focus on my major as well. So far, the process has been good and I hope it continues to stay that way over the next few years. I understand both paradigms and pathways, but I would recommend keeping the pathways because at the end of the day it’s your option to explore new things or just stay strictly to the classes you need to take in order to stay on track. Some students may want to explore new things while others don’t, so that’s why I would say keep the pathways.
For my personal experience I would rather have a paradigm because its better if you know what degree you want. also it would cut out taking a lot of classes students don't like that isn't under their major requirement. For example the first year experience course . a lot of students dislike this class. This course is designed to get you out of class and involved with the school campus . this would be effective to student who have an interest in being involved , but for those who aren't it makes this course kind of irrelevant . This is why paradigm would be better , one reason I would say paradigm is bad is it kind of makes you decide which major you want. So for students who can't decide on a major, in this case pathway would be the better choice , Path way gives you the option of liberal education. With liberal education you have the chance to explore as many major as you want to a certain extent. This can help lead to student who are well rounded for their work space . While also improving the students use amongst the company he gets hired too. One reason path way shouldn't be used is it kind of hinder the graduation process . For instance with paradigm you could graduate earlier because you would skip your general education class. This could shorten your expected graduation year by months. With pathway the general education prolongs the graduation of student. This could contribute to some students not gradating on time.
I like pathways better because it gives students an opportunity to explore different major interests that they have. Having options give everyone an opportunity to break out of something they may be used to. I would rather be able to explore different courses instead of just sticking to one set schedule, it does not really give a broad view of other courses I could be taking. The process has not been that bad for me, I just had an advisor who basically put me in random classes, from what I see, until I actually met with my advisor that was originally supposed to help me with my schedule. I only really look forward to going to my writing class at the moment, and FYE, even though I do not see much of a point for that class. I kind of understand how pathways work, but you have to have the right person to help through your course pick. I would recommend keeping the pathways, as long as it stays organized. Pathways give the students an expand on what they want to do and it gives more options instead of sticking to just one thing while you are in college. Paradigms seem like a set thing that you have to stick to and to me, it just seems like you are stuck to your major. I would rather explore other options instead of just being stuck to one thing, I want to see what I may be better as than the major I decided+ to choose.
I personally would prefer paradigms rather than pathways because, paradigms told you what courses you needed to take and which semester you would take them in. so you could avoid taking unnecessary courses that don’t pertain to your major. For instance lets say i am a nursing major and i take an art course or an dancing course, yes they may be fun to take but how does that prepare me for my major? Those courses do not prepare me for nursing so they would sort of be a waste of time. That is why i prefer the paradigm system because i would know for sure that i am on the right track and taking beneficial courses .My first experience with having options of courses to take was exciting at first, until it actually came to making my schedule and with the exceptions of math,writing,biology and my FYE ( First Year Experience) classes that were mandatory i had no clue on what other classes to take. So i basically ended up signing up for classes that i though “ sounded” fun and i am regretting it right now, but i know for next semester to actually learn about the class before signing up for it. Within the first 60 hours of my education i would rather have a course that everyone has to take because after those first 60 hours everyone would be taking courses that apply to their major. Ultimately i would recommend that we go back to paradigms so that everyone knows for sure that they are on the right path toward their degree and taking necessary and beneficial courses.
I felt that these paradigms were better for graduating because it was direct with basic classes that freshman must take. So with that in mind you were automatically on track for next years to actually enter and take classes for your major or whatever. The pathway i feel is more of an expressive way to let the students create their own schedule which is a very nice perk because students can make a schedule that allows for them to take classes throughout the week without feeling overwhelmed. The negative side about the pathway is that as freshman we don't know what classes are mandatory "out the gates" so a lot of us will end up signing for a class that we don't even need or sign up for a class that wont help with your major at all.I feel that the paradigms would be more helpful to students like myself to keep up with classes. The pathway isn't all bad though because it provides a more freedom of schedule building but i feel that if you were able to combine these two together it would make more sense and help every student on campus. For example the courses under paradigms that are required you must take them but be allowed to choose which class time you would like to enroll for. This way you are keeping the paradigms and still easy to track for students and faculty but also get the freedom and other perks along with pathway scheduling of classes. This example would be my proposal of what the WSSU Faculty and Staff should consider to do and ask students who are already enrolled that would they feel this is more beneficial? If your an upper clansmen it would still work out because your are taking classes for your major and can still get into programs and internships because it is direct with the schedule flexibility.
Me personally I do not like to be told what to do but when it comes to my education since I take it very serious I like to know what classes I need to take and when I am taking them so that I can mentally prepare myself for that course and so that I can be on the right track for graduation so there I prefer paradigms over pathways. I feel as though giving someone options to take a course is basically setting them up for failure because what if they do not take the right course they need to graduate then they will not be graduating on time, which is going to be heartbreaking. In my 60 hours, I would prefer a course that everyone must take because I feel as though if everyone must take it then that means it is because that course is going to put them on the right track to graduate. The process for me has been a little confusing because I was told that since my major does not require a certain course then I do not have to take it and it is just a lot of back and forth going on but I think that once I have an actual meeting with my advisor then I will get it straighten out but for now I am just confused but I guess I must adjust to it because college is a major adjustment. I recommend that this structure get thrown out the window and that we go back paradigms because it is better.
