Spring Break
Integrative learning ideology pushed
Krystal Moya / Administration Editor
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: News
In Stephanie Pescitelli's college career, she has dived into the coastal waters of California to study marine life, studied abroad allowing her to explore the literature and politics of other countries, and interned strengthening her work ethic.
The senior environmental biology major's world, at Eastern and beyond, was fostered by Bonnie Irwin, dean of the Honors College, and the Presidential Scholars Program she was granted as a freshman.
Through Irwin's advisement, Pescitelli said her small-town mentality was opened to a world of possibilities.
"Every time I left my comfort zone, every time I was thrown out into my unknown, I was educated and I grew," she said in a presentation to the Board of Trustees in March. "And because of the opportunities I had, I came back more and more confident."
Pescitelli presented to the board with Irwin and Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs, to explain the shift in educational ideology and the push for a concept called Integrative Learning.
Irwin has incorporated the ideology into the Honors College for several years, and Lord said he believed all educational departments should begin to integrate into the philosophy.
"This ideology follows the overarching goal set by President Perry to build on Eastern's strengths of excellence, personal relationships, access and service," Lord said. "It is a way of connecting all class experiences, extra-curricular activities and internships, study abroad, domestic exchanges, etc. to the life students want to pursue outside of the educational realm."
Pescitelli and other Presidential Scholars, like senior pre-law major Eric Wilber, have had this new philosophy incorporated into their advisement and education planning by Irwin since their induction into the program.
Because of Irwin's experience with creating an educational environment that correlates opportunities to students' career ambitions, Irwin has headed the drive to integrate it into other departments.
In the beginning of the fall semester, department heads were asked to create examples in their fields of a typical student and how the department might link together the student's classes, activities and other experiences.
Irwin said it has created a great base for discussion.
"In preparing examples, we begin to think about everything a student has the possibility of doing in his or her time here at Eastern," she said. "As we look at the examples, we being to mind-map opportunities and can give the student a more valuable experience."
Lord said literature and studies on Integrative Learning have found that students find more connections to their goals, see a purpose in their education and are more successful because of it.
Showing interrelatedness, a linking factor in education, he said provides a "moment of epiphany" for students allowing them to see the "bigger picture of their education venture."
Information on Integrative Learning can be found on Eastern's website on the Academic Affairs homepage. A PowerPoint presentation and examples provided by the departments can be seen there.
In Irwin's presentation to the board, she addressed some of the conflicts that arise in integrative learning. She said opportunities, even when presented in the easiest capacity, will sometimes be passed by ill-motivated students.
"But, if we make everything available and present opportunities like internships and domestic exchange as what is expected of the student, we will yield better results in those that are marginally neutral," she said.
Lord said a movement to incorporate these expectations in freshman advisement has already begun.
"If you looked at the orientation supplements and advisement sessions, these things are already appearing on the guides," he said. "I am sure, as we continue to incorporate Integrative Learning into each major, it will be more and more prevalent-more and more the norm."
Lord said working the ideology into transfer student application is a slower process, but growing nonetheless.
"We want to provide all students with the knowledge of their opportunities and where to go to explore them further," he said. "This is ultimately what we are pushing for."
Pescitelli looked at the board after going through internship, study abroad, class and domestic exchanges experiences for almost 20 minutes.
Smiling wide she said, "After everything that I have had the opportunity to do, I realize, through connecting the links, how everything pertains and how successful I will be because of it.
"And, if I could do nothing more, I would wish an experience like this on every student."
Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.
The senior environmental biology major's world, at Eastern and beyond, was fostered by Bonnie Irwin, dean of the Honors College, and the Presidential Scholars Program she was granted as a freshman.
Through Irwin's advisement, Pescitelli said her small-town mentality was opened to a world of possibilities.
"Every time I left my comfort zone, every time I was thrown out into my unknown, I was educated and I grew," she said in a presentation to the Board of Trustees in March. "And because of the opportunities I had, I came back more and more confident."
Pescitelli presented to the board with Irwin and Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs, to explain the shift in educational ideology and the push for a concept called Integrative Learning.
Irwin has incorporated the ideology into the Honors College for several years, and Lord said he believed all educational departments should begin to integrate into the philosophy.
"This ideology follows the overarching goal set by President Perry to build on Eastern's strengths of excellence, personal relationships, access and service," Lord said. "It is a way of connecting all class experiences, extra-curricular activities and internships, study abroad, domestic exchanges, etc. to the life students want to pursue outside of the educational realm."
Pescitelli and other Presidential Scholars, like senior pre-law major Eric Wilber, have had this new philosophy incorporated into their advisement and education planning by Irwin since their induction into the program.
Because of Irwin's experience with creating an educational environment that correlates opportunities to students' career ambitions, Irwin has headed the drive to integrate it into other departments.
In the beginning of the fall semester, department heads were asked to create examples in their fields of a typical student and how the department might link together the student's classes, activities and other experiences.
Irwin said it has created a great base for discussion.
"In preparing examples, we begin to think about everything a student has the possibility of doing in his or her time here at Eastern," she said. "As we look at the examples, we being to mind-map opportunities and can give the student a more valuable experience."
Lord said literature and studies on Integrative Learning have found that students find more connections to their goals, see a purpose in their education and are more successful because of it.
Showing interrelatedness, a linking factor in education, he said provides a "moment of epiphany" for students allowing them to see the "bigger picture of their education venture."
Information on Integrative Learning can be found on Eastern's website on the Academic Affairs homepage. A PowerPoint presentation and examples provided by the departments can be seen there.
In Irwin's presentation to the board, she addressed some of the conflicts that arise in integrative learning. She said opportunities, even when presented in the easiest capacity, will sometimes be passed by ill-motivated students.
"But, if we make everything available and present opportunities like internships and domestic exchange as what is expected of the student, we will yield better results in those that are marginally neutral," she said.
Lord said a movement to incorporate these expectations in freshman advisement has already begun.
"If you looked at the orientation supplements and advisement sessions, these things are already appearing on the guides," he said. "I am sure, as we continue to incorporate Integrative Learning into each major, it will be more and more prevalent-more and more the norm."
Lord said working the ideology into transfer student application is a slower process, but growing nonetheless.
"We want to provide all students with the knowledge of their opportunities and where to go to explore them further," he said. "This is ultimately what we are pushing for."
Pescitelli looked at the board after going through internship, study abroad, class and domestic exchanges experiences for almost 20 minutes.
Smiling wide she said, "After everything that I have had the opportunity to do, I realize, through connecting the links, how everything pertains and how successful I will be because of it.
"And, if I could do nothing more, I would wish an experience like this on every student."
Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.
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