12V Interdisciplinary Perspective defined

An Interdisciplinary Perspective refers to a comprehensive knowledge of skills which a student can use to find and evaluate information about two or more disciplines . In college learning this skill is very important. In order to become a successful college student, one must understand how to combine knowledge of two topics and reflect on both. This perspective lets a student look at both sides of a topic and understands each perspective.

Two words I have learned this week are pretentious and norms. Pretentious refers to characterized by assumption of dignity or importance,especially when exaggerated or undeserved. Norms refer to a standard, model, or pattern.

12B Questioning Innovation

Question One: Why is a liberal arts education beneficial to college students?

Question Two: Should other countries adapt a liberal arts education program into their universities and colleges?

Question Three: How is innovation and a liberal arts education related?

Answer: Innovation and liberal arts are very closely related. In a university setting, a liberal arts education for first year requires students to be innovated, meaning being introduced to something new/making changes to anything already established. A first year student enrolled in a liberal arts program, they must adjust to this new way of learning. Liberal art education requires students to think more deeply about the material they are learning about. This type of education asks that students think critically and expand as far as they can with a specific topic to decode underlying meanings and discover a deeper understanding. Since innovation is all about learning and adapting to new things, being part of a liberal arts program enhances this ability. Within a course requirement in liberal arts, students are required to take classes that they normally wouldn’t take for their intended major. This then expands their knowledge to other topics and subjects that don’t necessarily relate to their major. For an education major for example, taking a biology class doesn’t really relate to being a teacher but, knowing more than just basic subjects which you would teach makes the individual well rounded. Becoming a well rounded individual is very important in a liberal arts education program. Learning a vast amount of information ranging from science to reading and much more build up knowledge that a student can take a could apply it to a future career

Innovation and a liberal arts education go hand in hand. Together innovated students learn and develop so much though a liberal arts program. The opportunities and the skills students learn to think critically about what they are learning creates students who will form into well rounded individuals.

12A Importance of a Liberal Arts Education

Before coming to Southern I had no idea what a Liberal Art education was or that it even existed. The readings that were assigned for this week though, helped me discover how important and beneficial a liberal arts education is to students. Liberal Arts is defined as a “humanistic discipline: studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)”. A University which requires all students to be enrolled into an Liberal Arts program are preparing students to be created into well rounded individuals who will know a vast amount of information. This type of education allows students to take classes they wouldn’t normally take. This can be very beneficial because these classes can open up new opportunities that students wouldn’t normally be opened too. Liberal art education also teaches a student how to think critically. Students develop the strength to expand their intellect which allows them to begin to think for themselves, not what their teacher wants them to think. Liberal arts education programs allow students to form their own opinions, values and beliefs that are not forced from parents and teachers. College is all about learning independence, and a liberal arts education teaches students how to think independently in their studies which they can then apply to their everyday life.

”Liberal education isn't about studying things that have no immediate use. It is about creating habits of action that grow out of a spirit of broad inquiry.” This statement from the article Why Liberal Education Matters says directly why a liberal arts education is important. Many students look at this type of education and think that its just busy work. Students also think that classes they have to take that they don’t want to take have no immediate or everlasting effects on their future. But they are very wrong. These classes that are part of a liberal arts education are very beneficial because they help students create habits of thinking critically of their classes and opens them up to new opportunities. A liberal arts education allows students not only to study what their major requires them to study, but allows them to learn about other majors, which makes a well rounded student. I didn’t realize till this week how important a liberal arts education is to a student and their future. I am glad I attend a University which provides students with a program such as what is in place.

11V Innovation and Education

Innovation - the act of process of introducing new ideas, devices or methods

Innovation is an important term college students should be familiar with. In education innovation brings new ideas and ways of learning to a student’s attention. Innovation requires a student to think outside the box and create new ideas and a different perspective of things.Throughout a student's school work they should be using innovation to create original assignments and ideas in order to get a good grade.

A couple words I have learned this week are Tautological and Superfluous. Tautological refers to needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy. Superfluous refers to more than is wanted or is sufficient. Learning new words is important to expanding my vocabulary throughout my college experience!