When it comes to the “pathways” versus “paradigms” I think I would prefer pathways. The whole point of college is being able to become more independent and being able to create a new “path” for yourself. With the pathway type of learning students are able to choose their own course of learning and how they want to learn. The idea of having options to me is very important, because in life there are many options on how to live your life. Since college is technically supposed to prepare you for real life this technique of choosing what you want will help in the future. I personally feel like everyone is different so everyone should not have to learn the exact same thing. Some classes are not interesting to everyone, and that can sometimes affect the grade they receive. Though you will not enjoy all classes in college, at least some of them you can choose that will interest you. For me personally this is kind of how my high school was set up, with you being able to choose the courses you want to take so I am used to this. I think we should keep this structure because since we are paying so much money to go here, we should be able to choose what we are learning. The idea of choice is very important because in life people are not going to tell you what you have to do, you must do it on your own. So are maturing adults we must learn how to make decisions on our own.
I feel as though pathways help us as students to find what we are good and passionate about because we have options to help us venture out. Whereas paradigms everything was pre mapped out for you and resulted in the students having limitations. I am very grateful that I have the option of choosing what I take having options is very important to me because it does not put you in a box of limitations. I would rather have different experiences as it relates to coursework rather than courses that everyone must take because everyone is not on the same mental level and this could result in more freshmen having to repeat courses cause the course was to advance for them, or even the advanced students in classes that they are to advance for which will set them back when they could be in more advanced classes. The pathway experience has been very informative, helpful, and interesting for me and I do understand the pathways education process. I believe that the institution should keep the pathways because it is a very valuable experience for first year college students. On the other hand, I think there should be the option to have a pathway or paradigm curriculum because some of my colleagues feel as though they need to have their whole college curriculum mapped out to have a more focused and straight forward college education. I do understand where they are coming from so, therefore I believe students should have the option of either the paradigm or pathway education experience.
Paradigms are when students basically had specific courses within specific semesters that they were responsible for taking. Pathways are when you are given more choices/options of the courses that you can take. Given the experiences I've had with advising thus far at Winston-Salem State University and reading about the paradigms, I feel that the pathways are better than the paradigms. I say that because for me I'd rather take a class based on my liking and my specific major. For example, say based on the paradigms the school says that you have to take college algebra. For me personally that would be a waist because my major is birth to kindergarten education so I wouldn’t necessarily need that class, but with me being on the pathways I take a math that will be useful for what I want to be. Also I like the pathways better because instead of having to take certain classes within that specific semester in pathways you get to schedule your classes within all 4 years of your college experience. I like having the option to pick the courses that best fit me and best fit within my schedule, where I can take classes that I know I can handle without putting too much stress on myself. I do understand and like the pathways method but I'd say we should try something different, not nothing too different from the pathways. that being said, I feel that we should only be required to take classes that are needed for our specific major instead of taking some of these classes that have nothing to do with our major. I understand with the liberal education classes are trying to give us essential skills, broaden and depth knowledge, but classes like FYE for example are classes that we are taking only because we have to and don’t care about. So, why force us to take a class we don’t necessarily need when we could be taking a class that we do need.
In my opinion I don't typically like the idea of paradigms for one class sizes would be entirely to big and nothing would seemed to be accomplished because of so many students being in one class. While with the new system students get to explore and do as they please with what general education courses they take. It gives the students the freedom to expand past their major if they have already declared one and those that haven't declared one if gives them the opportunity to explore. While exploring they can see which classes they are strong in and the have the most interest in. While for me I took these classes back at my high school which was early college so that when I came here to a university I could already declare my major and know exactly what I wanted to do. While taking the general education courses didn't change my mind about what I wanted to do as far as my major. It did give me clarity that biology was for me. While as I bio major I do have chemistry courses I hate but have to take it still presents me with a challenge that is needed. That I wouldn't have been able to experience if I had of went the paradigms route it would have been a strict list of courses for me to take no matter what I really wanted to do.
I think paradigms would be better because it has more structure and it gets right to the point, meaning it lets you know what is required and what is not for graduation. Yes pathways gives the student the option to choose whatever they please, however, that could also get them off track. Although I did like the fact I was able to choose what I wanted to take, I know down the line it would be something I have to take that I didn’t choose now. For example, I chose to take a history class over math because I hate math, but I enjoy history. However, the advisor informed me that even though I didn’t have to do math this semester, I would have to take it next semester because a math is required. I feel as if they should set it up where we could have a paradigms and pathways system. Maybe they could set it up as you have to take at least 2-3 required classes for each semester and then chose the classes that you don’t necessarily need, but want to take. I believe that would make sure the student takes the necessary classes, but also having that option to chose whatever they please. Nothing is worse than being in school and thinking you’re on the right track, only to find out that you have not done the requirements when it’s close to graduation time. Even though that hasn’t happened to me personally, I know of people who went through similar situations at my old high school.
