How does this work? G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and hints.

It was the last meeting today with our groups. You know you don’t spend a lot of time with your group. There are a few meetings at residency but somehow you bond. I’m sad to see both Eric and Dave graduate they have really added to my experience here at Goddard.

For those considering or just starting residency let me reiterate
There are 5 semesters at Goddard. Each has pretty much a purpose

G1-coming in you have to write both an overall study plan and a semester study plan. Hint be specific in a very vague way. Give yourself wiggle room. You can really focus on whatever you want. Several people are trying to get 18 hours of credit in a certain discipline so they can teach that at a graduate level. Therefore there is much more structure to their plans then there is to a typical plan. Mine is one of those. Goddard encourages self exploration with little limits within the degree criteria.

G2- Again you can study whatever you want. You will have to create a progress report in your G2. I’ll let you know how that goes. This used to be done in G3 but they felt that it did not give you enough time to complete whatever you need. THE DEGREE CRITERIA IS IMPORTANT! Post this at your desk, work your study plan around this. You must meet all of the degree criteria. This progress report is to be sure that you are on the right track with doing that. It is in addition to your evaluation that you do on yourself at the end of the semester. If you feel you are leaning in a direction for a practicum that will take more than one semester to achieve, then you can do some of the work in your G2 to get ready, however this needs to be approved. I plan on setting up a meeting with Jackie about this at this residency. SHOOT how do I find time on the schedule?


G3- This is your practicum. It is something that stretches you. Create a community piece of art, teach, do something that you are not used to doing. Ask people about what what they did for their practicum.

G4- LAST CHANCE- sometimes a person’s practicum can change their direction, or give them new insight. Your G4 is the chance to fit in anything that you feel may be missing to graduate. LOOK AT DEGREE CRITERIA. Look at your advisors evaluations? Do they tell you there is anything missing?

G5-You are writing your thesis, or putting together your portfolio. Some suggestions from those in my group about their G5 and portfolio writing. You have 3 packets to pull the entire draft together.

• OUTLINE go through all of your packets and your advisors evaluations to make a comprehensive outline.

• Keep a running annotated bib throughout all of your semesters. One student said “It is the footprint of the journey that you took… add a bunch of fluff.” LOL

• Write down your stray thoughts throughout Goddard. A little bit adds up to a lot.

• It helps to paraphrase the degree criteria (this also helps G1’s) how does your study fit into that?

• Look at 3 portfolios each semester. They are in the basement. Go with friends and then you can share what you find. You can only look at three at a time. (I hear these will soon be available online.)

• One person saved copies of all the resource material. They said this was helpful for their portfolio.

Here are some more thoughts. You have to have a second reader. You pick three people you would like to be your second reader. As I understand it-If you have had your G4 adviser before, you must pick a second reader who does not know you. You have never had your G5 adviser you can pick someone you know as your second reader. Someone asked do your adviser and your second reader agree? The answer was, “most of the time but sometimes not. But it works out in the end.”

Many people have paid professional proofreaders to look over their portfolio.