11B Good Questions, Great Answers

Creating questions that are in depth and detailed is a whole new world to first year students such as myself. As I read though some of my classmate's blogs I found some really well written questions and answers. On Karla Franchesca Nowak’s blog (http://fnowak30.blogspot.com/), she created a perfect example of how to create a question and how to answer it thoroughly. Her question was, How do people expect us to become creative, if we are raised under circumstances that hold us back from creativity? She starts by giving her opinion on the question which is very important. Professors don’t want you to just summarize what the articles were about, they want you to think and relate to the question and the articles to answer the questions fully. She goes into more detail to talk about why creativity is so important especially to younger children who may not excel in school but excel in the arts or dance. She does an excellent job of putting everything in her own words and not summarizing from the readings. The only thing I would suggest if she were to rewrite this blog is to add a quote or a specific idea directly from an article to back up her opinions. All good writing includes supporting details to their own ideas.

Creating strong questions that may appear on a test was very helpful. This assignment put me into the seat of a college professor when they are creating questions for an exam. Now that I know how to create questions just like one of my professors might do, I can create my own questions which I think would appear on an upcoming exam and test my knowledge to answer the question. This is a good technique to use because it prepares you for a vast amount of questions you may encounter on a test, it helps you study and it helps you practice creating well written answers that would get you a good grade. Know that I learned how to create good question, I will use this to study for exams that I will have in the future!

11A Inquiry Based Questions

Question One: How can college students incorporate a creative mindset within their schooling?

Question Two: How can ”micro-boredom” affect a college student in a negative or positive way?

Question Three: How can boredom increase creativity with college student?

Question Four: What are ways college students can cultivate more creativity? How can this be important for their future?

Answer: College students can cultivate more creativity by stepping back and becoming an outsider. By stepping back a student can reevaluate the situation and see what needs to be improved. For example, when a student is writing an essay, the student shouldn’t just simply answer the question, they should think outside the box and think critically and creatively about the essay topic even if it becomes difficult. In the article Creativity, Education and the Gift of Stress the author states that “For years, educational researchers have been telling us that difficulties and obstacles in the learning process can actually encourage greater depth of learning and retention of knowledge.” By facing difficulties, student can create measurable challenges that will propel them forward instead of staying in the same place educationally. College students can exercise more creativity by working in a group to maximize innovation and also to create new thoughts independently. As stated from the article How to Cultivate Eureka Moments, "Group interaction appears to play a key role in innovation".

By learning the skills of creativity early on, you can apply them to future situation in college and also in a future job or career. Most students think that they are only going to learn what they need to know for their intended major while they are in college but they are not completely correct. College does indeed prepare you for your future career but it also teaches you skills that can be taken and used after a student has graduated from college. The skills of motivation, dedication, hard work, creativity, innovation and many more and learned in college through essays, assignments and difficult tasks. The future is unpredictable and by learning the skills of creativity early on and throughout college, college students can be better prepared themselves for the unknown.  

11I Learning Study Skills

Since the end of the semester is quickly approaching, I decided to take a visit to the Office of Study Skills to get some tips and strategies for how to start preparing for final exams. The Office of Study Skill Enrichment teaches students how to manage their time, note taking/study skills, and test taking strategies. These are skills many first year students struggle with. “When students gain self-confidence through good study skills, test-taking techniques and note-taking strategies, it changes the whole educational experience for them. It enhances the teaching/learning experience in every way for all involved” (www.southernct.edu). This quote is taken directly from the Office of Study Skills and Enrichment website, which states their main focus is helping students learn the necessary skills to create an empowering education experience. This resource helps college students learn how skills that will make them more confident in their studies which leads to more success.

The Office of Study Skill Enrichment is a very important place that all students of the SCSU community should be familiar with. They offer support and strategies that will help push students into the path of success within their school work. They also offer workshops and meetings to discuss and learn new skills that anyone can attend including high school and middle school students.

The Office of Study Skill Enrichment is located in Engleman Hall C016. All students should take a visit to this office because everyone can benefit from what they have to offer!