Program Outcomes
This page showcases 6 program outcomes that are learned at SPCC. They include: Communication Competence, Cultural Competence, Creative Problem Solving, Information, and Media Literacy, Understanding the Arts and the Human Experience and Social Scientific Literacy. Attending SPCC for my Associates of Arts degree was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I will always remember my time learning at SPCC! On this page, you will find artifacts that I have chosen for each outcome. The artifacts demonstrate my understanding and knowledge. Each artifact and reflection gives insight into who I am as a student, learner and young woman. When working on this website I was able to go back and look at how much I've grown as a student. I am proud of each and every assignment on this page because they symbol my growth!
Communication Competence
Learners will become effective communicators in their discipline.
I took ENG-232 (American Literature II) in my Spring 2018 semester. I found myself so excited to take my first class where we would read for homework. I have always loved reading. But I wanted to look at literature from an in-depth perspective. I have to say that I certainly wasn't disappointed. This class has been one of my favorites to date! For the assignment that I'm using the professor wanted us to research a book that we studied during the semester. We had to create a conspiracy theory of sorts. Something that the book signified that we hadn’t talked about in other assignments. I chose Zora Neal Hurston’s short story The Gilded Six-Bits. My paper is titled, "The Gilded Six-Bits: How Missie May Rejects Female Archetypes". In my paper, I wrote about how Hurston used literature as a place to explore different feminist themes. In my paper, I supported this statement by examining how Hurston described her protagonist’s emotions, life choices, and relationships.
I set two smart goals for myself. The first goal was to learn how to convey my thoughts, ideas, and research effectively through writing. I am a very passionate writer. I often go on tangents in essays instead of keeping focused. For this paper, I knew that I was going to be even more passionate because the topic of female archetypes is something that I enjoy speaking about. Going into this assignment, I wasn’t sure how I could put my thoughts and ideas onto paper. So, what did I do? I narrowed down specific ideas and thoughts that I wanted to target. Then I set out to narrow the list of supportive sources that I had compiled through my research.
As an example, my main idea in the paper was how Missie May rejected the common female archetypes of that time. So I used the Wizard of Oz as a source. In the paper, I compared Missie to the Good Witch, who is completely good and the Wicked Witch, who is completely bad. The Wizard of Oz was a great source because it allowed me to support the ideas that I had. When writing this paper, the process helped me to understand how important it is to use your research to support your points. Before, I would just rely on my own knowledge. I now know that this is the most effective way to write an essay.
The next goal that I had was to be able to comprehend and interpret various concepts and philosophies in literature. I enjoy reading. But I wouldn’t consider myself the most analytical of readers. Most times when I read, I’m not looking to think about what characters or setting represent. I’m reading for the fun of the experience. Taking ENG-232 changed that for me. The class assignments allowed me to look deeper into literature. I even began researching author’s backgrounds in order to get a better look into what their stories represent. While analyzing the Gilded Six-Bits, I learned how there is always more than one side to everything!
For instance, Missie May isn’t described by Hurston as being ugly. Unlike the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz. Because of this, it isn’t evident how she could represent the monster or "bad" stereotype of women. Yet as the story develops readers begin to learn that her heart is “ugly”. Readers can then understand that Hurston doesn’t go into detail about Missies’ appearances because she wants to draw attention to her inner traits. Hurston meant something deeper by consciously excluding a description of Missies’ physical appearance. Before this class, I wouldn’t have thought about this concept. I would’ve just been reading the book for fun and not caring about the meaning behind Hurston's words. Now when I read, I'm always searching for the things the author is trying to show me through description or lack thereof.
Going back and reading this paper showed me how much I've grown in my writing since. I now understand the importance of incorporating research. It's a habit of mine that I do even in simple online forum assignments. I've also grown as a writer because I am much better at organizing main points and ideas. This is very important in college writing. These writing skills will help me in the future because they allow me to develop analytical skills, become a more attentive reader and shape my thoughts and ideas in an effective way on paper. These are skills that I can use as a future music industry professional. Interpreting literature is much like interpreting music because lyrics also often have various interpretations. Just like in literature, new lyrical concepts are always waiting to be discovered and explored!
Cultural Competence
Learners will recognize and adapt to various cultures, ideas, and practices within their discipline.
I took ENG-112 (Writing and Inquiry) in my Fall 2016 semester. It was my second college writing class! I stated in my Core Skills page under Written Communications that I don't always like writing essays. The essay that I am using for this artifact certainly helped me understand what I can learn through writing. For this artifact, I chose a paper that I wrote titled, “Black is Not Safe: The Effects of Racial Trauma in Communities of Color”. For this assignment, the professor wanted us to look at the news and read online newspapers about something that was going on in the community. The professor wanted facts, not fiction. He wanted the paper to be informative to our audience and not full of opinion. I chose to speak about how police brutality was affecting communities of color and how this brought racial trauma that negatively affected communities of color. It was a snowball effect that the news was beginning to spotlight.
