REMINDER: be sure to include your name with all posts to receive credit and allow others to respond.

OPTION: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECORD A VIDEO OR AUDIO response instead of writing for these Activities assignments (with the exception of image Activities), go to the end of the column to which you are responding. Click the plus sign to create a new post.  Click the ellipsis  (...) next to the camera icon, and it will give you a list of options. You can, for instance, film a video, record your voice, or capture your screen.

• What type of education would you expect to receive from an institution with a mission statement like Fitchburg State’s?

One of the ways to think about the value of the general education curriculum is to read, listen to, and contemplate what different people have to say about it and see what resonates with us.

• Browse through this collection of resources on Why We Study the Liberal Arts.

• Find at least three resources that resonate with you in some way and think about why.

• Feel free to post comments to the resource(s) that you have selected about the meaning(s) they have for you.

• Imagine you are enrolled in a class called “How to Human (Effectively!) 101.” The description on the syllabus reads:

In this course, we will discuss and identify what a person needs in order to “human,” and, more importantly, what a person needs to “human” effectively, not just to live or survive, but to manage a high quality of life that leaves the world better than we found it. Our discussions will range from the physiological to the cognitive to the social and beyond.

• By the end of the semester, what do you think would be on a list of what we need in order to “human effectively”? Create your own list.

During the summer of 2022, Fitchburg State University student ambassadors, including Orientation Leaders, Peer Tutors, and TRIO Student Support Services Squad Leaders, completed training on the General Education Program. In that training, like you, they were asked to list everything we need to “human effectively.” The following word cloud represents their collective responses (please note that larger words indicate multiple individuals gave the same response).

• Analyze this word cloud. Are the responses you gave in the cloud? What would you add? Would you take anything out? (Word Cloud in textbook)

• After analyzing the word cloud and comparing it to your list, think about how a student might gain these necessities while taking general education courses. What requirements might develop these types of skills and knowledge?

• Can you think of situations in which those skills typically considered in STEM do benefit or could benefit from skills typically considered in the humanities?

The Fitchburg State University General Education program prepares creative and critical thinkers who integrate and communicate learning from a variety of disciplines and experiences in ways that enhance civic, personal, and professional lives.

• Read the Mission statement carefully.

• Identify key words throughout the Mission and provide your own definitions for each of the terms.

• Based on both the definitions of the titles and on what is included in their respective pieces of the wheel (wheel in the textbook), what differences do you notice among the three sections: Foundation, Exploration, and Integration?

• What do you think is the purpose of each of these types of courses?

  • Lifelong Learning Courses

  • Critical and Creative Thinking Courses

  • Advancing and Applying Learning Courses

• Can you match learning outcomes (in the outer, dark green layer) with the types of courses available (in the inner, light gold layer)?

If you have already taken a course with a primary focus on each of the following:

• Information Literacy

• Quantitative Reasoning

• Reading

• Speaking and Listening

• Writing

...think about what you were asked to do and what you learned. If you have not already taken a course in one or more of these, think about the types of courses you could take. In what ways did or might the idea(s) or example(s) discussed above apply in such a course? What other ideas or examples would you add to the discussion?

If you have already taken a course with a primary focus on each of the following:

• Civic Learning

• Diverse Perspectives

• Ethical Reasoning

• Fine Arts Expression and Analysis

• Historical Inquiry and Analysis

• Literary Inquiry and Analysis

• Personal Wellness

• Procedural and Logical Thinking

• Scientific Inquiry and Analysis

...think about what you were asked to do and what you learned. If you have not already taken a course in one or more of these, think about the types of courses you could take. In what ways did or might the idea(s) or example(s) discussed above apply in such a course? What other ideas or examples would you add to the discussion?

• If you have already taken a course that emphasizes Integrative Learning, think about what you were asked to do and what you learned. If you have not heard about Integrative Learning before, think about the types of courses you could take.

• In what ways did or might the idea(s) or example(s) discussed above apply in such courses?

• What other ideas or examples would you add to the discussion?

• Let’s return to our imagined class from Activity 2.2, “How to Human (Effectively!) 101.” You are now ready to take “How to Human (Effectively!) 102.”

• Think about the list you created of what we need in order to “human effectively.”

• Now think about all the general education courses you have taken.

• Where in these courses did you learn skills and knowledge that it takes to be a human being? Create another list.

This is an opportunity, at the end of a long semester when it's hard for any of us to think about what we have accomplished, to reflect on how far we have come.

After completing the Library Tutorials, reflect on any lingering questions or confusion you might have. These tutorials may be familiar from other classes; if so, please complete them as a refresher.

• Library Research 101 Tutorial: Information Sources 

• Library Research 101 Tutorial: Search Process

• Library Research 101 Tutorial: Evaluating Sources

• Library Research 101 Tutorial: Academic Participation and Honesty

I am working in Padlet and seeing how it works. I am going to click on all of the activities and submit. If you do not receive them or it is incorrect, please let me know.

Thank you,

Kelly

The mission’s focus on leadership, service, and civic responsibility also tells me that Fitchburg State values more than academics alone. I would expect opportunities for hands-on learning, community involvement, and real-world experiences that connect coursework to what is happening outside the classroom.

Overall, I would expect Fitchburg State to offer a supportive, practical, and student-centered education that helps students grow and succeed.

The mission’s focus on leadership, service, and civic responsibility also tells me that Fitchburg State values more than academics alone. I would expect opportunities for hands-on learning, community involvement, and real-world experiences that connect coursework to what is happening outside the classroom.

Overall, I would expect Fitchburg State to offer a supportive, practical, and student-centered education that helps students grow and succeed.

the mission suggests that graduates who become teachers will be trained to see their job as serving others, not just teaching content. They should care about their school community, work well with other teachers, and help students become responsible citizens. Krisztina Perron

• Student-centered and accessible – focused on supporting a diverse student body and helping students succeed academically and professionally.

• Practical and career-oriented – emphasizing real-world skills, applied learning, internships, and preparation for specific careers (education, business, healthcare, technology, public service, etc.).

• Grounded in the liberal arts – building strong foundations in critical thinking, communication, and ethical reasoning, alongside professional training.

• Community- and service-focused – encouraging civic engagement, public service, and contributions to the local and broader community.

• Affordable and public-minded – aligned with the mission of a public university to provide high-quality education that leads to upward mobility.

The other portion of the mission statement that resonated with me is that Fitchburg State is also community-oriented. Even from afar, across the country in fact, I am motivated to care for the communities I participate in. I should expect an education that fosters such growth through any of the courses I take. Overall, Fitchburg State is a supportive environment for academic, professional, and individual success as seen in the mission statement.

This article hit home because I teach a technical related class called soft skills. What we cover in that class is so important, but often, soft skills do not taught with the same regard as technical skills at a CTE school. The article talks about the title "soft skills" makes it almost sound optional. Soft skills should be taken just as seriously because even the most skilled tradesperson could be overlooked for a job if they do not show a level of proficiency in basic communication, punctuality, personal hygiene, etc. Or if they land the job, they will need proficiency in soft skills to retain the job and thrive.

2. "Why We Need the Liberal Arts in Technology’s Age of Distraction"

This TIME article does a good job explaining how much science has progressed so fast that it seems to some like science fiction becoming reality. I grew up in a time when it was unheard of for people to have a computer in their own hom and the whole family had one telephone to share with one phone line/phone number. With all of these new technological advances the world still needs balance. The article states that some forward thinking tech companies hire ethics staff with backgrounds in areas like anthropology, psychology and philosophy.

3. "Why Study the Humanities"

   This one resonated with me because the person giving the presentation gave a great background on the vast amount of things you can study under the humanities umbrella. She noted how the skills learned while studying for a humanities degree can be very valuable to employers. A person with a humanities degree can have deep understanding of art, writing, history, culture, etc.

I also think this course is part of creating a solid baseline for everyone, since not every student comes in with the same experience using tools like Word or doing professional-style writing. In the workplace, you’re judged on how you communicate just as much as what you know, so learning how to write clean documents, follow directions, and pay attention to details is actually important. Overall, I see this class as something that supports the bigger goal of the university—helping students grow academically and professionally so we’re more ready for internships, jobs, and whatever comes after graduation.

