Describe a moment and analyze: “Write about a single experience or moment, and ask: how does this moment, experience, or encounter relate to my essential question?”
- You can also compare it with learning experiences you have had elsewhere, whether in or out of a classroom, at LREI or elsewhere.
During my first day interning at HRCS (a local community center that teaches sailing and stem to underserved youths in NYC) I was describing my project to head of youth development (Alexe) at the center and our first conversation solidified for me how this volunteer opprotunity would help me understand my essential quesiton. My essential question is how can learning through different mediums, like hands-on settings with others or individualized learning done online, lead to more productive learning? I was telling her about my research into modalities of learning and the cognitive science behind the way our brain absorbs and stores information that we learn. I had told her about my research the day before learning about Howard Gardner’s multiple intellegences theory and she quickly explained to me the pedagogy of learning and teaching there at the center – they try to implore kinesthetic, visual, and experiential learning opportunities each day through various activities for the students. At HRCS they interact with well over 30 students a day and need to adapt to the many different learning styles of each student. I realized that while my senior project is a more academic inquiry into the science behind learning, there are many of kids that struggle with learning through a traditional method and don’t know that there are other methods out there. I felt even more compelled hearing from Alexe about the students that struggle with learning through traditional ways to understand the brain science behind it (this way I may not only help myself but the many others who struggle with learning.)
What you wrote about in your post is exactly what I think is so interesting about your project. You can use it to not only help yourself as a learner, but help others understand how they can learn in more effective and engaging ways.
Cole, this post embodies Mark’s “no waffling around” remark on the “Writing CRs” document. You get straight to the point and address the prompt very clearly.
Regarding your last paragraph, I wonder if you have/are planning to reach out to some groups of students “that struggle with learning through a traditional method?” I know you’re doing a lot already, but it may be a good thing for you to do some observations (and maybe even teach some sessions?) to greater understand the “traditional learning/progressive (?) learning” dynamic. Just a thought!
I think that it’s great that you are going beyond the traditional ways of learning and are studying different approaches that work best for different people.