I enjoy having the freedom to pick my workload. During high school I did not mind having set courses because I knew they were required. I do not think I would personally change the system because most high school students still need the guidance to pick classes. I would rather take a few courses that pertain to my major and a few that fall into the Liberal category. I think having other classes outside your major helps ease your stress and opens your mind to other ideas. Although, we have a decided major, it is okay to change (before it’s too late). Allowing yourself to be well rounded and experience other things then you can be sure that your major is what you actually want it to be. I do think sitting down with an advisor and planning your courses ahead of time to correlate with the career would be helpful. To be honest some of the pathways available to me are unclear. I’m sure this will work itself out within the next few months. I think that if I were to change anything, I would make a specific building for students to go to so they could talk to someone about their future. It would be helpful to have it in writing so they could have a guideline to go by. Although having a liberal education makes you well rounded as an individual, I will not need many of these classes to help me get ahead in my career field.
I feel giving students the right to pick courses gives them a sense of independence, because the general classes like math science and english are always boring. The Purpose of letting them pick the classes gives the upper hand in their education.This is why we should keep this process also it is easy to understand for the freshmans. The is for students like me who aren't really sure where they want to be in the world so it gives a wide range of options this way you can figure out who you are and discover more. Another reason is that freshman and sophomores often change their major at least 2 or 3 times before they get settled. So the new program makes you explore more than what you intended it.It gives you the a chance to truly understand what you plan to do for the rest of your life. That way when junior and senior year hit there would be no surprises .You will be well rounded and ready. I personally love the new program it makes life at the college much easier to go on, but I think it was the best thing they could have done to support the students here at Winston-Salem State University.The old program who confused the students and advisors set everyone up for failure.Now we all can grow together as students and staff also the confusion left behind has been vanquished. Everyone will have the chance for success with no excuses.
Picking your own classes can have its pros cons because you might pick something that you need and teaches you a lot, or you might choose something that doesn't benefit you and waste your time. I think it might set some people behind because coming in as a Freshman you're unsure what classes to take. I'm a Freshman and I am thinking about changing my major, but I already took a class for it, so I feel like I wasted my time. The fact that i was able to choose what I wanted kind of messed me up. The school know what classes each student needs, I think they should give us a big list of all the classes we need to graduate and it's all up to us when to take them. They might want us to do more on our own because we are in college, and need to start making decisions whether they benefit us or not, that's how we learn. We are not going to be walked through the rest of out lives so I feel like this is a way to give us experience of living and learning.
By giving the students the opportunity to pick they classes do seem like a good idea but they could either pick the right classes that they need to be on track or they could a pick a class they don't need at all and they get behind. Especially as a first year student, we wouldn't know what to take at all because there are so many options. I think paradigms are a good idea because it lets you know what you need to take to get on the right track for graduation. Pathways are also a good source of independence but you wouldn't know what to take. Which could get you off track and mess you up in the long run. Having to pick our own classes was good but me personally had a lot of questions because I didn't know what I needed to take at first and I wanted to make sure they were classes that I needed for my major. Having a lot of options of classes was great because we could have took something that we enjoyed rather than being stuck in one that we don't like. I prefer to be in a class that everyone has to take because I feel like everyone is on the right page and I know that I am in a class that I need. Overall, Pathways are a good idea and we should keep it as long as we get to ask questions and have somebody to make sure that we are on the right track.
Paradigms seems like it was the smarter option in earlier years by showing students a set class schedule that everybody needed to follow. It's a simpler way for students to keep up with their credit hours, courses taken, and was probably easier to catch up on if you failed some classes. The problem with paradigms is that some classes were unnecessary for particular majors, so once students completed their pre-requisites they were still taking extra math, history, and science classes which can hurt a person's grade point average if not taken seriously. I personally like the current "transformative" class schedule because you can choose the classes you take, besides the pre-requisites for your major which you must take. Hand picking ones schedule can be very beneficial because everybody is not at the same stage in learning even though we are in college. Some students are prepared to take an advanced math or science class where some need to learn fundamentals that they might have missed in previous years, sticking all freshman in the same general math or science class would not benefit every single student in that class. I'm currently taking a biology lab, biology lecture, writing, elementary statistics, and intro to music. This schedule has been helpful to me because even though these classes are required, I am still learning a lot of new information. In a paradigm format, I would probably be taking some form of algebra for my math class which wouldn't really raise my knowledge since I have already mastered those objectives. The "transformative" format is very ideal for incoming students to get their first sixty credit hours, so I believe we should stick to it.
I like pathways but there should be a course outline for each major on what you should take based off your major per year/semester. My friend place in pre-calculus but decided to take college algebra because she felt that she wasn’t ready for college algebra. I love having options because I’m paying to take this classes and I want to take classes that aren't necessary for my major but it still beneficial. I would rather have different experiences as it relates to my coursework or something that I think that would interest me. Taking the required classes for freshman (First-year experience) is unnecessary. I think FYE should be optional because it is basically discussion and attending events. Making a writing class required is a good thing specifically for me because writing is a struggle for me and we will be doing a lot of writing in other classes. I like the process but there should be a course description for each course when signing up for classes. I understand the pathways. Pathways is a good thing because we might think we want to be in this major or have this career but then we take classes that aren't in our major; we realized that the major we pick isn’t what we want to do for the rest of our life or we want to be a double major. I would say keep doing pathways but there is always room for improvement such as having recommended paradigms for our specified major and specifically stating what courses to take for our major to be graduated on time. That way, we will have some idea of what courses to choose at least when it comes to our major.