My first goal for this outcome was to learn how to analyze and understand the way of life of people who do not share my same experience. Even though I am African-American, my experience is not the experience of another. I grew up living a middle-class lifestyle. I never had to fully know the effects of racial trauma. Doing this assignment was important to me because I was able to completely understand what others were going through. I was able to write about events that I had observed through media coverage. I wrote about the shooting of Keith Lamont in Charlotte North Carolina. I also wrote about how the National Guard and State Highway Patrol troopers were called to assist in the area and how North Carolina Governor McCrory declared a state of emergency.
I remember watching videos on my laptop of the riots in Charlotte. I saw so many people hurt and enraged over the events. In my paper, I explained how these events are what result in the black communities’ distrust, lack of respect and resentment towards policemen. Anger is never good, especially in large communities. Many people get hurt in riots and at protests. But, the anger is not misplaced. During my research, I was able to fully understand that. In my paper, I further analyzed how this anger can fuel the excessive use of alcohol, drugs, gang activity, and aggressive acts. Because events like this continue to happen, it becomes a cycle of hurt and pain in the black community.
My second goal was to learn how to convey information about other cultures to inform and make my audience think more about other cultures. When writing this paper, I knew that I had to be conscious of how I presented the information. I knew that someone who had experienced these events could be reading it. I didn’t want to offend anyone. That’s why I worked my hardest to find sources that would allow me to keep the paper informative and full of facts. Not my opinions.
I found news articles online describing the Charlotte riots. I also found a video from a Charlotte council meeting of a little girl, Zianna Oliphant, speaking about how the events had impacted her. I included a Huffington Post interview with a resident in Atlanta, Jarrod Doyle, who saw the events play out on social media. He talked about his own state of unrest. I wanted to keep it true to the people who experienced it. I attempted to do my best at informing my readers as if I were a reporter. I learned a lot about keeping my opinions out of presenting information. Although I did include a small anecdote of my grandmother trying to explain the events to my younger siblings. I tried to keep this information unbiased to better inform my audience. I didn't want to push my opinion on them. As a student and in my personal life, I will always do my best to keep my opinions unbiased. Especially when the feelings of other individuals are at stake. I feel like I best informed my readers because of this. Looking back, I wish that I would've interviewed people who experienced the events or knew someone who did. I think that this would've added great information to my essay.
Creative Problem Solving
Learners will apply appropriate techniques to solving problems within their discipline.
I took COM-231 (Public Speaking) in my Spring 2017 semester. This class was definitely an experience! It was one of my favorite classes. The four walls of that classroom were full of my most memorable educational experiences! For this artifact, I chose to use a speech that I made called Why South Piedmont Should Have a Music Program. For this assignment, the professor wanted us to make a persuasive speech. I chose to persuade my audience on why a music program would be beneficial to SPCC.
My first goal for this outcome was to learn how to solve a problem using a realistic, detailed plan of action. I identified SPCC not having a music program as being a problem. I used the problem-solution tactic to win over my audience by showing them ways to solve it. I went out of my way to find realistic solutions just in case my speech got into the right hands! I first mentioned a realistic budget: SPCC would need 1 million dollars. I knew that creating a new program would be costly! I considered the music equipment needed, the teachers’ salaries and the new technology and software that the students would need. After this, I suggested that SPCC could develop and host a talent fundraiser so that they could come up with the money. Next, I spoke about how they would have to create a transfer course plan. Much like the ones already created for the AA and AS degrees.
Since I proposed that the music program be an extension of the AA degree, I mentioned that it shouldn’t be hard to create a required class list. I also stated that SPCC could look at the music classes offered at other schools such as CPCC. This knowledge would create a great foundation. After this, I mentioned the importance of SPCC hiring credible professors who are passionate about their work. This would help attract students. Throughout the process of creating this speech, I learned so much about problem-solving. I learned that solutions to real problems must be realistic. I will be using the skills I learned from this assignment whenever I need to come up with a sound plan. Before this speech, I wouldn’t have been as open to taking my time to create a plan. I like to rush through things. But now, I know that creating plans using a step by step process will help to not overwhelm you. Because I knew that I would be speaking to an audience I knew to make my speech detailed. This helped me a lot! I now make it a habit to make sure that anything I do is detailed.
