Gateway to university honors
During their first year as members of the University Honors Program, students are required to take the Gateway to University Honors class as an introduction to the expectations that come with being an Honors student. The course outlines the five thematic areas of the Honors program and walks students through the process of brainstorming, writing, and revising an individual Honors proposal. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to think reflectively on their experiences to enhance its meaning and impact. My experience with the Gateway to University Honors course was very influential on my initial impression of the Honors Program and was pivotal to my understanding of the Honors Program. This course gave the basic introduction necessary to spark my interest and inspire me to become an engaged member of the Honors Program.
Autobiography Paper
As a means to stimulate reflective thinking in first year students, and as an opportunity for Gateway instructors to become familiar with their pupils, students were assigned to write a personal autobiography.
As a means to stimulate reflective thinking in first year students, and as an opportunity for Gateway instructors to become familiar with their pupils, students were assigned to write a personal autobiography.
To download a PDF version of my autobiography paper, click here:
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E-Portfolio Inquiry Project
A requirement of the Honors Program is the creation and maintenance of an e-portfolio. In this e-portfolio, students must publish information about themselves in addition to documenting any of the Honors experiences they complete. The purpose of this project was to familiarize first year students with the concept of the e-portfolio and to outline the expectations of the Honors Program towards students' e-portfolios.
A requirement of the Honors Program is the creation and maintenance of an e-portfolio. In this e-portfolio, students must publish information about themselves in addition to documenting any of the Honors experiences they complete. The purpose of this project was to familiarize first year students with the concept of the e-portfolio and to outline the expectations of the Honors Program towards students' e-portfolios.
To download a PDF version of my project, click here:
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Honors Experience Proposal
One of the main intentions of the Gateway to University Honors course is to introduce students to the concept of individually written Honors experience proposals. While pre-approved Honors experiences are certainly an option, students may also choose to create a completely unique Honors experience on the topic of their choosing. These individually proposed experiences then go through a revision and review process before the student can complete and reflect on the experience. First year students in the Gateway class were required to come up with an original idea for an Honors experience and write a proposal that would later be reviewed and edited by peers. This assignment was the most meaningful for me, because I was able to "test run" the process of designing an individual proposal in a relaxed environment. I was able to receive feedback immediately and gain an appropriate understanding of the expected quality that goes into an individual Honors experience proposal.
One of the main intentions of the Gateway to University Honors course is to introduce students to the concept of individually written Honors experience proposals. While pre-approved Honors experiences are certainly an option, students may also choose to create a completely unique Honors experience on the topic of their choosing. These individually proposed experiences then go through a revision and review process before the student can complete and reflect on the experience. First year students in the Gateway class were required to come up with an original idea for an Honors experience and write a proposal that would later be reviewed and edited by peers. This assignment was the most meaningful for me, because I was able to "test run" the process of designing an individual proposal in a relaxed environment. I was able to receive feedback immediately and gain an appropriate understanding of the expected quality that goes into an individual Honors experience proposal.
For my Honors experience proposal, I chose to create an experience that focused on my interest in the culture and lifestyle of the many Amish communities in the US. I planned out an experience that would involve staying with an Amish host family for a week and abiding by the customs and lifestyle of the typical Amish person. In addition to staying with the Amish, I would research common conceptions that the non-Amish, or "English," have regarding the Amish and compare these with my experiences during my stay. Finally, I would reflect on my experience through the creation of a multi-media presentation.
To download a PDF version of my Honors experience proposal, click here:
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