I feel as if the pathways that we are on now are way better than the paradigms. I feel that way because it is way easier getting in a class you would love to learn in rather than being put in something you don’t have any interest in at all. The pathways we are in now give you an opportunity to set your schedule for your availability. Everyone learns differently. I can catch on to things fast but other people may learn way quicker and faster than me, and no one wants to wait on someone slower than them, I know I wouldn't. The experience or I would say process is going pretty good for me. The first 60 hours I would prefer to take the class everyone is supposed to take because it will get me and everyone on the right track to graduate. So far the process has been a bit challenging because my major is Justice Studies and I don’t need or look forward to anything else but law enforcement. I have also been told that you don’t really get in to your major until your junior year in college. Being a freshman trying to get in my major has been a task full, due to everyone else having to get in their classes because they're not freshman was frustrating as well. And for us "adults" we should handle things on our own and make our own decisions. Yes, I understand the pathways and I strongly believe that things should stay the way they are.
How I feel about the pathways is that it is a better opportunity for students to have a variety of courses that they are able to choose from and it is also more convenient and organized for students to have now versus the paradigms they did not have much of variety of courses for students to choose from, although it was just as organized as the pathways, the course choice just was not so widely spread for the students to choose from. How I feel about having options of courses to take is great because your not narrowed down to only being able to choose a certain course or class for the semester. Within my 60 hours of my education I would rather have different experiences of courses to take as it relates to coursework rather than having to take classes that everyone else has to take. I say this because it is good to try and take different courses that your not usually used to taking, it is good to get out of your comfort zone when it comes to furthering your education in college. This process has been very different and time consuming because I am also involved in a sport with the school so I have to worry about doing time management a lot of times. Yes I understand the pathways and yes I would recommend that the university keeps this structure just for the simple fact that it is easy to catch along to and also it is easy to understand and comprehend.
I feel like both paradigms and pathways have positive and negative things. Although some of us didn't even know their was a difference this plays a huge role in our education. One thing that I found important in paradigms was the fact that their was a better way of staying on track and making sure everything was up to date and that way pass all classes. the thing that I dislike about paradigms is the fact that you have to take specific course within specific semesters. This could be very stressful because sometimes you might need some time before class to get things together but since the classes were chosen you might not get that time you need. I also dislike it because they might put you in a class you don't need and one that does not help you learn more about your major. Even though I think it helps many freshman out. I say this because i wasn't given the college experience at my high school. I was so unprepared and I feel like paradigms help out with that. I think having the choice of your classes is a privilege and I would not change that. I think I still haven't fully understand the pathway but I soon will and the process has been good. I do recommend we keep it because no one wants to be taking classes out of their major.
I believe that having to take basically high school courses all over again sucks because I am literally going through a tough time figuring out exactly what I want to major in. Having to take the same classes as many other freshman is boring, irritating and I believe a waste of time. I will rather spend my time focusing and stressing over classes I know I need to take for my major and that I actually enjoy taking. I believe that there should be a change. Incoming freshman should be able to sit their major down and the courses they want and need to take right beside it. I feel as though everything is basically just circling around “does this person have all the credits they need to graduate?” There are plenty of people who have great jobs and never even stepped foot on a college campus. Education is power but can can be powerless if a student is wasting their brains time on a long algorithm problem that has nothing to do with becoming a chef or an art teacher. The process of having to take courses I don’t want to take has been hard. For example, I do not want to be a nurse or exercise science major and I am required to take biology all over again. I hate biology and I suck at it. But here I am trying to meet the requirements and can not focus on figuring out what I want to major in.
I strongly dislike the idea of paradigms. In high school, I almost always had to take a class well below my level of understanding because it was required for graduation. The classes were too simple or uninteresting to the point where I would sleep everyday and still pass. I love the idea of pathways because I have categories of classes I am required to take, but I choose at what level that class is on. Yes, paradigms are more structured and easier to track on our course to graduate, but it restricts students from growing as college students and adults. Pathways allow students to make educational decisions on their own and learn at a pace that suits them. For example, although I am not taking classes within the course of my major currently, I do feel that the courses I choose challenge my thinking process and helps me to advance as a college student and an adult. If I feel that a class I chose is completely pointless or is too hard, I have the power to change that notion. I take courses within the required categories and I choose how hard or easy that course may be. There is not a set time limit to graduate college. There is no rush to get it down in four years, unless that is your goal. Pathways allow us to learn and progress at our own speed so that we really digest what we are learning. I do not believe that paradigms should be done away with completely, but it should be left to the K-12 years of education. College is meant to test our minds and our "adult-ing" skills. Pathways help on a basic level.