After going over Fitchburg State’s mission statement, it is clear to see why this course is important. The mission statement reviews that Fitchburg State offers liberal arts and science, which, despite what major you choose, you will still get a general education and the purpose is to learn and adapt. It was also mentioned that the environment that Fitchburg state offers is a small one meaning it is a more personal education that can make students comfortable with speaking to each other as well as the professors. The high school I went to is very similar in that aspect. I personally like that smaller classroom feel, because rather than just giving us a packet and expecting students to have it done/correct it creates a dynamic that makes the work and questions asked, seem like teamwork. The education I expect to receive is one that is very “all around” so that whatever career path I and my fellow classmates choose, we will be prepared for it.

General education helps students see ways of learning and lets students use that knowledge in various fields. I think general education matches FSU’s goal of getting students ready for learning all life and for taking part in the community (Rotel). General education also reflects the defense of education. The defense of education appears in “In Defense of a Liberal Education”. The defense of education says that a broad education builds thinkers who can handle many social, cultural, and professional situations. When I read FSU’s mission, I see an education that values thinking. Fitchburg State’s mission also values learning that works in the world. The mission asks for participation in the workplace and participation in society.

Education is more than a job skill. The resources change the argument from the idea that education’s job skills to the idea that education is about human development. The articles above show that liberal arts teaches thinking, moral judgment, understanding of context, and flexibility. Skills that help a person act as a citizen and worker, not just a person who does tasks on the first day. Studying ideas and subjects gives a person the ability to deal with situations, work well with others, and guide a person's own future, not just follow directions.

First, there's "Baltimore Police Training Now Includes History Lessons" from the Baltimore Fishbowl. I didn't expect police training to include history, but it makes sense. Understanding the background and context helps officers make smarter, more thoughtful choices. It shows that the liberal arts aren't just for people stuck in classrooms; they matter in the real world.

Then there's "How the Liberal Arts Lead to Success" from the Atlantic. This one really spoke to me because it emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and staying flexible. I see that in my own life. Whether I'm working on a group project, playing sports, or volunteering, looking at things from different angles always helps me figure things out.

The last one, "Liberal Arts Majors Are the Future of the Tech Industry," caught me off guard, in a good way. It points out that tech companies need people who can communicate well, work in teams, and generate new ideas. You don't always think of tech and the humanities going together, but after reading this, it's clear they do. These resources made me realize the liberal arts aren't just about memorizing facts. They're about learning how to think, how to connect ideas, and how to handle whatever life throws at you. That's useful no matter what you end up doing.

However, when I got to read more about the course I realized that it’s the capstone for General Education. As over the years, I have taken different courses from across different departments, but College Learning Integration helps to connect them together such that as I get into the real world, I should be well prepared to meet up with the challenges and expectations. As such this course will provide me with the opportunity to reflect and look back on what I have learned, how has my thinking changed and how do these ideas link up and apply to real life. The course is necessary because employers value people who can think across fields, not just in one narrow area. Honestly, it’s a bit extra when you’re ready to graduate, but it makes college feel less like a checklist and more like real personal growth. Bernard Mumuluh

This article highlights how reading widely helped President Obama stay grounded, think critically, and empathize with others while leading in one of the most stressful positions in the world.

Reflection:

What resonates with me here is the idea that books aren’t just leisure, they’re tools for emotional balance, perspective, and wisdom. In school, we sometimes see reading assignments as busywork, but this article reminds me that the habit of reading across subjects, history, fiction, philosophy, biography, actually trains how we think, not just what we know. It shows that general education isn’t about memorizing facts but about developing judgment, resilience, and understanding, skills that are useful in any career and in real life.

2) “One Judge’s Order for Hate Crime Committers: Read More Books” — Huffington Post

In this piece, a judge used reading as part of a restorative justice approach — requiring people to read books that expand empathy and self-reflection.

Reflection:

This article really connected with me because it shows how reading can be a bridge to understanding others. The judge’s order isn’t just punishment; it’s a way to confront bias and grow through narrative and context. That’s exactly what general education promotes: exposure to different voices, experiences, and ways of thinking. It reminded me that learning isn’t just about skills or test scores, it’s about becoming more aware, compassionate, and thoughtful as a human being. That’s something I want to carry forward in how I relate to people in my future career and community.

3) “Why STEM Won’t Make Us Successful” — The Washington Post

This article argues that focusing narrowly on STEM without the liberal arts limits our ability to solve complex problems, communicate well, and think creatively.

Reflection:

This was an eye opener because, especially in a technical or career focused world, people keep pushing for STEM only paths. But this article made me think about how communication, ethics, history, and culture are just as important. Even in fields like accounting, business, or science, we need to interpret information, work with diverse groups, write clearly, and understand human behavior. General education challenges me to think beyond formulas, to ask why something matters and how it affects people. This article made me appreciate that a well-rounded education prepares me not just for a job, but for meaningful problem solving in life.

Self-awareness is reflecting on your actions and decisions. Recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses. Understanding your emotions and values.

Communication Skills: Listening actively, not just waiting to speak. Expressing your thoughts clearly and effectively, and adjusting communication to different circumstances and audiences.

Purpose and Vision: Knowing what matters to you and why, setting goals that align with your values, and acting intentionally to leave the world a better place than you found it.

Lifelong Learning and Growth: Continuously keep improving skills and knowledge, always stay open to new ideas and perspectives, always be creative, and keep up with new technology.

Resilience and adaptability are needed to bounce back from setbacks and failures, learn from life's challenges rather than be defeated by them, and adjust your strategies when circumstances change.

Critical Thinking: Always seeking knowledge intentionally, evaluate information before acting on it or believing it. Always coming up with a solution to any of life's challenges.

Mindfulness and Presence: Always paying attention to the current moment without any judgment, reducing stress and improving focus, and appreciating life experiences to the fullest

1. Accountability: This is a very important skillset that all humans need in order to function, in my opinion. Own your actions, right or wrong. Don't place blame on other people when things don't go your way. You cannot control the actions of others. You can control what you do and how you react to everything in the world.

2. Take care of your body. We only get one. Our body should be our temple. It is the vessel that carries us through this amazing thing called life. The more you love your body, the more it will love you back. That being said, it's your body-- do with it what you want. don't let others tell you what you should or should not do with it. Just remember my first point: accountability. I have tattoos. I know, they will probably not look great when I get older. But my tattoos tell my life story. I work out religiously. And I eat well. I am in great shape. I have goals to be a very active grandfather and if I want to meet the goal, I need to stay in shape.

3. Stop judging in a negative way: It is human nature to judge. everything we see, we process and for an opinion on it. Right now if I step outside, I will automatically think: It cold. I hate it. I made a judgment and it is second nature. when it comes to other people though, we need to have some empathy. If you see a panhandler, try not to think "BUM!" instead, think about all the trials and tribulation that person must have wen through to get to the point where they have to beg for money on the side of the road. I am not saying you need to give them anything. Simply, try to have some mindful compassion. it cost nothing to be a decent human being.

My other brother is a nuclear physicist. He works on naval warships in nuclear laboratories. He has a doctorate degree in physics. TONS of STEM related skills. But he still needs to have the ability to explain, in lay terms, his work to people who don't have the ability to understand it at the level he knows things. He also needs the basic toolbox of skills that he learned In his general education courses as an undergraduate student.

Food, shelter, rest, and healthcare are the things the body needs. When physical stability is missing the lack of stability makes clear thinking difficult, emotion control difficult and connection with people also becomes difficult.

2. Self-Awareness and Emotional Regulation

Knowing how you feel helps you act with realness. Recognizing emotions lets you respond instead of react. Pausing before choosing shows awareness of inner patterns. Thoughtful reactions differ from quick impulses. Understanding personal biases shapes better decisions.

3. Critical Thinking

Thinking deeply matters when handling tricky situations at work or in society. It means checking facts, challenging beliefs, yet still choosing clear paths forward.

4. Empathy and Active Listening

Seeing things from another’s view matters when conversations stay calm and kind. Respect grows not through speeches but through focused attention. Communities thrive because individuals truly hear one another.

5. Adaptability and Lifelong Learning

Shifting gears matters; staying curious, drawing on past moments, while using what you know in different ways builds strength over time.

6. Ethical Responsibility and Civic Awareness

Leaving things better than we arrived means thinking about people’s lives when we decide what to do. Our choices shape communities whether we notice or not.

Students could gain almost all of these words from general education courses because of what they provide. Especially from who they are surrounded by. Connections with peers, Support from teachers, and growth from physical activities are just a few examples of how impactful gen ed can be.

I’d put self-awareness out front. Empathy and responsibility, we need it. Seeing your own biases matters. When that misses happen, talking and making good choices waver. Leaving parts of the cloud unchanged makes sense, yet a few wide-ranging terms might stand better with sharper meaning.

