Your Guide to Common Conversations

A background image of three students having a discussion

Welcome to Common Conversations - a shared experience built for students by students

What is 鈥淐ommon Conversations鈥�?

Common Conversations is a shared experience designed for first-year and transfer students to connect through common dialogue, and engage in activities that will create a deeper connection to 5X社区. Common Conversations will challenge you to think critically, engage in reflective dialogue with one another, and connect with faculty and staff across campus.

Who participates in this experience?

Common Conversations is a required experience for all incoming first-year students.
Transfer students enrolled in a Flashes 101 course for Fall 2024 are required to participate in Common Conversations.

How do you participate in this experience?

The Common Conversations program will serve as your platform to speak about topics you are interested in. Please create a video reflection on one of the three provided topic areas within your designated Common Conversations course in Canvas. Submitting a video reflection and responding to your classmates' videos will be the beginning of a much larger conversation when you meet with your Flashes 101 course classmates during KSU Kickoff in August.

If you experience any difficulty completing Common Conversations, email ssp@kent.edu.

Common Conversations can be completed in four easy steps!

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 1: Log into Flashline and access Canvas

Log into Flashline using your Kent State email and password
Click on the Canvas Icon located on the top right of your screen

Step 3: Select your Common Conversations prompt and record your reflection!

Review the prompts and recommended resources listed below and select the prompt that inspires you!
Common Conversations prompts:
- My Point of View
- Innovate
- Interconnect
Scroll down on this page to learn more about each prompt, and review recommended resources to consider while crafting your response.
After you have selected your prompt, you can record your reflection video.
- Your reflection should be no shorter than 3 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes.
- Your reflection video should include an introduction and responses to at least 2 of the 6 available questions associated with your prompt.
- Your video should also include a brief explanation of why you chose this prompt.

Step 4: Reply to your Flashes 101 classmates

On August 2nd, you will be prompted to log back into Canvas to respond to two of your Flashes 101 classmates鈥� posts. Your response to each of your classmates鈥� posts should not exceed 1 minute in length.
You will respond to one classmate who chose the same topic area as you.
You will respond to another classmate who chose a different topic than you.
In your responses to your classmates, please make sure to introduce yourself by providing:
- Your name
- Major
- Hometown
- Fun fact about you!
Please Note: All responses to your classmates must be respectful, even if you have a different opinion on the topic. If your video response is disrespectful, your video may be taken down. The goal of Common Conversations is to share your reflection in an open-minded and respectful space.

Resiliency

My Point of View

If you chose this topic area, read the prompt below and answer the following questions in your reflection video.

You have your own personal story, which gives you a unique point of view. As you approach one of the biggest transitions of your life, explore how your experiences have shaped who you are as a person.

Choose a minimum of 2 of the 6 questions below to respond to in a 3鈥�5-minute video reflection.

What makes you 鈥榶ou鈥� and why?
If you were creating a 鈥楳useum of You,鈥� which 5 objects would you choose to represent you?
What are you passionate about?
What experiences have influenced how you see the world?
How do you think others perceive you? How are they right? How are they wrong?
Picture yourself on graduation day. Where do you think Kent State will take you?

Before you begin to respond to the questions below, be sure to introduce yourself in your video. Please include your name, major, hometown, fun fact/share some of your favorite hobbies, and WHY you chose this particular topic!

My Point of View: Recommended Resources

Articles

- Author Julie Zhao discusses the importance of being able to share your story, and shares advice on effective storytelling.
- Executive coach Jennifer Porter highlights the benefits of self-reflection and provides guidance on incorporating self-reflection into your life.
- Author Neel Burton combines his background in psychiatry and philosophy to break down the concepts of personality and personhood.
- Personal coach Marty Nemko walks you through the process of choosing physical objects to reflect important personal stories.
- Positionality is 鈥渢he social and political context that creates your identity.鈥� Educator Meagan Pollock discusses the social identities that affect how we interact with the world.

Advocate

Interconnect

Welcome to the 5X社区 community! As you transition to life at KSU, it is important to consider the power of building positive relationships. For this prompt, reflect on your personal values, beliefs, and experiences.

Choose a minimum of 2 of the 6 questions below to respond to in a 3鈥�5-minute video reflection.

What does it mean to be a good friend?
What does community mean to you?
What does your ideal Kent State community look like?
What does it mean to be a good member of a community?
How do you support a community that you鈥檙e not a part of?
Who are your biggest role models and why?

Interconnect: Recommended Resources

Articles

- Wellness expert Tara Parker-Pope discusses the benefits of friendship, and how to be a better friend.
- Social scientist Dee Marques outlines how the community can benefit you and others.
- Youth.gov, a U.S. government website, provides information on government initiatives to connect youth with opportunities for civic engagement.

- The Policy Circle, a grassroots organization created to boost civic engagement, shares a brief on the basics of civic engagement.
- The Southern Poverty Law Center, a pro-justice and anti-hate organization, provides suggestions for fighting hate in your community.

Finding You

Innovate

Digital technology has become an essential part of our daily lives. What does technology mean to you? Consider your personal experiences, as well as your general reflections on what it means to have a digital presence in 2024.

Choose a minimum of 2 of the 6 questions below to respond to in a 3鈥�5-minute video reflection.

What boundaries should technology have in different areas of life, if any?
Do you believe technology connects people or separates people? If so, how?
How do you use social media to influence others? How does social media influence you?
How does technology shape trends? How do trends shape technology?
How do you portray yourself in different online spaces?
What is your personal brand? How does your online life affect the way you live offline?

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