I like pathways because it gives students opportunities to explore and find out what they really want to learn and major in. There are certain classes you need to take in order to graduate but pathways you can pick those and more. We students actually have a choice so we don’t have to take anything unnecessary and irrelevant to our majors. Paradigms help when you don’t onow exactly where to start ir you know exactly what you want. But i dont like them because it chooses everything for you. I choose my classes so that means i pick when i get my rest periods so im not too tired or get breaks in between classes. It also keeps me from falling behind and i gain as much progress as i choose so im working at a pace that’s comfortable for me. It also keeps me from taking unnecessary and irrelevant classes that i don’t need which would be a waste of time. So because i never had help picking a major fir me this gives me time to explore to make sure the major of my choice is whats best for me. But this is all opinion based other may prefer paradigms because it sless work they have to do or because its old fashion. But i prefer to pick which classes i take every semester.
I feel like the paradigm was extraordinary for understudies that will keep them in line for courses they have to take to have the capacity to graduate on time. In any case, I don't care for it since a few understudies won't not be keen on various courses they are in with the worldview framework which will make dislike that specific framework that they are in. I like the alternative we have now that we can pick whatever course or class we need to take since we won't be in that specific class that we are not intrigued by and no one needs to be in a class that they are not keen on the grounds that it would exhaust. My initial 60 hours I would need to have the capacity to take distinctive courses then every other person to encounter something else then every other person in light of the fact that if everybody encountering a similar thing then school wouldn't be something everybody would anticipate going in light of the fact that everybody gets a similar affair. The procedure with me is going great since when I educate somebody concerning what went ahead in the class that that individual might not have they say that class sounds fascinating, so they haven't encountered it so perhaps on the off chance that they are intrigued then they can continue to take the specific course. Indeed, I comprehend the pathway and I believe it's best for everybody. I suggest us keeping this structure since now it's giving individuals implications to encounter distinctive things in school and not only those courses they have to graduate.
I like the pathways because it gives students many opportunities to discover what they would really want to learn or major in. There may be certain specific classes you will need to take to meet the graduation requirements but pathways you can pick those classes needed and other classes. With pathways us students actually have a choice so we don't have to just take anything not necessary prior to our major courses. Paradigms helps when you don't quite know where to start or when you know what classes you would like to take. I don't really like paradigms because they it chooses mostly everything even classes you wouldn't want. I picked my classes so I know where I would want my rest periods or even time to practice in between classes. This helps me from falling behind not saying i would always choose the "easy" classes but it helps me understand a certain way. If i choose to pick paradigms I would be in a class that would move a different way then what I'm use to. Eventually I would have to break out of the habit of learning a certain way but as of right now i would choose pathways. It helps explore to make the right choice that best fits me. Some may choose paradigms because its less work they would have to do but i prefer what to pick for classes every semester.
In my opinion, I feel as that pathways are formatted to where students are given the choice to choose any classes they prefer to take. While paradigms are formatted to where students have specific courses that need to be completed in a specific semester/time. I feel that having pathways has its pros and cons. The pro(s) in pathways is that students have the freedom to select classes they like and will not overwhelm them, but at the same time it comes with some con(s). One of the cons is that they do not take most of their required classes they need for their major and end up having to stay in college for more than their regular time that they estimated. I personally wouldn’t want to take a course that everyone must take because it would end up being an oversize class and would it be hard to focus. So, I rather have the different experiences as it relates to my coursework. The process for me was not as smooth as I thought it would be because the staff(s) that are supposed help didn’t do a good job in explaining and/or answering the questions one had. At the end of the process, my class schedule turned out to be good enough to work with me. I do understand the pathways, but it isn’t something I would recommend. It would be better if there was a combination of both pathways and paradigms. It would help students to still stay on track of taking their requirement classes, but also have the freedom to choose classes they like or would like to explore.
I think that paradigms are better because whenever you come to college you should already have your mind made up as to what you want to study and what you want to do in life or what your major will do. Although people say that when you get to college and discover new studies, they say that you will change your major and want to go in a new direction of studying. The good thing about paradigms is that it keeps you on track so that you can graduate on time and it has structure, so that it doesn't have you taking unnecessary classes. While many people prefer to have a pathway, those same people will most likely not graduate in the time that they expected to graduate. Because although they choose to be free and choose their own classes they might not even choose the right ones and then whenever they same the people that they came in with or the class they came in with and they then begin to see that they are graduating on time or in the time that they expected. Pathways can also be fun and interesting though but even though they have some cons, but if you choose wisely and you know what you are doing or you have a good advising team behind you and support your decision and is there to tell you what is good and what is bad. My experience so far this year has been good so far I am on paradigm path, I am only taking the classes that are necessary for my major, ad right now my major is Biology (Pre-Med) and right now I don't think that I will be changing it anytime soon.
I enjoy pathways over paradigms because with the pathway i would be able to choose courses that i think fit my skills and not others around me. The paradigms kinda force you to take classes that you don't think you would be ready for verseus be able to have some type of choice when choosing your educational path. Though i understand that some people would prefer paradigms instead because they would have an easier time knowing what courses they need to graduate but with the pathways you have an academic advisor to help you. This process is a lot better for me because if i had to do classes that i know i wouldn’t enjoy i wouldn’t try as hard in those classes and ultimately receive a bad grade. I understand the pathways and i think that they are actually working well for students because it doesn’t provide too much freedom and also which would make students choose classes that they didn't need and it also provides structure and teaches students some basic things that they need to know before they go into their major.
