CODES 122 Class Portfolio

Your Goal Grade

Highlight the header for the column below to indicate which grade you plan to work toward in the course. Meeting the basic requirements for your chosen letter grade, according to the table below, is mandatory.

A WorkB WorkC Work

– Misses one class or fewer, or completes make-up work for excused absences
– Annotates all readings thoroughly
– Contributes deeply to discussions
– Completes all assignments on time or has approved extension
– Work shows engagement, care, effort, and growth
– Collaborates substantially, contributes to vision, and works equally with peers
– Abides by the CODE of Conduct and classroom norms		– Misses two classes or fewer, or does make-up work for excused absences
– Annotates most readings
– Often participates in discussion
– Completes all assignments on time or has approved extension
– Work shows care, effort, and growth 
– Collaborates equally and completes required work
– Abides by the CODE of Conduct and classroom norms		– Misses three classes or fewer, or does make-up work for excused absences
– Completes most readings
– Sometimes adds to discussion
– Completes all major assignments and at least five SAs
– Meets minimal expectations on assignments; shows some growth 
– Completes required collaborative work
– Abides by the CODE of Conduct and classroom norms

First-Week Introduction

As we kick off CODES 122, I’m excited to continue building on what we started in 120 and take our research to the next level. I’m hoping this semester includes more community visits and hands-on research because those experiences really bring the work to life and help me connect what we learn in class to real-world issues. I also hope my research group is more active and prepared this time around, as last semester I felt like I was carrying most of the workload, and while I truly value teamwork and collaboration, I also value my mental health. This semester, I plan to contribute fully, but I won’t be bending over backwards to pick up slack for team members who aren’t putting in the effort they should. I’m ready to engage, collaborate where it counts, and make sure our research is not only meaningful but also effective.

Midterm Introduction

So far, my experience in Research Team has been both challenging and rewarding. This class has helped me better understand how to work collaboratively toward a shared goal but at times, managing group responsibilities alongside my other courses has been difficult, but overall I’d say it has pushed me to improve my time management and communication skills.

Despite the challenges, this class specifically during this semester has made me more confidence in my public speaking abilities and has helped me grow as a student. I have learned how to contribute meaningfully to group discussions and how to present more fluently. Moving forward, I hope to have more fun with my tasks in order to be more engaged in the research process.

Final Introduction

Fill In Here

Course Goals:

Goal 1c (20%)
Civic Engagement

I will adapt my communication strategies to effectively interact with group team members and community partners. This includes tailoring my language, tone, and approach to different audiences, whether in person, online, or through interviews. My goal is to establish strong, professional relationships that support collaboration, understanding, and trust.

What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill?What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning?What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal?
I will practice adapting my communication style to different audiences to build strong, professional relationships with team members and community participants.I will include:
– Notes from community interviews showing different approaches to questions
– Reflection entries on how I adjusted my tone or phrasing based on audience
– Peer feedback highlighting effective communication during team meetings
– Screenshots or transcripts of emails demonstrating professional communication		These examples show that I can intentionally adjust my communication to connect with diverse audiences and foster productive, respectful relationships.
My first site reflection is an artifact where I discussed missing the initial visit but expressed interest in attending future visits and participating in group travel. This contributes to my goal of adapting my communication style by showing how I can remain professional and positive even when addressing a setback. It also helped me build my skill in professional communication by learning how to take accountability while maintaining a constructive tone when communicating with others.
My first lab reflection focused on my frustration with finding sources due to my group’s assigned time period. This artifact supports my goal by showing how I communicate challenges clearly to an academic audience, which is important for collaboration and transparency. It helped me develop my problem-solving communication skills by expressing difficulty while still staying focused on improvement and persistence.
This photo of me presenting at the Illinois State Capitol shows me speaking to legislators in a formal setting. It connects to my goal because I had to adjust my communication style to fit a professional audience. This experience helped strengthen my public speaking skills and my ability to communicate clearly and confidently.
This second photo of me presenting at the Illinois State Capitol further demonstrates my ability to engage with a professional audience. It contributes to my goal by showing consistency in adapting my communication style in a formal environment. It helped me improve my audience awareness and professionalism when interacting with community leaders.

Goal 3a (20%)
Ethical Reasoning

I will reflect on my personal beliefs, biases, and values as an STL native and how they influence my research decisions. I want to approach every step of the research process with ethical awareness, from interviewing participants to handling data, ensuring that our work is respectful, responsible, and aligned with professional standards. My goal is to make choices that prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability.

What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill?What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning?What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal?
I will reflect on my own beliefs and biases and apply ethical considerations to every stage of our research process.I will include:
– Photos from site visits
– Examples of adjustments made to research methods for ethical reasons
– Written explanation of how personal values influenced project decisions		These examples demonstrate that I consistently applied ethical reasoning and reflected on the impact of my decisions on both participants and the research team.
This image reflects how community spaces shape access and opportunity. It reminds me to consider fairness and inclusion when making research decisions.
This park represents shared public space and community interaction. It connects to my goal of conducting research that is ethical and respectful of the people it represents.
These homes reflect the lived realities of the neighborhood. They remind me to be aware of my biases and to handle data with care and responsibility.
This image shows how environment and history influence communities. It supports my goal of prioritizing transparency and accountability in the research process.

