Synthesizing Information

As a student of the Ivy Tech Honors College and while completing the LIBA279 Honors Capstone Course, we were tasked with creating a Learning Portfolio and reflecting upon artifacts that pertained to specific Honors Program Outcomes.

Below is one of those reflections.

Thank you for your time.

- Michael

Honors Program Outcome 5:

Synthesize information from across multiple disciplines to create a more fully contextualized response to a problem or issue.

Reflection

Rather than present specific assignments for this program outcome, I have opted to highlight experiences which helped me to grow and learn while attending Ivy Tech. These experiences acted as culminations of different types of information and unique learning opportunities outside of a textbook or a lecture. As a student, is that not the point? To look beyond the pages assigned and bring the information to life through real world application and experience?

Zoom Zoom Zoom!

How can I discuss my college experience and not mention the impact of digital learning? Especially from the perspective of a student that loves being in the classroom. I will preface that I believe my transition to online learning was potentially smoother than some given that the Ivy Tech Honors College conducts all Honors classes virtually, so that I was used to. I was also fortunate that during the first half of my first semester I was able to attend some classes on campus before the pandemic grew out of control and in-person classes were eliminated. All that being said, I hated not being on campus. There is something that cannot be digitally replicated about the classroom experience. The ability to interact with others face-to-face. The opportunity to stay after class to ask questions. It was all gone. But I learned from this experience. I learned the importance of not taking my opportunities for granted. I learned how to better buckle down in the face of unique adversities. I learned to find the positives amongst a lot of unpleasantness. Most important of all, I learned that I could learn in more than one way. It was not always easy, but learning is not always meant to be easy.

Synthesizing Partnerships

If you read my essay for Program Outcome 1, then you know that I faced some challenges in a course that resulted in a net positive. It was in partnering with the Director of the IvyCares department (student support) that I met a mentor and guide that helped me to solve problems and experience new opportunities. If meeting new people and developing strong working relationships is not a prime example of synthesizing across disciplines, then I am not sure what is. From composing professional emails, practicing communication skills during meetings, and utilizing teamwork to solve pressing problems it has been these experiences that have allowed me to apply learned skills to the real world. Building a network of reliable relationships has opened doors to opportunities that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Directly to the Source

It is not every day that you get the opportunity to talk with the author of a book you have read. While taking Introduction to Sociology Honors, we were assigned “Where Am I Wearing?” by Kelsey Timmerman. This book was eye opening as it conveyed the unique perspectives of front-line workers who were impacted by globalism and textile manufacturing. The cherry on top was when the professor invited the author to join our class and we had the opportunity to sit down (digitally) and ask questions. What better way to synthesize than to hear the author reflect on their work and share their experiences? My biggest takeaway from this course and this experience was that I knew so little about the world around me and how everyday items impacted others. Sounds frightening to acknowledge your lack of knowledge, right? NO! It is so exciting. It points towards the near infinite possibilities that lie ahead as I continue my education. I am on a journey that has just begun.

Seeking Out the Experts

One of the most powerful and informative experiences that I have had the opportunity to take part in as a student of Ivy Tech was the chance to attend a presentation by Tim Wise, an anti-racist writer and educator. When discussing synthesizing information, it is easy to become focused on specific disciplines such as math, psychology, and English. But other subjects need to be considered. Subjects that might not have a course title and a number designator. During his presentation, Time Wise spoke about racism with a particular focus on the issue within higher education. He discussed history, socioeconomics, genetics, psychology, sociology, and several other subjects that all painted a picture I had never seen or experienced. It made me aware of the limitations of my own experience and stoked a fire to seek out more opportunities to hear experts speak on the subjects that they have devoted their lives to year after year. It also inspired me to strive harder to educate myself about the world so that perhaps one day I might stand in front of a collection of students and faculty and share information that might inspire them to action.