I'd prefer a pathway rather than a paradigm. With a pathway you have more personality than with a paradigm it has a lot more structure and is pretty much the same within each classification. The paradigms will force you to take classes that you might not necessarily like or enjoy. Some people might like a paradigm so it makes it easier on them and to graduate, but I feel like most people would enjoy a pathway to spice up their education. For example, I don't believe that a paradigm would consider art, band, and other extracurricular activities. I believe that the pathways will work at WSSU but we just need guidance so we are still on the path of our majors, but still enjoying our educational path.
I believe that the pathway system is better than the paradigms, because everyone has their own interests and learn in different ways. Some people may not be as prepared to take some of the courses that the paradigm has assigned, meanwhile others find those classes easy. For example I am currently in basic algebra because I felt that I should relearn some of the things in math that I forgot, before I tried to take college algebra, but if we were still in the paradigm system I would have to take college algebra, even though I wasn’t ready. Using pathways also helps students learn new things and maybe get exposed to something that they may find interest in. I also somewhat like the paradigm too, because when I was picking my classes it was kind of confusing, because as a freshman, I didn’t know what classes I was required to take or what classes I should take to be successful. The paradigm kind of helped reduce that confusion because everyone would have to take the same classes. It also means no one is really a step ahead of anybody else. I think that we should have the paradigm structure for freshman, and start the pathway structure our sophomore year. This will help us stay on track and get our general education out of the way quicker. For example all freshman could take sociology, and sophomore year they could choose what science they wanted to take, one that would be easier for them, or one that would they would find the most interest. Also if freshman had the same classes, everyone could help each other out if somebody is struggling.
I personally like the pathway that we are on now only because we get to make our schedule the way we would like to vs. the paradigms your schedule was already made for you. The only good thing that came out of having the paradigms was that it kept you on track for graduation. Having options to me is good. The only thing is that I would like to know what I need to take, to make myself a better college student, and to help me go further with my education, because I do not want to take classes that I don’t need that won’t really benefit in the end. Within my 60 hours I would like to have different experiences that relates to class work, because I want to have a different outlook on college classes and not have my classes be the same as high school taking the classes as everyone else. So far, the pathway process has been a breeze I just haven’t met my adviser. So that he/she can help me pick the right classes for spring semester. I would recommend that we keep the pathways only because it gives us, college students, a better chance to research the classes that we might want to take. Also, we learn to make schedules that work for us. The only thing I would chance with the pathway is that our advisers help as much as they can. So we don’t make the wrong choices in choosing our classes for spring semester and even next school year.
Well in my most honest opinion I feel the older way is the way to go. I feel this way because it gets you out faster and keeps you on track for your future. To me the pathway system now is very pointless because I feel that most people that are here want to get out as soon as possible to purse their career. But then again that’s my opinion. Some people do like to have a choice to explore but that does have consequences. I’ve notice that advisors at Winston Salem state university encourages people to take classes they don’t need because they say it makes you a more well rounded person. I don’t think taking any of those classes are going to help me out in the long run at all. I came here to learn how to program and that's my main focus and nothing will disturb that. Now for all those people that have came here without knowing what they want to for, some reason, this is meant for them again in my opinion. I would never do something without some idea of what I’m doing. Spending money on something that you have no idea is again in my opinion a very dumb idea but this will give those at least some lead way in their life. To those that know just let them do what they came here to do and get them out in a timely fashion but again this is my own opinion and I’m sticking to it.
I do like the idea of the paradigms because like you said they are able to track your status with your classes and helps your advisor if everyone was on the same track. Paradigms also is something that we are used to from high school because everyone had to take certain courses but if you were more advanced you were able to move on. At the same time, I like being on the pathway method that we have now because looking at the old schedule, students could be taking courses that is not intended for their major which could waste time. I like the fact of being able to have options of courses to take because it gives you more freedom to picking your classes. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses in different subjects. When I first had to choose my schedule, I was confused because I really did not know what to take and didn’t want to take something that was unnecessary to my track. I like how they make writing a requirement because everyone needs the fundamentals of writing throughout college. I do not think FYE (first year experience) should have been a whole year requirement because we don’t do much in that class and I feel like it is not needed both semesters. In my first 60 hours of my education I would rather have different experiences as it relates to coursework. My process has been good because I am taking classes that I personally need to get me to graduate for my major. For example, I am a nursing major and I am not required a lab but my friend who is a biology major has to have one, so we each have classes we need. I understand the pathways and recommend keeping this structure because it is fit to each individual. Even though we are in a lot of the same courses, every still isn’t stuck to the same schedule and has some lead way.
