ColemanClue3A

Participant #1 1.Why did you decide to come to college? “I wanted to invest in my future by perusing higher knowledge that would further me not only in life but in getting career later on.” 2. What made you pick Bloomsburg? “I liked the overall atmosphere and the academic offerings. They have a good education program.” 3. How did you choose your major? “I always worked well with kids and I enjoy working with others so it just always made sense for me to be a teacher.” 4. What type of classes do you prefer? “As long as I like the subject and am interested in the subject, if the teacher is animated I have no preference as to the class size or how long the class is.” 5. How does the type of class affect your learning? “Outside the classroom it doesn’t, but inside the class participation is different. Smaller classes for me are more hands on where larger classes are more about listening and staying on your toes.” 6. Where do you tend to sit in class and do you think that affects your learning in both lectures and small classes? “I try to sit towards the front so I can feel more involved and so I have to pay more attention. If I’m ever in the back I tend to lose focus.”

Participant #2 1. Why did you decide to come to college? “I decided to come to college so that I have a better opportunity to get a job. For my major an associates degree is all that is needed but I am going for my bachelors to increase my chances of getting a job right out of college.” 2. What made you pick Bloomsburg? “I decided to come to Bloomsburg because it is affordable and it was close to home.” 3. How did you choose your major? “I have always liked to learn about the human body and bones therefore I picked medical imaging so I could further this passion. I also like working with people and I could do both in this field.” 4. What type of classes do you prefer? “I prefer small classes because I learn better with hands on activities. I have to be able to do it to understand it. In a smaller class I have more accessibility to the teacher if I need help.” 5. How does the type of class affect your learning? “I tend to lose focus in big lectures because I get lost in all the people. The teacher cannot see if I’m having trouble where as in smaller classes I feel more pressured to know things because the teacher and I have a relationship since there is only about 20-30 students in the classroom.” 6. Where do you tend to sit in class and do you think that affects your learning in both lectures and small classes? “I always tend to sit in the front and that makes me feel more engaged in what is going on so if I happen to be in a lecture it helps me to stay as focused as possible.”

The data collected suggests to me that each college student is different and has different preferences. We all have to make decisions that better ourselves and if we are put in a situation we do not like we must make the best of it. For example if you are put in a lecture class but prefer smaller classes, sit by the front so it feels smaller and you are more likely to pay attention. I learned every student has a different college experience or college "life."