Goal 5b (20%)
Informational Literacy

I will develop effective research strategies to find high-quality, credible sources that inform and strengthen our project. This includes identifying gaps in existing knowledge, selecting appropriate scholarly and community-based information, and critically evaluating sources for reliability and relevance. My goal is to ensure that every source I use contributes meaningfully to our understanding of the problem and the development of solutions.

What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill?What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning?What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal?
I will gather and evaluate credible sources and data to support our research questions and strengthen our project.I will include:
– Annotated source assignment
– Annotated bibliography of scholarly articles and community sources
– Notes on source credibility, relevance, and limitations
– Research plan showing selection of sources for specific research questions
– Reflections on how chosen sources informed project decisions		These examples show that I can identify, analyze, and integrate high-quality information to support well-reasoned and meaningful research.
This artifact is my annotated assignment where I developed research questions and learned how to break down a secondary source in detail. It supports my goal because it shows my process of learning how to evaluate information instead of just collecting it. It helped me build the skill of creating focused, researchable questions that guide my project and make sure the sources I choose are actually relevant and credible.
This artifact is my annotated secondary source on Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law. It connects to my goal of gathering and evaluating credible sources because I had to carefully read and break down the author’s argument, evidence, and perspective. This helped me understand how to judge whether a source is reliable and useful for my research on Gravois Park. It strengthened my ability to identify strong evidence and connect it back to my research questions in a meaningful way.

Goal 7a (20%)
Skills for Lifelong Learning

I will approach problem-solving with patience, curiosity, and a willingness to look beyond the first answer that comes to mind. Instead of rushing to a solution, I want to step back, evaluate the situation from different angles, and understand what’s really going on beneath the surface. My goal is to stay open-minded, ask better questions, and be flexible enough to adjust when things don’t go as planned. I’ll stay thoughtful and intentional, but also confident in calling out issues and finding solutions that are fair, efficient, and grounded in what the moment actually needs.

What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill?What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning?What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal?
I will explore research topics in depth, beyond assigned readings, to develop a richer understanding of the issue and improve my contributions to the project.I will include:
– Top 5 for a short guide to community-based participatory research
– Summaries connecting extra research to project questions
– Reflection entries showing how new knowledge changed my perspective
– Annotated outlines showing integration of new information into project design		These examples demonstrate that I actively seek knowledge, reflect on what I learn, and apply it thoughtfully to strengthen both my research and personal growth.
This artifact is my assignment summarizing and reflecting on discussion points from chapters 5 and 6 of our textbook. I highlighted key ideas from the readings and organized major themes from class discussion. This connects to my goal because it shows me actively engaging with course material and going deeper than just reading by breaking down and interpreting the content. It helped me improve my ability to analyze information and contribute more thoughtful ideas in group discussions and research projects.
This artifact is my “Top 5” short guide for community-based participatory research. It summarizes key ideas and takeaways about working with communities in research rather than just studying them. This connects to my goal because it pushed me to think beyond the basic readings and reflect on how research is actually done in real-world settings. It helped me better understand how to engage with topics in a more meaningful and practical way, which strengthens my overall contribution to group work and discussions.
This artifact is my research plan for studying the founding of Gravois Park and early St. Louis history around 1812. In it, I outline the archives I plan to visit, the collections I will request, and my main research question about how early land use shaped the neighborhood over time. This connects to my goal because it shows me going beyond assigned readings to actively search for primary sources and historical records. It also reflects how I am trying to build a deeper understanding of the topic even though it has been difficult to find strong or direct sources for this specific time period and location.

Goal 9c (20%)
Problem-Solving Skills

I will address conflicts and communication challenges within my research team by listening actively, identifying the root of disagreements, and working collaboratively to find solutions. I want to create a team environment where everyone feels heard, responsibilities are clear, and tensions are resolved respectfully. My goal is to use communication as a tool to solve problems constructively, maintain group cohesion, and keep the research process moving forward effectively.

What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill?What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning?What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal?
I will address team conflicts and communication challenges by listening actively, facilitating discussion, and collaboratively finding solutions.I will include:
– Meeting notes documenting conflict resolution discussions
– Reflection entries on communication strategies used during disagreements
– Peer or self-assessments showing improvement in team collaboration
– Adjusted project plans or task assignments resulting from resolved conflicts		These examples show that I can navigate and solve team communication challenges effectively, ensuring the group functions cohesively and productively.
This artifact is my research group’s visit to Gravois Park, where we successfully met and traveled together despite earlier transportation challenges. This connects to my goal because it shows how the group worked through communication and logistical issues to complete the visit as planned. It helped me build my skills in teamwork and conflict resolution by participating in group coordination and adapting to ensure we could all attend together.
This artifact is my group chat conversation where we discussed potential transportation issues, including everyone traveling at different times and concerns about highway traffic. This connects to my goal of addressing team conflicts and communication challenges because it shows the group working through logistical problems through discussion and planning. It helps me develop my skill in active listening and collaborative problem-solving by considering different schedules and finding ways to coordinate travel more effectively.
This artifact is my reflection on a group meeting I missed because I was attending SIUE Systems Day at the Illinois State Capitol. I stayed updated through group chat and followed up with members afterward. The reflection describes confusion within the group, a lack of clear direction, and uneven communication about responsibilities and next steps. This connects to my goal of addressing team conflicts and communication challenges by showing the importance of active listening and clear discussion. It helps me recognize the need to ask questions, clarify expectations, and support better organization so the group can work more effectively together.