Every so often, someone realizes skills aren’t just learned - they’re used. Through writing, a student might dig into different views, seeing how others see the world. In classes about people and societies, basic concepts like fairness or change start making sense. These steps happen quietly, shaping how thoughts connect without fanfare. Thinking through science and math sharpens how to analyze facts and rely on proof. When students work together on tasks from different subjects, they learn to adjust and cooperate. General education classes as a whole shape mental and social abilities shown in a visual word set. That layout hints at something deeper - these courses aim less on facts alone, more on building ways people connect and grow beyond school walls.

I found Quartz’s “Autistic kids are thriving in “Shakespearean therapy”” by Lila MacLellan fascinating. I have relatives with ASD so this hit home. It seems obvious but I never would have thought making the depicted emotions way over the top might help make them more recognizable and link them to facial expressions.

I enjoyed The New Yorker’s “can Reading Make You Happier?” by Ceridwen Davey. During my workday I am on the road a lot. I am fortunate that I can listen to audio books while I drive.

·         Empathy. One can never truly understand someone else’s point of view without empathy.

·         Curiosity. Sometimes it has catastrophic results, but if humans were to stop asking “why?” the species would stop advancing.

·         How to convey emotions through facial expression and body language.

·         How to navigate social situations, such as how to respond when someone tells you a joke that you do not find funny.

·         Responsibility. Doing the thing you want to do all the time may not be best for you or the planet.

·         Civic duty. Trying to keep the excess of some and the need of others in check.

·         Love. The love of one human to another, humans to animals, humans to the earth, humans to a fictional character in a really good book.

·         Loss. As hard as it is, the feeling of loss is a big part of being human.

·         Dealing with disappointment and rejection.

                Sociology would help teach about how humans interact with each other. Short stories or literature can help with empathy, compassion, communication, and connections, as they literally allow one to live another person’s life. Philosophy and logic can nurture curiosity, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and understanding. Overall, the liberal arts would teach all these things.

The idea that college would only help someone pursue a promotion within their career is something superficial comparatively to the multitude of reasons that exist. This particular article caught my attention because I, too, need to think above and beyond on my reasons for college. Yes, I want a better job. At the same time, I should want to push for lifelong learning within myself outside of my career path, which college can help me do.

2) "Why We Need the Humanities Now More Than Ever"

I had actually just did a research paper in one of my business courses about the future of artificial intelligence, and how it is taking over in an overwhelming manner. The article made me realize that we need the humanities to continue to foster creative energy, independent growth, and a questioning mindset towards ourselves and our environment.

3) "Why the humanities save lives"

This article actually made me realize that the humanities are so much more than what many portray it to be. The humanities, as a whole, teach us how to be critical of our surroundings, what we do, and what others may do. We must learn to appreciate that this kind of education can actually be useful in places where they may not seem like it, such as in the police force.

1. Physical Foundations

• Food and water

• Sleep

• Shelter and safety

• Healthcare

• Movement and physical activity

Without our basic physiological needs met, it’s almost impossible to function well mentally or emotionally.

2. Emotional Regulation

• Self-awareness

• The ability to identify and express emotions

• Coping skills for stress

• Patience and resilience

• The ability to recover from setbacks

Being able to manage emotions instead of being controlled by them is key to “humaning” effectively.

3. Meaningful Relationships

• Connection and belonging

• Communication skills

• Empathy

• Healthy boundaries

• Support systems

Humans aren’t meant to function alone. Relationships shape our identity and well-being.

. Cognitive Skills

• Critical thinking

• Problem-solving

• Adaptability

• Curiosity

• Lifelong learning

To function well in society, we need the ability to think, analyze, and adjust when things change.

5. Purpose and Direction

• Goals

• Values

• A sense of contribution

• Personal responsibility

Living effectively means moving toward something meaningful rather than just reacting to life.

6. Social Awareness

• Cultural understanding

• Respect for differences

• Ethical decision-making

• Civic responsibility

To leave the world better than we found it, we need awareness beyond ourselves.

7. Self-Care and Balance

• Rest without guilt

• Time management

• Saying no when needed

• Work-life balance

Burnout isn’t effective. Sustainable effort is

8. Growth Mindset

• Willingness to change

• Accepting feedback

• Learning from mistakes

• Humility

Effective humans evolve.

Another example would be artificial intelligence. Engineers can design powerful AI systems, but without humanities skills like ethics, communication, and cultural awareness, those systems could create bias or harm certain groups. Technology affects real people, so understanding history, psychology, and social behavior is important when building it.

Healthcare is another situation where STEM and humanities overlap. As someone who has spent time in hospitals, I know that doctors and nurses rely heavily on science, but empathy and communication skills are just as important. A doctor may know the medical treatment, but if they cannot communicate clearly or understand a patient’s emotional state, the care will suffer.

Overall, STEM provides the tools, but the humanities provide perspective. To function effectively in society, professionals need both technical ability and human understanding.

One thing I would add to the word cloud is resilience or emotional regulation. While coping mechanisms and learn from mistakes are included, I think resilience specifically is important because life constantly presents challenges, and being able to adapt without shutting down is essential. I might also add purpose or values, since having direction helps guide decision-making.

I would not necessarily remove anything, but I did notice that some words overlap in meaning, such as kindness, compassion, and empathy. While they are slightly different, they all connect to emotional intelligence. Overall, the word cloud reflects a balance between practical skills, emotional awareness, and intellectual growth, which aligns with my original list.

I think about how students gain these necessities through general education courses, I realize that many of these skills are developed indirectly through course requirements. For example, writing assignments and research papers build critical thinking, communication skills, and time management. Group projects help students practice cooperation, patience, and understanding different perspectives. Class discussions encourage open-mindedness and respectful communication, especially when students disagree.

Courses in the humanities, such as literature, history, or sociology, help students develop empathy and social awareness by exposing them to different cultures, experiences, and viewpoints. Science and math courses strengthen logical thinking and problem-solving. Even physical education or health-related courses can reinforce the importance of physical activity and balance.

General education may sometimes feel unrelated to a specific major, but it actually helps develop the broader skills shown in the word cloud. These requirements push students to think beyond their comfort zone and become more well-rounded individuals. Instead of just preparing someone for a job, general education prepares someone to function effectively as a person in society. Which directly connects to the idea of learning how to “human effectively.”

1. Growth Mindset - Having a growth mindset is an integral part of your success. Being able to understand that while you may not be able to do something "yet", doesn't mean that you will never be able to. Having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset can assist in your self propulsion to success.

2. Compassion - It costs a person nothing to be kind and show compassion to one another. Today, I heard a great statement, In discussion would you rather hear "words of honey" or "words of vinegar". Each person needs to feel understood in many capacities.

3. Empathy - Coming from a world of Hospitality training, empathy is an integral part of communication. Being able to put yourself in the shoes of someone else is a skill.

4. Critical Thinking - Being able to think on your toes, pivot when necessary. How to problem solve and continue on.

5. Communication - The ability to communicate both directly and indirectly and knowing the outcomes or deliverables of each type. All people need to know how to communicate, especially in the age of technology and abbreviations that we now live in.

6. Confidence - I believe this ties into your self worth, and is something that is self-driven. If you have the ability to find confidence in yourself, I believe you are more apt to succeed.

7. General Physical Needs - Food, Water, Shelter, Clothing: The basic essential needs that all humans need to survive.

2) “Why We Should Study the Liberal Arts”

This one stood out to me because it basically said liberal arts isn’t just “extra classes,” it’s stuff that can make you better at your main career. I agree with that because a lot of the gen ed classes I’ve taken have helped me think differently and understand other perspectives. Even if it’s not directly connected to my major, it still teaches you useful skills.

3) “The Liberal Arts and Human Purpose”

I connected with this one because it talks more about personal growth, not just getting a job. It made me think about how college is supposed to help you figure out who you are and what you believe, not just what you want to do for work. I liked that message because sometimes it’s easy to forget that learning can be valuable even if it’s not tied to your career.

If I had to make a list of what it takes to “human effectively,” I think it comes down to more than just surviving day to day. Obviously people need the basics like food, water, shelter, and sleep, but I don’t think that’s enough to actually feel fulfilled.

1) Balance. Life gets stressful fast, especially with school, work, and responsibilities, and if you don’t take time to rest or do things you enjoy, you’ll burn out.

2) I also think accountability matters a lot. Everyone makes mistakes, but being able to own them and learn from them is what helps you grow.