I believe having a pathway is alot better because you can decide your own classes and and make it on the pathway and course that we'd like to have. Paradigms is a good method because no matter what you'd be on track for graduation but Winston is all about equity and not equality because if we all were subjected to take the same courses it'd be unfair because everyone works at a different pace and you cant just assume one class fits everyone. I feel like having options allows me to prepare for the specific major im interested in. Also i feel as though taking unnecessary courses would be a waste of my time if its unrelated to my major or future career field. I'd like to have different experiences because as mentioned before everyone if different and having everyone take the same thing wont help or be beneficial in anyway. The process has been smooth for me, Ive been able to take all my general courses along with a few pre requisites for my major as well as taking courses in subjects that i have an interest in. I understand the pathways and I love that they're implemented because the pathway a english major would take is completely different from the pathway of a accounting major or biology maJOR. As far as my opinion I believe that though the pathway idea was a good one i feel like general education classes are unnecessary simply because i come to school to prepare for y future career and two years of general education that i receive in high school takes away from that.
So far, I like the course I am on, but in all honesty, I do not know what’s going on, I just do what they tell me to do. However, with words like “transformative” to describe its structure I believe the “Pathway” is the better curriculum out of the two. Just the word ‘pathway’ sounds better as oppose to ‘paradigms’ which (according to Merriam-Webster) means an outstandingly clear or typical example or framework. A pathway sounds like there is actual movement and transition, and everyone knows that along a path, there are uncertainties one may have to adapt. I love having multiple options, for if one path does not suit it, try another one as long as you are able to achieve your goal. Thus far on my personal quest it has been lovely, I declared my major a few weeks after school started so I actually haven’t met with my new advisor yet, but I have met with an advisor and she gave me an outline of a suggested path I should take. I love that the university still displays its interest to better educate the students so if the Pathway is working and getting the students to the academic level they need be on then don’t change a thing, for the ultimate goal is over all betterment. I will try to educate myself more on the Pathway curriculum, but with what I do know of it and from what I have been, experiencing this structure is built for success.
I like the paradigms because it helps you keep track of graduation. But I don’t like this for a thing for now because people have different skill sets and personally like to choose my classes and when I take them. This can help me with my major and I will know what imp interested in and what im not. For my classes I would defiantly want to have the class that I would be easier to learn for me then having to learn a new way. I understand that pathways worked in the past but that is why you improve thing and make it better. If I could create something new I would make it to where people had to know all the classes that their major needed in order to graduate on time or early. This would help them understand weather or not this is the career they wanted to pursue. This would also stop students from dropping out because it would show them every class and If they are really interested in this career. This is better then what they have now where you have to have freshman credits just to become a sophomore because some credits don’t belong with some majors that the school offers to everyone. This is my solution on how we can solve the problem of getting students a good education.
I agree one hundred percent with paradigm because it has you on tract to graduate on time. I like pathways because it lays the foundation and the direction for you to go. It’s just up to you to stay on the “yellow brick road.” It’s like finding a treasure map and walking away from the X. I don’t really like pathways because I allows freshman to be lazy because they can choose what class and when they want to take that class as to where on paradigm it is required. With paradigm, it holds students accountable more and it’s an easier process not only for students but for teachers as well. Especially as a freshman, this year and your senior year is critical for graduation this will determine how well you do in you major as far as you work ethic. With freshman already having a lot to deal with socially, financially, and morally it would be nice to one thing that you don’t have to worry about. Paradigms is so much better cause it takes the stress away from having to register for your classes and making sure that you do that on time. I wish it had been done like that. At least as a freshman, now maybe when you are growing older you can have a little more freedom with that. As a freshman, you’re coming straight out of high school to being grown, it’s a lot to handle. You are already running around campus freely that’s just one less thing that you need to have control over.
I believe having a pathway is a lot better because you can decide your own classes and what you need to take and still be able to make it on the pathway of the course you would like to take. I feel as though paradigm is also a good way to go also. With paradigm you are required to stay on the same track as others and everyone doesn't learn the same some people are visual learners and others are not. For example i'm not good in english if everybody was advanced and I would feel lost or I would be behind. Also everybody doesn't have the same majors so they might be required to take other classes than what I have to take. I would keep the pathway because its easier and better. I at 1st I was taking classes I didn't so I had to change my schedule a couple of times. The pathway is the best because the advisors can help with classes you need to take and classes that count for Gen Ed and for your major. They also have different options that count the same if you wasn't good in a certain area
I like the concept of pathway over paradigms. I like having options so you can take things that interest you and take courses that are useful to you. The concept of paradigms is what I feel like we did in high school. For me, that was a reason I didn’t take high school as serious as I should have, because I felt like everything was pointless. I didn’t like it because everybody may not need or use the same courses, some courses won’t even pertain to their interest/major, so why should everyone be thrown in the same courses. It’s like a waste of time and in college it’s a waste of time and money. My experience so far with the pathway process was confusing at first but now that I understand it, I think it’s nice. When I first got advised to pick classes I was lost and the advisors I had were no help. They kept telling me the same thing and they weren’t answering any of my questions. I got nowhere picking my classes and I was mad that the classes I wanted could fill up since most of them were already full. Then the next day I went to a different person, she did so much better explaining everything to me. Which made me like it even more because I have a lot of interest aside from psychology. Since I have to take “Intro to Psych” before I can get into all the deeper psychology classes, after the classes that were required were picked I had plenty of space to take classes about my interests. The pathway structure allows you take classes that you like and actually want to put time into. I recommend to keep it like this.