My second goal was to know how to effectively research a problem and allow that research to help me come up with a strong solution. For this assignment, I remember reading student and teacher interviews at community colleges with music programs to learn the benefits. I needed to know this to best present the information. From looking at SPCC’s website, and from just being a student, I knew the one thing that SPCC cared about most were the students. I referenced them first. I remember talking to a friend before I gave this speech and asking her what she thought about the program. She admitted that she would be interested in taking music classes if SPCC offered them. In order to further target the student audience, I began my speech by asking students how many of them liked or knew someone who liked music. I spoke about how having a music program would benefit potential and current students. I spoke about how the program would be more affordable then colleges like Berklee College of Music, or Manhattan College of Music. On average those colleges cost around $60,000 a year.
I wouldn’t have known this if I didn’t do my research. I know that my research made the solution that I gave stronger. Without it, I would've sounded like I was speaking about my desires and not the facts. This is my favorite speech that I’ve given. Several students and even the professor walked up to me and told me how they feel like the school could really benefit from the program. I felt like I did my job after this feedback! Presenting this speech, I learned a lot about how hard I am willing to work when I believe in something. Even now, I can see how I am still willing to put in the work to come up with plans in order to successfully solve a problem. I can see myself doing this in my future job in the music business. There are always problems that need creative and efficient solutions.
Information and Media Literacy
Learners will demonstrate the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use and share that information for the problem at hand.
This next artifact is also from the public speaking course in my Spring 2017 semester. You can definitely tell how much this class taught me! For this assignment, I had to inform my audience on something that I found interesting or something that I thought they should know about. My class certainly expected me to speak about music, and I didn’t fail them! I spoke about women in music production. I showed two female pioneers that influenced music production in the past. After this, I showed how developments in technology and the creation of social media created a larger space for women who were interested in production. After this, I showed two present female acts that are taking advantage of these developments. It was appropriate to use because I wanted to show my audience that women have been "making waves" in the music industry as early as the 1800s.
My first goal for this outcome was to know how to apply my knowledge of technology to find evidence that can sufficiently support the information that I supply in assignments. I remember having a bit of trouble when I started getting to the media part. I used PowerPoint to create this presentation. I’ve never added videos to PowerPoints before. To learn how to do this, I went on YouTube and watched tutorials on how people added videos to theirs. I used my newfound knowledge to add videos to give my audience examples. For instance, I spoke about Delia Derbyshire, who was one of the first female music producers and composed electronic music for BBC. I then included the link to a video for my audience to hear a piece of Derbyshire’s music. I also included pictures of older equipment where you needed more boards and big synthesizers with knobs. And new equipment, where you only need a laptop and a midi keyboard. I already knew how to put pictures in PowerPoint. So I didn’t have to do much there.
My second goal was to know how to properly use technology as a tool to inform my audience. Besides what I added on the PowerPoint, I had to use technology to find the sources I needed. I usually cite my sources while making my speech. But I still had to find them. So I searched the web for credible sources that my audience could go back and look at if they were interested in learning more. Some of these include Women’s Audio Mission, whose quote I used at the beginning of my speech, and SoundGirls.Org. I wanted to give my audience further information on how to become a female music producer and break the stereotypes! I learned a lot about mixing different visual experiences for my audience. I wanted the visual experiences to complement what I was speaking about. It’s a method that I will utilize when creating and presenting my future speeches. I know that it will help to keep my audience engaged.
Both of my goals tie one into the other. Although I learned so much, there is always room for improvement. Looking back on this assignment I would like to learn how to develop my technology use. I think that it was pretty good in the assignment. But there are always ways to make it better. Adding moving graphics is always a good way to go. I could even embed all the videos in PowerPoint. That is something I noticed I didn't do. Looking back, I learned that you can utilize technology to add interesting pictures and videos. But you should make sure that they don’t distract your audience from the information at hand. Keeping things simple is something that I do today!
Understanding the Arts and the Human Experience
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Learners will demonstrate an understanding of arts and humanities in historical and cultural contexts
I took ART-111(Art Appreciation) in my Spring 2018 semester. For this artifact, I am using an art criticism paper that I wrote on the School of Athens, a piece by Italian artist Raphael Sanzio. For this paper, I had to choose a painting to write about, tell the history of it, how it was created and with what mediums. I had to describe it using whatever theory of art that I felt fit the piece.