3) Relationships and communication. Having people around you and being able to talk things out is huge, because no one can really do everything alone. Along with that,

4) Empathy is important too. You don’t have to agree with everyone, but being able to understand where people are coming from makes you a better person and makes life easier.

5) “humaning effectively” means having purpose and motivation. Whether it’s goals, hobbies, or something you’re passionate about, having something that drives you gives life meaning and keeps you moving forward. Overall, I think being human effectively is about taking care of yourself, treating others with respect, and finding ways to keep improving while still enjoying life.

Food- As a chef, I thought the word "food" was way too small on the cloud. Food is such a huge part of being human and also connects some of the other words on there as well...friends, hobbies, motivation.

Water- We, as humans, are mostly made of water. We also need water to wash down all the food goodness we consume to be at our pak physically. Water can also create inner peace for people who like to swim, boat, fish, or just take in the beauty bodies of water can provide.

Rest-Rest is very important to the human body to balance burnout, fatigue, mood swings, anxiety.

Critical thinking- Critical thinking is an integral part of being human. The only thing that is certain in life is that there will be things that happen that are out of our control. Life will throw you curveballs and challenge you and critical thinking skills give you the ability to think on your feet and work your way through potential setbacks.

Connections- Connections are very important for the human race. They are essential for well-being, mental health and physical health.

I would add Critical Thinking as I believe it to be a paramount ability. It falls into the same line as problem solving and time management. All people should have this as an essential skill. In my career path, critical thinking is a necessary skill, as all need to know how to pivot.

Empathy should also be on the word chart more bold, it falls into the same category as compassion. The ability to be able to relate to another being is a skill in its own. All people should be able to relate, or at least put themselves in each other's shoes to better understand their issues.

I wouldn't take anything out of the word cloud. I believe that all peoples thought processes are import. I would say that some of these skills should be larger. Examples include, Food, Water, Sense of Self. Each person will have a difference of their personal importance to each cloud response.

In general education courses there are varied requirements that gauge student success or deliverable skills. In a philosophy course I recently took opened a new eye towards perspectives, and that all people may have a different opinion. Whereas a heavily intensive writing class focuses on expression and your ability to communicate effectively. Lab based courses highlight the trial and error approach of practice. A math course challenges your reasoning skills and may include determination and coping skills. A psychology course fosters students to understand social cues and compassion. More importantly how listening is essential.

If I had to add anything, I’d probably add accountability and financial responsibility, because those are two things that really hit once you’re actually in adulthood. I wouldn’t really take anything out, but some of the words kind of mean the same thing, like empathy/compassion/kindness.

I think gen ed classes help build these skills without students even noticing. Writing classes help with communication, math and science help with problem-solving, and classes like sociology or history help you understand other people and different perspectives. Overall, I think gen ed is more useful than people think because it teaches real life skills, not just class material.

I think STEM skills are way more effective when you also have humanities skills. For example, someone could be really good at math, science, or data analysis, but if they can’t communicate what the results mean, it doesn’t really help anyone. A lot of the time the people doing the technical work aren’t the same people making the final decisions, so you have to be able to explain it in a clear way.

I also think ethics and understanding people matters in STEM fields. Like in healthcare, technology, or engineering, your work affects real people, so being able to think about the human impact is just as important as the technical side. Overall, humanities skills help STEM knowledge actually translate into real-world results.

The words that I would add to the list are below.

Community-Working together and having a sense of belonging creates an environment where people thrive and they feel valued and connected.

Validation- People do not need validation to survive, but it does feel great to have someone assure you or have your back on things. It helps to know that you are not the only one thinking a certain way.

Having students do community service as a part of their graduation requirements is a great way for students to build the skills it takes to human correctly. I had to do community service as a part of my associates degree at Johnson & Wales University. I worked a soup kitchen in Providence, RI. I really enjoyed the experience and it opened my eyes to many difficulties people had in life. I believe that experience helped me become more empathetic and supportive. I also had a feeling of satisfaction being able to spend my time helping others.

To be human is to need basic necessities above all. Feeling unstable in this first level of the hierarchy of needs will lead to the underdevelopment or nonexistence of the other tiers. Food, water, and shelter are these basic necessities that must be sought after in order to begin to effectively human. The lack of stability in this tier will lead to difficulties in connections, control, and elevated thinking outside of survival instincts. Only after these needs being fulfilled will the other tiers of the hierarchy fall into place. Only humans are able to achieve such a feat, and thus must fall into the definition of how to be a human.

Going further into the hierarchy, we can see that humans are capable of critical thinking, awareness of emotions, and create complex relations with other humans comparatively to other mammals. All of these traits have become necessities at this point in order to succeed at being a human. Being a human means being able to grow with others, making sure to practice self-care, and interact creatively with the environment. Humans need direction, purpose, and values because without these, how can one achieve being able to interact with others? How can one succeed without direction? Overall, being a human is hard work and requires so much dedication that one may not even realize at first.

A word I had not mentioned was hobbies, which comes as a shock at first as to why the concept made its way into the answers. However, thinking about it further made me realize that hobbies are a part of the self-care process. Hobbies can also foster the growth of relationships as well since shared hobbies usually lead to conversations. Connections was one of the answers that was said multiple times though, which hobbies can eventually lead to.

Reflecting upon the activity, I see how human traits can be intertwined with one another. How do we garner these skills though? Well, general education courses have been fostering the development of human skills. Group projects, research projects, and critical analysis of readings are just a few of the ways skills to effectively human are developed within a college setting. General education courses go outside of memorizing content for major-specific courses. Instead, they provide skills that prove useful in careers, and life in general.

Firstly, Fitchburg State’s General Education description says general education helps us become creative and critical thinkers who can connect ideas from different subjects and use them in real life, work, and our community. This made sense to me because my classes used to feel all over the place, but now I see how they work together and actually prepare me for real problems after graduation.

Secondly,the idea of lifelong learning and being flexible stood out. Liberal arts teach us how to adapt, communicate clearly, and understand other people’s points of view. In college, I used to be pretty set in my ways, but group projects and new topics forced me to listen more and change my thinking when better ideas came up.

Lastly, there is a quote that talked about how liberal arts helps you think critically and “shape your soul.” It reminded me that college isn’t only about memorizing facts or getting a job but t’s about growing into a better, more aware person who can make a positive difference in the world.

These ideas show me that general education is worth it. It’s not just extra classes to get through but it’s about becoming a more complete person.

• Basic physiological needs met (food, water, sleep, safety): This is the most important because without these, nothing else works well.

• Law and order: This help to guide people's behaviour and protect others and our environment.

• Building relationships: We all need to demonstrated some empathy, active listening, trust, and genuine connection with others.

• Critical and flexible thinking: To be able to ask challenging questions, adapting to new info, and solving problems creatively.

• Purpose and contribution: To be able to find meaning through work, helping others, or small acts that improve our community/environment.

• Self-compassion and kindness: to be able to forgivie yourself and treating others with care.

On the other hand, social sciences/history helps to develop critical thinking, respect, and understanding of society.

Group projects and discussions teach collaboration, adaptability, and listening.

Science/math courses build resilience (pushing through hard problems) and self-awareness (reflecting on failures).

Examples of some situations where STEM actually benefits from humanities include:

Healthcare technology: Imagine a biomedical engineer designing an AI diagnostic tool will obviously need a strong technical skills, but empathy and cultural understanding (humanities strengths) help explain diagnoses clearly, build trust with diverse patients, and avoid bias in algorithms that could harm certain groups.

Software development : While Coders are abale to build perfect apps technically, but without humanities skills like storytelling, user empathy, and understanding human behavior (from psychology/literature), the app might be powerful yet confusing, inaccessible, or even harmful to users’ mental health.

In sum, pure STEM can solve technical problems, but adding humanities makes the solutions more human-centered, ethical, inclusive, and actually usable in the real world.

As a Business Administration major, three resources from Why We Study the Liberal Arts resonated with me because they connect directly to skills I will need in my career.

First, the resource about critical thinking stood out to me. In business, decisions often involve analyzing data, evaluating risks, and solving problems. Liberal arts courses help develop the ability to think logically, question assumptions, and consider multiple perspectives before making decisions. I can see how this skill is essential for leadership and strategic planning.

Second, the idea that liberal arts education builds strong communication skills really connected with me. In business, being able to clearly communicate ideas,whether through writing, presentations, or negotiations is critical. General education courses help improve writing and speaking skills, which are necessary for managing teams, working with clients, and building professional relationships.

