DePena-Comm607-Week 4 Posting-Perceptual Screens

Take a moment to consider your own perceptual screens. What perceptual screens might
you have operating about your university and your work?
First of all, I believe it is worth mentioning that perceptual screens, as synonym for
psychological filters, refer to the extent to which we perceive the stimulus, whether external or
internal, and how we react based upon that information (Worthington & Fitch-Hauser, 2012).
Regarding the perceptual screens about my university, I thought it was going to be a fun,
successful learning experience because of my own successful journey as an undergrad student in
my native country. Nonetheless, as I was searching for the right school, I was not sure that FHSU
would be able to provide the quality of learning given its affordable tuition. Moreover, because
this was going to be my first online academic experience, I was not sure if I was going to adapt
to this model vs the traditional campus learning experience. Two years later, both perceptions
have proven to be faulty.
Most importantly is that, from an academic perspective, my cognitive area is active.
Why? It is associated with thought and the active processing of information (2012, p.46).
Moreover, it is through this compartment or bin where both short-term and long-term memory
are stored, which is essential to be able to succeed as a student. From a lesser stand, I believe the
compartments play a role, particularly the mechanical bin. For example, I learned how to type
decades ago, and this comes to me as a second nature. As I receive the information that an
assignment or project is due, I start typing my paper, as I am doing now.
As for my work, I am a team leader in the English Learners Office of a very diverse
public school system. That means I work in a multilingual, multicultural environment, where a
few colleagues communicate each other in their native language at times.
I react very positively when exposed to that stimulus because I grew up in a resort city
outside of the US, and it was not uncommon to see hundreds of tourists from at least five
different nationalities walking around and interacting with locals. Moreover, I believe that, at
work, my cognitive function of long-term memory is prevalent. For example, when a parent of
one of our students talks to me in Spanish or French, my long term memory activates and I am
able to interact with them because I was able to learn and successfully stored those languages
many years ago.
The other prevalent area in my daily tasks is the emotional compartment. Because the
emotional area involves attitudes, values and beliefs (Worthington & Fitch-Hauser, 2012, p.
45), this helps me to be able to adequately lead my team.
References
Worthington, D., & Fitch-Hauser, M. (2012). Listening: Processes, functions, and competency.
Boston: Allyn & Bacon.