I personally prefer the pathway method rather than paradigms because I would rather choose my own classes and make them fit into the categories/sections needed. I’m a very independent person so I would like to make my schedule how I want to and be able to pick each class that fits in each category based on my personal interests rather than already have them laid out for me. Some students may prefer the paradigm because it keeps them on track and allows them to take every class needed and not have to check and see if you are missing a section. Therefore, based on how much advising I have received and guidance so far, I think the paradigms are a more safe and reliable method when it comes to students taking all the classes needed and being able to graduate on time. I would rather have some different classes than others because we are all here for a different major and not every class is applicable and beneficial to every single individual. I would prefer to have different classes than others based on my interests and fields of education. So far the process has been easy because I need to fill any category I can and next semester might be a little harder due to trying to make classes fit in the sections. I do recommend the pathway method over the paradigm method because I think it makes more sense to allow students to take their own classes based on their preference and relevance to their studies.
I’m my opinion I would really choose the pathway method. I say this because I’m so used to my own classes. This gives me the freedom in choosing the courses I would like to take in the near future and being able to deepen my horizon with my education. This is also helpful when looking for the careers that you would like to get into, instead of someone assigning you something that you would probably not find that much interest in when your actually looking yourself. You wouldn’t be able to get that if someone just gave you your courses. Nobody really know what you like, except for you. For example, if someone assigned you culinary arts courses and you would like to eat into something a little bit more different like teaching, then you should be able to choose that type of career and the courses that you are more into. But there is nothing wrong with the paradigm way. Some students actually prefer this because it makes them feel like this keeps them in the right path of their curriculum that has been assigned to them. Everybody has there own way of learning. You should choose the way that best fits you in the most positive way. Whether it is paradigm or the pathway style. At the end of the day it is all about the education that you are getting. I am more comfortable with the pathway curriculum. I have gotten so used to it and I hope it doesn’t change
Honestly, I feel that the paradigm was a great way to keep students on track. To me, this method would allow students to take the correct courses needed for their general education. This method is very helpful, however there are some students that have a different way of learning. While some students would only like to focus on the courses needed to graduate, others may want to be given the opportunity to learn and explore different things. Sometimes standard education courses aren’t enough. Using pathways are really helpful as well. I feel like this gives the student multiple options to choose what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Sometimes I feel that as freshmen, we still can be unsure about our future. That's why the paradigm is somewhat helpful. As a freshman, the pathway method is very helpful to those who already have an idea about what they want their future to look like. Being able to choose my own pathway, allowed me to open my mind and think about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Although sometimes it can get hard and I may have made the wrong choice in courses, I'm able to still gain the proper knowledge about things in the world that I feel should be known. Even with the pathway method, all freshman here at Winston-Salem State University still all have to take one of the same courses. That course is called first year experience. The course it's basically about diversity and the change from high school seniors to college freshmen. In the future I do feel like freshman should have the option whether to have a paradigm or a pathway. I feel that giving freshmen these options will allow them to have a standard education to graduate and/or study different subjects that they would like to learn.
After learning the differences between pathway and paradigms. I tend to lean more on what is in effect now which is pathway. I like the idea of giving the students the choice to choose the classes that WE want to take instead of leaving it onto someone’s hands and let them just put us in classes. Some may be placed in classes that may be too difficult than others. After 60 hours of my education I would rather stay on the pathway curriculum. I never had the chance to try out the paradigms but it seems that, that curriculum probably made it difficult for students to get placed in classes that they needed but in a class, that wasn’t much of a challenge. The pathway is much easier to understand and due to giving us the choice to choose our classes, it gives us the freedom to choose our path to success instead of letting our education fall in the hands of strangers in a way. It is also easier to understand online or on paper. It gives us the opportunity to understand what are the challenges and which are the classes that we can understand and succeed in. I strongly recommend that we stay on the curriculum that we currently are on. Too much change may be a mistake due to messing up along the way. I also recommend we stay on this pathway because it gives students a chance of freedom to choose the classes needed to graduate and also lets them which ones are the best classes to actually succeed in.
Knowing the difference between paradigms and pathways is actually very useful to know. I feel like it really gives you a good outlook on the educational guidance you are being given. However, I feel even though the paradigm was stricter than the pathway it was necessary. As you can see in the world today, too much free will can be very detrimental. Now apply that same ideology to a freshman’s own personal education and it can also lead to the same result if not governed correctly. While pathways allow a freshman to pick he or she’s class accordingly to how they want to set it up, most of the classes being taken are either not related to their major or not general education courses. I personally feel like paradigms better set you up for success your freshman year due to it being your most important year of college in terms of building a strong foundation. I feel like paradigms did a better job of assuring graduation during senior year rather than take miscellaneous classes and then have to back track at the last moment. Personally, I feel that I set up my classes to where I can get all of my general education courses out of the way during freshman year. That way I will be heavily into my major for the next 3 years. As for the Freshman Year Experience classes that we are required to take during freshman year I really feel its insignificant. Although, I do appreciate the extra knowledge provided about liberal education and plus it’s not a stressful class.
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