My first goal was to analyze and identify how art represents history and culture. I never understood why people would depict art enthusiasts as those who stand in museums with their hands behind their back. Slowly taking in every picture. Now, I understand that this is needed to better appreciate and recognize what the artist accomplished. Raphael Sanzio’s painting struck me with its beauty, which is why I chose to write about it. In my research, I found out how the painting was more than just a painting. In my paper, I write about how The School of Athens is meant to be both historical and religious. There are little hints that Raphael incorporates into the painting to show this. As I mentioned in my paper, the painting was created to showcase the spirit, dress, and grandness of the ancient Greeks. Gazing at the painting it is not clear that Sanzio wanted to showcase famous ancient Greek philosophers. When I first found this out I thought, why would he want to do that? Further research showed that Sanzio painted the Greeks to represent Athens. Hence the name! Athens is well-known for being the birthplace of many ideas and the home of many well-known philosophers. Greek philosophers conversing represented the Italian Renaissance taking place during Sanzio's time. New ideas were being birthed. Peeking into this history, I see how this painting is a representation of where the artist and his culture were at the time! It was so amazing learning about this. Without doing the research and delving deeper into the true meaning of the School of Athens, I would have paid this no mind.
My second goal was to learn how to evaluate art and identify art techniques. I was nervous when I first went into evaluating the School of Athens. I could rely on the words of others from my research. But I had to do a lot of my own thinking. The professor wanted to see what we learned on our own. I had to refresh my memory on certain artistic techniques, such as what balance and lines can show in a painting. I would be fibbing if I said that it wasn’t a fun experience. You learn so much about a painting by picking it apart. Mostly, I learned about what the artist wanted us to see. I did this by noticing what he attempted to make our eyes focus on. For example, Sanzio uses lines to create barriers to give the illusion of space. Vertical lines create high arches, while both horizontal and vertical lines are used to create stability and solidity. So much time and care go into applying the proper artistic techniques to create the look that the artist is going for. Lines are just one example of something that an artist can manipulate to achieve this. I can certainly say that I will be attending museums avidly throughout my college career because I experienced this class. Looking back, this art class introduced me to looking at the detail in art. I can now better appreciate its beauty. Artists put so much time into creating these visual experiences. The least we can do is look at them. As a student, I can see myself taking more art classes in the future and maybe even trying my hand at creating pieces of my own.
Social Scientific Literacy
Learners will demonstrate an understanding of social science methodologies in order to explain the consequences of human actions.
I took HIS-112(World Civilizations II) in my Fall 2017 semester. I am a huge history nerd so I enjoyed this class! For this artifact, I chose a paper that I wrote as a midterm essay titled, “Liberalism, Capitalism and the Scientific Method: Western Ideas by Day, Conversation Creating Rebels by Night”. For this assignment, we had to choose a prompt from a list that the professor gave us and write accordingly. I chose to write about the western ideas of liberalism, capitalism and the scientific method and how they impacted the world.
My first goal for this outcome was to learn how to interpret and understand how human thought and actions affect other people and the world. Liberalism, capitalism and the scientific method developed from human thought. These are western ideas. That term itself is very broad. When writing this essay, it was interesting to see people’s views on these ideas. Many had a lot to say about capitalism and how it affects society. In my paper I mention how many people believe that a system built on capitalism, “can be easily abused, mega companies have the option to take over the smaller ones and because of this some people have an image of the “greedy capitalist”. This paper was my first introduction in seeing how these systems that were birthed from human thought affected the world. Because someone thought of capitalism and implemented the system, it could grow and develop. Many people then and now don't agree with capitalism. But we now have the free market, the ability for our economy to grow and limited government intervention in terms of making money.
It was interesting learning more about liberalism. I had only heard the word liberal in the term liberal arts. I dug deeper into why many people oppose liberalism when doing my research for this paper. People who oppose liberalism believe that if everyone is equal in society people would begin to turn against each other. If everyone owned a business, then each person would do whatever it took to make his or her business succeed. It was interesting to learn that liberalism opened the minds of people to usher in capitalism. In addition to these points, we all know and love the scientific method! I enjoyed reading about how the way the world approached solving and studying scientific problems changed because of the development of the scientific method in the 17th century. I love seeing how ideas impact the future. It’s hard to be conscious of this when you’re experiencing it. But looking back on how these three ideas began it makes me more aware of the ideas that are breaking to the surface in our time.
My second goal was to learn how to explain and identify various philosophies as they relate to the development of the world of thought. Liberalism, capitalism and the scientific method are just a number of philosophies that I began to study after this assignment. Explaining liberalism, capitalism and the scientific method in my paper helped me to understand how they helped the world of thought. As I mentioned previously, liberalism, in a way, paved the way for capitalism. And the scientific method paved the way for deeper scientific thought. Looking deeper into these terms is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. My love for knowledge drives me to learn. Even if I don’t remember the definitions. When having to pull this assignment back up for my ePortfolio, I found myself wanting to learn more about the information again. So I reread some of my essays and searched online for more information. Writing this assignment allowed me to recognize and appreciate the world of thought. Especially the world of deep thought. Perhaps I owe this to my love of history itself. In the future, this love of history and appreciation of deep thought will always drive me to want to expand my knowledge. Constantly expanding my knowledge will allow me to keep growing as a student, person and professional.