Third, I resonated with the point that liberal arts education encourages adaptability. The business world constantly changes due to technology, economic shifts, and global competition. A broad educational foundation prepares me to adapt, learn new skills, and adjust strategies when needed. Instead of only focusing on technical business knowledge, liberal arts helps me become more flexible and well-rounded.

Overall, these resources helped me understand that general education courses are not separate from my major,they actually strengthen the skills I will use in my future business career.

"Learn from Mistakes" was another phrase in the cloud that stood out. This, for me, was the accountability piece. understand your mistakes and learn from them and do your best not to repeat them.

And my final concept of reducing negative judgement can be captured with multiple word in the cloud including kindness, open-mindedness, and understanding.

I think students can get a better concept of these through learning with people who have different goals, but are gathered collectively in these general education courses. I have read that there are nursing students, engineering students, and many other careers being pursued by students here. I think, often times, when courses are linear, you have a lot more like minded people which reduces the ability to know the world and what people experience and think from other fields. I am more of a data and analytics person, I surrounded myself with those types my whole career. But General Education helps bring together different personality types and different styles of learning and understanding that helps us be better humans because we get to step out of our world and into the world of others.

If I were enrolled in a class called How to Human (Effectively!) 101, my list of what we need to “human effectively” would include both personal and professional qualities.

First, we need self-awareness. Understanding our strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and values helps us make better decisions and build healthier relationships. In business, self-awareness helps leaders manage stress, accept feedback, and grow.

Second, we need empathy. Being able to understand other people’s perspectives is essential in both life and business. Whether working with coworkers, managing employees, or serving customers, empathy builds trust and stronger connections.

Third, we need critical thinking and problem solving skills. Life constantly presents challenges, and surviving isn’t enough,we need to think through situations carefully and make thoughtful choices. In business administration, solving problems efficiently and ethically is key to success.

Fourth, we need communication skills. Expressing ideas clearly and listening actively helps avoid conflict and misunderstandings. Effective communication strengthens teamwork and leadership.

Fifth, we need resilience and adaptability. The world changes quickly economically, socially, and technologically. To “human effectively,” we must adjust to change, learn from failure, and continue improving.

Finally, I believe we need a sense of purpose and responsibility. To leave the world better than we found it, we must act with integrity, make ethical decisions, and contribute positively to our communities.

Overall, to “human effectively” means not just existing, but growing, connecting with others, and making responsible choices that improve both our own lives and the lives of others.

Some of the responses I gave are reflected in the cloud, particularly communication and understanding others. However, as a Business Administration major, I would add financial literacy and decision-making skills. In business, being able to analyze information, manage resources responsibly, and make ethical decisions is essential not just professionally but in everyday life. I also think adaptability is important, especially in today’s fast-changing world.

I wouldn’t necessarily take anything out of the word cloud, but I think some qualities could be grouped together. For example, respect and kindness are closely connected, just like leadership and teamwork. All of these contribute to functioning effectively in society.

General education courses help students gain these necessities in different ways. For example:

* Writing and communication courses develop strong communication skills.

* Humanities and social science courses build empathy and cultural awareness.

* Math courses strengthen problem-solving and analytical thinking.

* Ethics or philosophy courses encourage responsible decision-making.

* Group projects across many classes build teamwork and collaboration skills.

As a business major, I see how general education gives a foundation that goes beyond technical business knowledge. It helps develop the personal awareness, critical thinking, and communication skills that are necessary not just to succeed in a career, but to live and interact effectively with others.

Excellence- To be excellent is not only just to do what is expected of you, but it is to go above and beyond. To exceed expectation in everything you do from school, to work, to just being a good human. Excellence can be defined in a lot of ways but I would define it as being the best you can in as many possible situations as you can.

Leadership- Leaders do not always have to be the most vocal person in the room. A lot of the greatest leaders led by example. People are more likely to trust someone that shows through action rather through words. I would define leader as someone who can be an example for others to grow.

Responsibility- Being responsible is taking care of what needs to be taken care of in any given moment. It could look like a million different things but that is a part of responsibility, you have to juggle a lot of moving parts. I would define responsibility as anything that needs to be taken care of at any given time.

Emotional Awareness and Self-Control
Knowing what you’re feeling, handling stress, and staying calm instead of reacting instantly helps you make smarter choices and build stronger relationships.

Empathy and Kindness
Being able to understand what other people are going through and genuinely care is a big part of forming real connections and creating a society that is more supportive and fair.

Critical Thinking
Being able to question information, notice bias, and think for yourself is important for making good decisions in a world that can be confusing and full of misinformation.

Communication Skills
Good communication means listening closely, explaining your thoughts clearly, and handling disagreements respectfully. These skills matter in friendships, families, jobs, and everyday life.

A Sense of Purpose
Having something that gives your life meaning—whether it’s your career, creativity, helping others, or relationships—keeps you motivated and gives your life direction.

Adaptability and Resilience
Life doesn’t always go as planned. Being able to adjust to change, learn from mistakes, and keep going is what helps people stay strong and maintain a good quality of life.

Ethical Thinking
Understanding what’s right and wrong, owning your actions, and thinking about how your choices affect other people helps you live responsibly and make a positive impact.

Connection and Community
People need other people. Having strong relationships and a sense of belonging supports mental health and helps communities work together and care for one another.

Curiosity and Lifelong Learning
Staying open to new ideas, different cultures, and new experiences helps you keep growing as a person and learning throughout your whole life.

Purposes:

Lifelong learned courses- to prepare the student for more challenging courses while giving them the tools they need to succeed.

Critical and Creative thinking courses- To challenge the student and face them with challenges that they must try to solve so that they get used to that feeling.

Advancing and Applying Learning Courses- Gives the students a hands on feel where they are able to pair learning with physical experience.

Yes you can match them, here are some examples. Speaking-Speech, Personal Wellness-Health and Fitness, Integrative Learning-Study Abroad

Engineers designing public infrastructure, like bridges or transportation systems, benefit from ethics, history, and sociology. Understanding how communities use space, how policies affect neighborhoods, and how past projects succeeded or failed helps engineers design systems that are not only functional but socially responsible.

Computer scientists and AI developers rely heavily on philosophy and ethics. Questions about bias in algorithms, privacy, and decision-making systems require moral reasoning and critical thinking skills rooted in philosophy and humanities training. Without these perspectives, technology can unintentionally reinforce inequality or harm users.

Medical professionals use science to diagnose and treat illness, but communication and empathy skills developed through literature, psychology, and cultural studies are essential for patient care. Understanding patient narratives improves diagnosis, trust, and treatment outcomes.

Data scientists and researchers benefit from strong writing and rhetorical skills. Being able to clearly explain findings to policymakers, business leaders, or the public determines whether research actually influences decisions. Humanities training strengthens clarity, persuasion, and audience awareness.

Environmental scientists working on climate change must understand history, politics, and cultural values to implement sustainable solutions. Scientific data alone doesn’t change behavior storytelling, ethics, and cultural understanding help drive action.

Overall, STEM provides the tools to build and discover, while the humanities help ensure those tools are used wisely, ethically, and effectively in human contexts.

However, STEM principles are heavily developed on the skills of the humanities which include communication, empathy, critical thinking, and determination.

In my CTE field we use our STEM foundations daily, with math and sciences. We have daily food cost figures to compute while understanding chemistry for balking. However, in the front of house we need our learning from the humanities to further shape our dexterity of kindness, empathy, how to deal with an angry customer etc. Adding the scope from the humanities changes the perspective and our reaction to the events.

Furthermore, the perfect combination of both STEM and the humanities can benefit all. STEM is a concrete process, versus humanities that adapts per person and can approach a solution from a different angle.

In the TED Ideas article “Let’s stop calling them ‘soft skills’ — and call them ‘real skills’ instead” by Seth Godin, he argues that skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, and empathy are often undervalued because they’re labeled “soft.” In reality, these are the skills that make people effective in the workplace and difficult to replace. Technical skills may get someone hired, but real skills help them succeed and grow.

2. Why We Need Liberal Arts In Technology's Age Of Distraction | Time.com

In the Time article, the author argues that even in a world dominated by fast-moving technology, we need the liberal arts just as much as ever. Technology can bring many benefits, but it also creates new challenges—like distraction, ethical dilemmas, and social consequences—that engineers and programmers often don’t consider when building new tools. The article suggests that including perspectives from the humanities and arts—such as philosophy, psychology, and cultural studies—can help technology creators think more deeply about how their inventions affect people and society. This balanced approach helps ensure that technology serves human values rather than just chasing what’s technically possible.

