For this assignment write a reflective essay in response to one or more of the questions below. The goal is to express a thoughtful assessment of your educational journey in light of this course. You can choose which question(s) you wish to address. Use them as a starting point. Feel free to synthesize and run with them.
But don’t feel so free as to write much more than 3 pages. Well, write all you want, but submit something that has been reviewed and edited to a more concise statement. Also, please submit your type-written essay with the text formatted at 1.5 spacing and 12 point font.
By the way, I am not really looking for a critique of the readings or the course. This essay is about you. What, if anything, are you gaining by taking this course?
1. How does taking a “Natural World” course add value to your IAS education? In what ways does exposure to natural science perspectives color your view of how the world works? What is your take on the value of natural science research and its potential impact on your life beyond the class? Is your regard for the process of science and the issues of environmental science shifting?
2. Because you’ve completed Interdisciplinary Inquiry, you’ve read The Banking Concept of Education by Paulo Freire. Thus far, the course has featured a lot of lecturing by the professor that could easily be characterized as banking style education. How is the predominance of this style of classroom interaction impacting your learning? To what degree are you comfortable with a banking concept of education? To what degree do you find it “oppressive” or counterproductive? To what degree has your experience in the IAS program influenced your responses to these questions?
3. How do you intend to take on the course research project differently than you have in previous courses? How can you use this assignment to improve your research, critical thinking, and collaboration skills? To get specific, refer to the Interdisciplinary Research Assessment Rubric document online at http://faculty.washington.edu/rturner1/BIS293/IR%20Rubric.doc. Wow – did you know we have such high expectations of you? In what ways are you going to move towards the “substantially developed” end of the scale in interdisciplinary research? What could help you in your research and collaboration efforts?
4. We’ve been learning that coastal ecosystems are being seriously degraded and this has the potential to seriously limit our future prospects. How does learning about this make you feel? Is it just new information to store or does it bother you enough to make you want to take some sort of action? Does it make you want to learn more? Does it make you want to be an agent of social change? How might this course influence you after it is done?
Evaluation
How will I evaluate your reflective essay? After all, there are no right or wrong answers when asked to reveal your thoughts and opinions. But your effort and the quality of your product can certainly vary. Aside from just doing the assignment, I am mostly looking for evidence of reflective thought. More specifically, you will be evaluated on your success in articulating how the course is intersecting with your educational experience. To a lesser extent, you will also be evaluated on your writing skills.
The essay is worth a maximum of 15pts. I will use the following rubric to evaluate your essay and assign point values. Please recall that the total maximum points you can score will go down 5% for every day your essay is submitted late. If you are unhappy with the score you earn on your essay, you might be able to boost your grade with a revision and resubmission, subject to approval by the instructor.
