Running head: OBSERVATION ACTIVITY 1 Observation Activity Based on Student Development Theories Alicia B. Braswell Georgia Southern University COUN 7132 Contemporary College Student (Observation Activity M4) Spring 2015 Dr. Fayth Parks March 23, 2015
OBSERVATION ACTIVITY 2 Introduction In my college campus observation activity, I observed college students at Georgia Perimeter College (GPC), which is a 2-year institution. My observation took place in the Student Center, which have so many different offices and activities for students. Just to name a few: downstairs (Is the Enrollment &Registration, Advising, Counseling, & Retention Services, International office, Public Safety, Card Services, Financial Aid, and Student Account); upstairs (the bookstore, Campus Café, Seating and Lounging area, Studying area, GPC TV section, Student Life, and an area just for students to hang out to mix and mingle). I observed the upstairs area and focused on several activities on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. I will share each activity I observed as it relates to two of the four Developmental Theories of student change I have chosen to focus on in my observation assignment. The first theory I want to discuss is the Psychosocial Development Theory as it relates to identity formation (racial and ethnic & sexual orientation). The second theory I will discuss will be the Person-Environment Interaction Theory and Model as it relates directly to Astin s I-E-O Model and Theory of Involvement. In the Psychosocial Development Theory, according to Pascarella & Terenzini (2005), Racial and Ethnic identity development among Black and other non-white students were the same for Whites. As cited in (Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005), Helms (1990b, p. 5) identified three components of any racial identity: (1) a personal identity- one s attitude and feelings about oneself, (2) a reference group orientation using a particular racial group to define personal identity, reflected in one s values, attitudes, and behaviors, and (3) an ascribed identity the individual s deliberate affiliation or commitment to a racial group ). To sum up these three components of racial identity, to my understanding it simply means how an individual feel or
OBSERVATION ACTIVITY 3 think about themselves, how someone allows a certain racial group to identify them, and a person s commitment to a particular racial group. In my observation I found it quite interesting that some of the students only hung out with students of their own race. I noticed some students eating together and studying together. There were few students who were with students of a different race. I noticed African American students playing a card game with each other, the Asian and Hispanic students were playing Dominos, and students of all races were taking a nap on the sofa or at the table. There were some students who were alone and didn t seem to have any friends or just simply chose to study by themselves. I noticed the students of different races sitting at the same table were helping each other study so I assumed they were all in the same class. I found this to be interesting how some students participated in different activities and some students wanted to be alone. There were also a lot of same race couples hugging and showing affection at some of the tables. There was only one mixed couple that I saw hugging (Black guy with a white girl). The second part of this theory is sexual orientation (Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual). Gay and Lesbian refer to an individual s identity, whereas homosexual describes behavior. Bisexual and heterosexual often describe both identity and behavior (Pascarella and Terenzini (2005, p. 30). A lot of times students make a decision on their sexual orientation in college because of their environment and their everyday involvement. It allows them to be more free and comfortable when they can identify others around them making decisions like being gay or lesbian. There are clubs and organizations on campus that I actually observed them when they were having a meeting on this same day I was observing campus activity. This was a group of 5 guys and 1 girl. I also observed several lesbians couples sitting next to each other. It was very obvious because one of the girls dressed like a boy and she seemed to have been hiding her
OBSERVATION ACTIVITY 4 breast area because you could not tell whether she had any; she was also showing affection to her girlfriend (this couple was African American). I found this to be very interesting because the few couples I saw were not afraid to show public affection and didn t seem to care what others thought. Conclusion Overall I think that when students are involved on campus with different activities and clubs, I think it allows them to become more free and it makes them do better in their classes when they make friends, participate in extracurricular activities, and relate to other students of different cultures. In the Astin s I-E-O Model and Theory of Involvement, I think it was best summed up stating that college outcomes are viewed as functions of three sets of elements (1) input- which refers to demographic characteristics and family backgrounds (2) environment the full range of people, programs, policies, cultures, and experiences that students encounter in college on or off campus, and (3) outcomes which are students characteristics, knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, beliefs, behaviors as they exist after college ((Pascarella and Terenzini (2005). I personally feel the last element regarding the observation of a college student, outcome, is the most important one of all. Of all the experiences, changes, and situation a student encounters while in college, it is very important as to what the student obtain in going forward in their life after college. Some of these peer influences stay with them a life time and for some of the students it was just an experience in college. For an example, some students become gay or lesbian during their college years and most of them choose to remain who they have become. Overall, I feel that all college students need to learn other cultures and become involved with other races in order to become a more diverse individual.
OBSERVATION ACTIVITY 5 References Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. T. (2005). How College Affects Students =: A Third Decade of Research. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Rubric Name: MED COUN 7132 Dev Observations Criteria Target 3 points Acceptable 2 points Uacceptable 1 point Score and Student development theories and concepts Apply concepts to Observations APA format grammar/writing/style Overall Score Level 3 9 or more Level 2 5 or more Level 1 0 or more Score and Overall Score 9 points Score 100 / 100 Date Apr 20, 2015 10:27 AM