3. What Is College Good For? (Hint: More Than Just a Job) - The Chronicle of Higher Education

The article by Charles Dorn argues that college is about much more than preparing students for a job. While earning potential and career opportunities are real benefits of attending college, the author emphasizes that higher education also helps people grow personally and become engaged citizens who contribute to the public good. College encourages self-improvement, broad thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world beyond just technical training. These experiences shape not only future careers but also how individuals think, act, and participate in society.

• Physical health – Taking care of your body with sleep, nutrition, and exercise so you can function well.

• Emotional awareness and empathy – Understanding your own feelings and recognizing others’ emotions to build strong connections.

• Critical thinking and good decision-making – Analyzing situations carefully to make thoughtful choices.

• Clear communication – Expressing ideas effectively and listening well to avoid misunderstandings.

• Strong, healthy relationships – Building trust, support, and positive connections with others.

• Resilience and adaptability – Bouncing back from challenges and adjusting to change.

• Ethical responsibility – Considering how your actions affect others and striving to do the right thing.

• Purpose and lifelong learning – Having meaningful goals and staying curious to keep growing.

If I were to add to the cloud, I might include adaptability, empathy, and self-awareness, because these skills help people navigate change, work with others, and understand themselves better. I wouldn’t remove anything from my original list because all the items contribute to living well and positively impacting others.

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“How diversity makes us smarter” was a very good read for me because although diversity typically means skin color and ethical background it can be seen as more than that. As humans we are all from different backgrounds, even if it’s very similar no one person has the same exact background. Being able to recognize that and learn from people that are completely different from us enhances creativity, it gives us ideas that we weren’t going to come up with on our own. It’s important to recognize different walks of life and use it to our advantage rather than try to distance ourselves from it. Diversity brings in new ideas and innovation, it also makes us understand other backgrounds more so we are more aware of what’s going on. 

I also liked “ for a better brain, learn another language” , it gives me similar emotions to the previous resource that I went over. My family is mostly Haitian and Dominican so they speak Creole and Spanish. I understand both languages to an extent, but I don’t speak them. I only speak English. I would like to learn another language soon because it opens doors for oneself that typically would be closed. There’s a lot of job opportunities that can be created from doing so, like being an interpreter for example. But to me more importantly it allows you to understand another culture, there aren’t many Americans who speak multiple languages. They only speak English because that is all we see, but it improves communication skills as well as building empathy for others. There are many immigrants that come into America and learn English and sometimes they have a hard time because of that. It'll definitely give us empathy for them and others trying to learn another language.

• Meaningful awareness (I’m sure there's a better term) being able to block out all the distractions that we have going on in this world and only focus on what we need is important.

• Physically intact, can go a long way like getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating healthy, and something to get your heart rate up whether that’s walking, running, exercising things of that nature.

• Being empathetic means a lot because you have no idea what others are going through, so being understanding can raise someone else’s spirit as well as yours, leaving the world better than how you found it.

A student can gain these necessities by being aware that they are important. Not all students have to understand they need confidence or kindness, but being aware that these things can help you progress in life can have them taking steps in order to make that happen. Wow, taking general education courses, students can naturally gain some of the ideas touched in this word cloud. Such as time management, so they can figure out time to study, read, and complete their homework. Another concept that can be found within taking a course can be confidence and communication, as students continue to learn that can boost their confidence and have them raise their hands more. And as far as communication, students can reach out to one another for help as well as reach out to a professor and use them as a resource, which is another word that is included within the word cloud.

Another area where humanities can benefit in STEM situations is in human scientific research. The research can be more targeted or streamlined if there is social/cultural awareness before the research begins. It can also help determine certain impacts, on the social/cultural groups.

I also read that people trained in humanities are hired as ethics personnel in very STEM based technology companies.

Integrate and communicate – the ability to incorporate what they learn into everyday life and use the information appropriately.

Enhance – to make better and more fulfilling.

2. Lifelong learning – these courses build fundamental skills.

Critical and creative thinking – These courses give a wide range of knowledge to round out the education.

Advancing and applying learning – These courses show how all the knowledge gained is used in real world applications.

3. It is easy to match course to learning outcome in the foundation section. It becomes a little more difficult to pin down which course matches which outcome in the exploration section. In the Integration section, there is only one outcome, so it is assumed all courses match that.

community resource: I feel like the school is truly a part of the community of fitchburg and N Central Massachusetts. the staff, the police department, and the support services represents the community that I live. It serves not only the students that learn, but serves the community in which the school exists.

global responsibility: When we are learning, here on campus, the content is the most important piece. I learn business strategies and historical content as to why financial institutions exist, but we also learn the importance of the impact we have on the world as individuals. through our education we can be an asset to an organization with our newly minted knowledge, but more importantly, we learn to be an asset to the world.

Key Words & Definitions

Creative Thinkers – People who can come up with new ideas and look at problems in a different way instead of always doing things the “normal” way.

Critical Thinkers – People who don’t just accept information right away, but actually think through it, analyze it, and make decisions based on logic and evidence.

Integrate – To connect what you learn in different classes and apply it together, instead of treating every subject like it’s separate.

Communicate – Being able to clearly explain your thoughts and ideas, whether it’s through writing, speaking, or presentations.

I think the purpose of these course types is to make sure students aren’t just focused on one subject their whole time in college. Lifelong Learning courses help you develop skills that are useful no matter what job you end up doing, like communication and being able to work with different people. Critical and Creative Thinking courses are important because they teach you how to think deeper, solve problems, and not just memorize information. Advancing and Applying Learning courses seem more focused on real-world stuff, where you take what you’ve learned and actually use it in a practical way.

If I had to match the learning outcomes to the course types, I’d say communication and personal development fit best with Lifelong Learning courses. Analyzing and problem-solving connects most with Critical and Creative Thinking courses. And then applying skills in real situations definitely matches with Advancing and Applying Learning courses because those seem like they’re meant to prepare you for life after college.

Creative thinkers- Thinking creatively is about creating new ideas, seeing problems from different sides, while also picturing options that go beyond methods or steps.

Critical thinkers- examining proof, doubting common beliefs, checking reasons, then deciding based on clear logic rather than blindly trusting what’s said.

Integrate- When we integrate, pieces from separate areas come into contact, not stay separated. Seeing how things fit, finding links, spotting ties across subjects becomes part of the work.

Communicate- Getting across what you mean doesn’t always need loud voices. Sometimes it happens through emails, speeches, or drawings that others can make sense of. People tend to pay attention when they feel heard. Adjusting how things are said helps reach those who see the world differently.

Creative - Open to new ideas and possibilities. Most creative people would have a growth mindset and be willing to try something new, or approach the scenario from a different angle.

Critical Thinkers - Critical thinkers are beings that have the ability to think on their feet and pivot when necessary. Critical thinkers are mainly guided by prior knowledge and experience.

Integrate - To be able to combine and blend different practices or information for execution. Using prior knowledge to assist in general guidance/opinion formation.

Communicate - Learners that are able to speak both verbally and nonverbally to a wide variety of people. Also, being able to differentiate communication strategies based on whom they are speaking to or working with. In my field Communication is critical, being able to clearly dictate thoughts and feedback is a key attribute.

Disciplines/Experiences - Disciplines are tied to your past experiences. How, what you learned throughout life has shaped your actions and responses.

Another important part of the statement is integrating and communicating learning. I think this means being able to take knowledge from different classes or experiences and connect them together, instead of seeing everything as separate. It also means being able to clearly express what you’ve learned, whether that’s through writing, speaking, or other forms of communication.

The idea of learning from a variety of disciplines stood out to me too. This shows that general education isn’t just about one subject, but about gaining knowledge in many areas like science, communication, and humanities. This helps us become more well-rounded and better prepared for different situations.

Lastly, the mission mentions improving civic, personal, and professional lives. Civic life refers to being involved in your community and understanding social issues. Personal life means growing as an individual, and professional life relates to your career. I think general education matters because it helps build skills that apply to all of these areas, not just a specific job.

Exploration courses are more about learning across different subjects like science, humanities, and social sciences. These classes help students become more well-rounded and understand different perspectives. Compared to Foundation courses, they focus more on gaining knowledge and thinking in new ways.

Integration courses focus on applying what students have learned. These classes often involve real-world situations, projects, or connecting ideas from different subjects. This stage feels more focused on preparing students for careers and life after college.

Each type of course also has a purpose. Lifelong Learning courses help build skills you use long-term, like communication. Critical and Creative Thinking courses focus on analyzing and problem-solving. Advancing and Applying Learning courses are about using knowledge in real situations.

