Science Reflection

I learned some important things from this course that I will allow to stick with me no matter my profession. Diversity is something I will always have to deal with regardless if it is race, gender, or gender orientation. Importantly this course has allowed me to grow as an individual and has shown me that it is okay to learn about other races and their background. Not only has it allowed me to be acceptable of everyone in fact, it has allowed me to be less judgmental amongst others.

In recent discussion of the purpose of a liberal arts education, a controversial issue has been whether it is “just filling you up with knowledge”. On one hand, some argue that it is just a good prerequisite to have. From this perspective, the point of earning a degree is to get a better career. On the other hand, however, others argue that a degree “has actual human value”. In the words of David Foster Wallace, one of this view’s main proponents, “a liberal arts education is not so much filling you up with knowledge as it is about ‘teaching you how to think’”. According to this view, having a degree affects how you think. In sum, then, the issue is whether a liberal arts education teaches you how to think positively or not through your banal “adult life”

If I were to describe this course to a friend I would say this class is more than what anyone expects and is extremely eye-opening. It is not like a normal studies class, where it has boring content. It has content that is insightful and allows you to really think about the issues at hand. I would encourage a friend to take it because it is not only a fun class but very informative. I would prepare them for the reality of this class. This class does not just touch the surface of issues we have in society, but it goes much deeper.

For as long as I could see the stars, I knew I wanted to reach them. Gazing at the stars gave me time to question how the world worked, and kindled my passion for science. The world of science intrigues me because it varies on so many levels. It ranges from the study of the smallest particles in the world to the research of the seemingly never-ending universe. With so much to learn, I never want to be absent in class and miss the opportunity of discovering something new. Science has influenced me to be curious as to why things work, and motivates me to find the explanations behind things.

Before taking this course I was really excited about what I am going to learn. And I was right! This course is not only interesting but it is also helpful. I have learned that the grade I am having right now is the reflection of my try throughout the entire semester.

What is a liberal arts education? Many students think that a liberal arts education just teaches students what they need to know for their future job. However, according to Arthur Holmes, in his essay Liberal Arts, a Liberal arts education “concentrates on what shapes a person’s understanding and values rather than on what he can use in one or two of the changing roles he might later play” (Timmerman and Hettinga 387-388). Liberal arts does not focus only on developing the mind, but also developing the character of the student (387). A liberal arts education is practical because it reinforces the knowledge students should already know (Stull, Richard Allen 39). For example, in high school everyone was required to learn the history of the nation and the world, but upon coming to college, the student learns the history of his major. This year I am taking

This course has taught me how I respond to traumatic events. For example, this past summer, I was demoted without warning from a job in which I was extremely invested in and passionate about. On day three of my job, I was suddenly transferred involuntarily from my position working with children with special

I personally have enjoyed this course. I was very nervous the first few months trying to make sure I didn’t miss any assignments and understood the reading material. I learn a lot about inequality, social injustice, social structure, social identity, and how to view things through a sociological perspective. This course has prepared me to observe various issue in society in a whole different way. We must educate ourselves about our history to know the differences, if not we will become a product of our environment. Therefore, “it’s easy to slide into the belief that things have always been the way we’ve known them to be” (Rosenblum & Travis, 2012, P.503).

My personal quest for knowledge has been ongoing since the first day I picked up a science book. I have never been more interested in any subject. It truly spoke to me. At a college level, there is a magnitude of opportunities. I had the opportunity to participate in the Student Dissector program on campus in the Spring of 2015, I visited the Stanford Cadaver Lab with Biology Club this semester, and I traveled to see a talk by the world renowned American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator, Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Part of the reason as to why I was so motivated to taking this course was due to my lack of knowledge when asked about what I was studying. Based on what I do know, the value of a liberal arts education is important. In the liberal arts, you learn from a range of topics. You get a taste of analyzing, mathematics, humanities, communications, and so much more. You are not just focused on one topic—as with most degrees—you are focused on a different aspects of different studies [...].

In the American education system the liberal arts system has given many students a chance to explore many different subjects and career opportunities rather than one choice. In the American education system especially in high school and college years students have a greater opportunity to discover new and different classes. It gives the student a greater opportunity to learn different amounts of information. When I was in high school I took a class on “Theory of Knowledge”. The class gave me chance to better understand about how people have different viewpoints and having different reasons. In class we would have a discussion about people, culture, philosophy, history and etc. When I was taking this class I learned so much on certain thought

The liberal arts are subjects that I consider a platform for life. You acquire knowledge and assimilate lessons that will guide you in overcoming obstacles that may hinder you. Weather it be critical reading skills or the way you interpret a painting in a museum the prowess that you accumulate from liberal arts will consistently aid you.

I must admit that I have always looked at this type of course as being a complete waste of time. After taking the Learning Connections Inventory, I've discovered that I'm a Dynamic Learner according to the results of the questionnaire. It's totally shed some light on the how, what, when and why of my success and failures in my educational as well as personal and professional life.

This course was not what I was expecting it to be, but I was very happy with the information that I took away from it. I am a Patrol Lieutenant with the Knoxville Police Department and mainly work the very poor East part of town. This area is about 75% African-American and the residents have adopted me as one of their own and I have made it a mission to try to help improve the area as much as I can. This course has taught me several things that I can use to help this needy community.

The students were working on science fair projects for science, and many of the students needed to create a graph to add to their science fair backboard. This allowed me to teach a lesson that would become multidiscipline lesson combining math skills and scientific data analysis. The purpose of the graph was to display data collected during the student during their experiments.