The learning outcomes connect to each section, starting with basic skills, then expanding knowledge, and finally applying it. Overall, the program builds skills step by step in a way that makes sense.

"The Fitchburg State University General Education program prepares creative and critical thinkers who integrate and communicate learning from a variety of disciplines and experiences in ways that enhance civic, personal, and professional lives."

What Words Should be Deemed Necessary?

Creative Thinkers - Those who are able to innovate/create new ideas and problem solve in a different fashion than the norm

Critical Thinkers - Those who can judge information presented to them and conduct their own research to either validate or disprove the provided information and can create their own assumptions based on their acquired knowledge

Integrate - To be able to use/utilize within a variety of situations

Communicate - To discuss a topic, in this case being able to discuss how general education is a necessity

Civic - Relating to the local area, such as a city or town, meaning we will be able to function within our localities with the skills learned from general education

Personal - Relating to oneself, general education will benefit the self such as in lifelong learning

Professional - Career related, general education helps career growth as it gives the soft skills required to be able to effectively work within companies

The purposes of all three types of courses vary as well. Foundational courses promote lifelong learning and begin building upon the skills needed for the long-term. Critical and Creative Thinking courses focus on specialized analysis and troubleshooting based on the discipline at hand (e.g. Biology). Advancing and Applying Learning courses focus solely on how the skills learned overall can be used for the greater good within society through a multitude of ways besides careers. When it comes to matching learning outcomes to course type, there can be trickiness. Foundation courses and the learning outcome are easy to pinpoint as they are practically known to be foundational skills. This becomes muddled with the Exploration section as you would think some of these would be Foundational or Integrative. Then in the Integration section there is simply one learning outcome, it all flows back to integrating skills learned to life outside of college.

The Fitchburg State University General Education mission focuses on preparing students to be creative and critical thinkers who can integrate and communicate learning from different disciplines to improve their civic, personal, and professional lives.

Creative thinking means being able to develop new ideas and approach problems in original ways. Critical thinking means analyzing information carefully, asking questions, and making logical decisions based on evidence. Integration means connecting knowledge from different subjects and applying it together, instead of learning topics in isolation. Communication means clearly expressing ideas through writing, speaking, and other forms. Civic life refers to being an informed and active member of society. Personal life connects to growth, values, and self-awareness. Professional life focuses on career skills and workplace readiness.

Overall, the mission emphasizes becoming a well-rounded individual who can think independently and apply knowledge in real-world situations.

Foundation courses focus on building basic academic skills. These classes help students develop core abilities like writing, reading, speaking, quantitative reasoning, and information literacy. The purpose is to create a strong academic base.

Exploration courses allow students to study different disciplines and perspectives. These courses encourage students to examine ideas from multiple fields, helping them understand the world more broadly.

Integration courses focus on applying knowledge. These classes connect learning from different areas and require students to use what they have learned in practical or complex ways. The goal is to prepare students to solve real-world problems.

Together, these three sections move students from learning basic skills, to exploring knowledge, to applying it meaningfully.

When it comes to class styles, those focused on lifelong learning build basic abilities like speaking clearly and understanding right from wrong. Thinking deeply and coming up with new ideas ties into Exploration, where learners sharpen reasoning, see different viewpoints, and tackle challenges using various tools. Learning how to put insights into practice connects with Integration, because the work here involves weaving facts together and showing real application. Out here, skills like reasoning or speaking begin to take shape–tied closely to lecture-based courses. From there, things shift toward broadening understanding, moving past just passive listening. Later, what you know starts getting used in real-world ways, shaped by hands-on experiences.

Information literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, and use information effectively and responsibly. It involves knowing how to identify credible sources, recognize bias, and properly cite information.

In a course focused on information literacy, students are usually asked to research academic sources, analyze credibility, and support arguments with evidence. This skill is important because we live in a world where information is easily accessible, but not all of it is accurate. Being information literate helps students make informed decisions in school, work, and everyday life.

Overall, information literacy strengthens critical thinking and prepares students to engage responsibly with information in both academic and professional settings.

Foundation courses focus on building essential skills. These classes help students develop core abilities such as writing, reading, quantitative reasoning, and communication. The purpose of Foundation courses is to prepare students with the basic tools they need to succeed in college-level work and in everyday life. They create the groundwork for deeper learning.

Exploration courses allow students to broaden their knowledge across a variety of disciplines. These classes expose students to different academic perspectives such as the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The purpose of Exploration courses is to expand students’ understanding of the world, encourage curiosity, and help them make connections between different fields of study.

Integration courses focus on applying and combining what students have learned. These classes often require students to synthesize knowledge from multiple disciplines and use it in practical, real-world contexts. The purpose of Integration courses is to help students connect their learning to civic, personal, and professional goals.Overall, the three sections move students from building foundational skills, to exploring broad knowledge, to integrating and applying what they have learned.

Together, they support the development of well-rounded graduates prepared for civic responsibility, personal growth, and professional success.

My key word definitions from mission statement are listed below:

Creative-Thinking and creating from imagination. Being original by thinking out of the box.

Critical Thinkers-Being able to problem solve or create by using your education along with past experiences to develop solutions or create new or easier ways to do things.

Integrate-Intertwine or incorporate something into another

Communicate-exchange words, thoughts or ideas

Learning-obtaining knowledge

Disciplines-different areas or fields

Experiences-Thinks a person has been through that shapes background knowledge.

Enhance- To make better

Civic-relating to what you do within your community

Foundation- These classes are for the student to build a strong foundation in a variety of general education subjects. They seem to be a deeper dive into what students learn in high school basics.

Exploration-The classes under this segment of the wheel are where students being to think more critically and creatively. In this section, students learn through diverse perspectives, research, ethical reasoning etc. Here the students start to problem solve using the prior knowledge learned in the foundation stages.

Integrative Learning-During the integrative learning piece of the college experience, students start to use their ability to connect and create using what they have learning in the previous 2 segments. They are able to think deeper and work on more complex projects or ideas. With offerings like internships and studying abroad, students can also gain understanding on the job and/or different cultures.

The mission also stresses the importance of integrating and communicating learning from a variety of disciplines and experiences. Integrate means drawing connections across subjects, seeing concepts in science, humanities, and social sciences. And individual experiences inform one another. This reinforces the idea that education is not from multiple angles to communicate underscores. The ability to express ideas clearly, whether in writing, speaking, or collaborative settings.  

Finally, the mission points to enhancing civic, personal, and professional lives. Civic refers to participating thoughtfully in community, communities, and society. Personal speaks to individual growth, self-awareness, and lifelong learning. Professional highlights readiness for the workplace through transferable skills like problem solving, communication, and adaptability. Overall, the mission statement frames general education not as a checklist of required courses, but as a foundation for becoming a well-rounded, engaged, and capable individual. It positions learning as something that extends far beyond the classroom and shapes who students become in every aspect of their lives. 

Matching learning outcomes into course types becomes easier when thinking about purpose. Outcomes related to analysis, evaluation, and problem solving align with critical and creative thinking. Outcomes focused on communication. Personal development. And civic responsibility connects to lifelong learning. Outcomes involve synthesis, application, or real-world engagement with advanced. Advancing and applying for learning. Together, these layers show how the curriculum is designed to support students' growth from foundational skills to applied integrated learning. 

Like houses, they all have a foundation and general structure, although they are all laid out differently, they form a unique shape that the individual desires. Fitchburg State serves as the builder of said home and the individual describes what they want from the house, but in this case we are talking about an educational structure.

I think the outer rings represent the broad strokes and as you peel back the layers, you really see the details of each part and how the whole structure is built.

I feel like the lifelong learning courses are the foundation of the structure. they lay the baseline of what is expected to continue to build upon thoughout your life.

Critical and Creative thinking are the bones or the framing of the structure. they support everything you are about to add the refined work to.

Advanced and Applying learning courses are the classes for our specific major of our programs. These are solid building blocks for the career goals that we desire to pursue.

4.2. I took statistics at Mount Wachusett Community College. I’ve always considered myself relatively good at math but statistics made me reevaluate because it did not come naturally to me. I had to work and practice and like it says in Why Do I Have to Take This, I did improve. I never got great, but if I end using what I learned in Statistics in the class Fluctuations and Forecasting that I took at Fitchburg State. As for other ideas or examples, similar to 4.1 especially with statistics, there is a significant threat of misinterpreting the data and drawing conclusions where there is only correlation.

4.3 I took a class called Short Stories at Mount Wachusett Community College. Short stories are great tools to tell impactful stories without building backstory or fixating on the details. It is also a great place to introduce complex themes and emotions. I remember when I started the class, we would discuss the stories we had red for the week and other students would talk about what the different parts of the story meant, while I took the story at face value. It was not until I looked harder at the story that I started to pick up on the more complex things being discussed. We would also learn about the authors of the stories we read, which would give insight into the themes that were present in their writing. As for other ideas or examples I do not think I have anything to add.

4.4 I took Speech at Mount Wachusett Community College. In this class we had to perform several different speeches. Each speech was set up slightly different the others. In some there were questions asked at the end. In one we had to record ourselves and present the video. The professor would stress that speech was not only about saying the words on the paper, but communicating with everything we had. We would practice eye contact, body language, and the proper stressing of the words that were important. We also needed to actively listen to our peers during their speeches. We were encouraged to ask questions to practice asking questions as the audience and practice how to respond as the speech giver. I do not have anything to add to this on either except my 9-year-old daughter is learning French on her own right now and it has piqued my interest and I am trying to learn with her.

4.5 I took Principles of Management at Mount Wachusett Community College. In this class communication was covered extensively. One of the easiest ways to communicate to a large group of people is with writing. We wrote extensively in that class. We practiced writing in memo style for an interoffice issue. We wrote introspective piece on how we would deal with issues. We wrote out the rules to a board game we had to design as a group. We did more writing in that class than any other class I had taken up to then. I found that the more I wrote, the easier it was to continue writing. Much like the other topics, I do not have any thing I would add to this one.

While reading the wheel I noticed that each part builds off of another, and that you would need knowledge from another part to understand. The example would be in the exploration - physics implies that you have a strong mathematical understanding(Foundation). Which you would then be able to Integration in a research project or high impact practice. One key difference I noticed is that each segment served a different purpose or goal.

The purpose of Lifelong Learning Courses is to develop a well rounded person that has the ability to communicate, read, write, and mathematical skills.

The purpose of Critical and Creative Thinking Courses is built off of the learning achieved while in the lifelong learning courses. They

The purpose of Advancing and Applying Learning Courses is about how we apply the knowledge from the first two segments. In this segment we are using prior intelligence in the next level to think more independently which is the purpose.

I can match learning outcomes in each segment with the types of courses available.

For Foundation Courses(Reading, Writing, Information Literacy, Quantitive Reasoning, and Speaking & Listening) directly to the courses(First Year experience, Writing 1&2, Speech & world Language, and Mathematics). These are core classes that will be the basis of how you develop and apply the baseline knowledge.

For Exploration/Critical & Creative Thinking Courses - These apply students to think critically and apply their prior knowledge of a subject matter in new situations. I can lineup the learning outcomes with courses available.

For Integration(Advancing & Applying Learning Courses) - These courses use language and knowledge of the first two pieces and outs learning into action. The example would be in an internship - the goal is to use the knowledge you have learned and apply it to real life applications.

1. Critical Thinkers: people who are carefully able to analyze information provided to them and make proper judgements based off of that information

2. Creative Thinkers: People who are able to come up with original ideas and approach their problems with innovation

3. Communicate: The ability to express thoughts and ideas clearly

4. Experiences: What is gained inside and outside of the classroom

5. Professional: Being able to prepare for a career, developing skills valuable to work and professional development

The purpose of Lifelong Learning Courses is to help students develop those core academic skills needed throughout their academic career and beyond. The purpose of Critical and Creative Thinking courses is to provide diverse perspectives, and to give students an ability to develop analytical and critical thinking skills. The purpose of Advancing and Applying Learning Courses is to encourage student to apply their knowledge in a professional setting

I guess my point in writing this is to emphasize the importance of general education courses. It doesn't matter if you pursue a career in the military like I did, or if you want to be a doctor, lawyer, or a writer-- It is extremely important to master and crush those general education courses out of the gate because without a soldid foundation, you'll have a difficult time with anything else you pursue.

The ideas from this chapter connect a lot to college work because we use information from the internet all the time. It’s important to question sources and check credibility before using or sharing information. These skills also apply outside of school, especially when looking at news or social media posts. With how fast information spreads today, being able to evaluate what is true or misleading is an important skill both academically and in everyday life.

For accounting, quantitative reasoning is obviously huge. It’s not just about doing math, but understanding numbers and using them to make decisions, like budgeting, analyzing costs, or managing finances. That’s something I already use in my daily life, especially supporting my family.

Information literacy is also really important in accounting. You have to be able to look at financial information and know what’s accurate and what’s not. Not everything you see is reliable, so being able to evaluate sources matters.

Writing and communication are bigger than I expected too. In accounting, you’re not just working with numbers, you have to explain them clearly to other people. Being able to write and communicate well makes a big difference.

Overall, I think this course is about connecting all these skills together instead of seeing them as separate. One thing I would add is time management, because balancing school, work, and family is honestly one of the most important skills I’m learning right now.

In quantitative reasoning classes, I had to interpret data, read and understand graphs, probability distributions and apply mathematical formulas to solve problems in a real world context. I have come to understand that numbers are a way of telling a story but it is very important to know the context and also be aware of the underlying assumptions and the limitations of the data. Quantitative reasoning is not about arithmetic or even doing calculations – it is about understanding whether the data is being presented in an accurate and sensible way. Another important skill that I have learned is statistical literacy. I have come to realize that in this age of information where we are constantly bombarded with news reports, medical studies and economic claims it is very important to have an understanding of statistical concepts and to be able to critically assess the validity of these claims.

In reading-focused classes in literature and history, the expectation has been that I would critique an author’s argument, recognize major themes, and evaluate the uses of various types of evidence. The best way to prepare for this type of task is to read slowly, think about a text, and ask appropriate questions. In addition, I believe that learning to read across different disciplines such as the scientific and literary is important. The different styles of writing in these texts require distinct approaches in understanding the material.

For speaking and listening I have not yet taken a cours, but I think it will involve presentation, group work and listening exercises. It appears from our reading that communication in speaking and listening involves being clear, selective and relevant and using particular strategies to interact with others. I would expect the module to cover areas such as presenting ideas orally and using different methods of communication to suit different situations as well as participating in discussions and responding appropriately to comments made by others. I also believe that the module will look at the aspect of listening to someone's point of view before we start to put together a counter argument. I would also like to see improvements in my public speaking and the ability to be more adaptable when communicating in different situations.

I have come to realize that one of the core aspects of the writing focused classes that I have taken was learning how to craft a legible thesis argument and build supporting points and evidence, all while learning how to effectively revise and edit a piece of work in order to produce something that is as clear and concise as possible. Writing allows one to be able to make sense of one’s thoughts and ideas and allows for an individual to be able to organize thoughts in a logical way, and to refine one’s ideas. When revising a piece of work I have found that I am able to recognize holes in an argument or logically inconsistent statements and this has caused me to think in new ways and to have to rethink my position and the points I am trying to make, which in itself is a valuable skill. Learning to write on different topics and in different forms, (for example writing a scientific report on the brain versus an argumentative essay that discusses the societal effects of lack of sleep) has allowed me to not only to understand the topic on a deeper level but has also increased my overall writing abilities.

These five areas are interconnected. Information Literacy is the foundation of successful writing. Quantitative Reasoning is the foundation of critical thinking. Reading and writing are the foundation of speaking and listening. In combination, these skills create a set of lifetime learning skills that transcend any number of courses in any discipline. They are essential for learning, thinking, communicating, and making intelligent evaluations in all aspects of academic, professional, and civic life.

Quantitative Reasoning - I have not actually taken a quantitative reasoning course yet but I can see why it is a requirement. Every single day, data has to be analyzed, and while it is usually mathematical, it is not always the case. Quantitative reasoning can help beyond the math part, but it is usually done in a math setting. It fosters critical thinking based on facts, and helps with informed decisions. An example is that I am a business major, I will have to analyze data trends and performance in order to make decisions about how to carry the hypothetical department I manage to higher successes.

Reading - My experience with a reading course was actually last semester in College Learning Foundations. There was a lot of reading, but in fact for good reason. Reading also kickstarts critical thinking and eventually leads us to question our surroundings as well based on information. In other words: reading leads to information literacy and is the method to gaining said information so it can be used correctly. The benefit that stood out the most was that reading can enhance concentration/focus. I want to try it out again and see if I can be more focused while reading, but will I be actively aware of this? Who knows! That is the wonder of learning in the first place, some things becoming second nature to where you may not actively notice it.

Speaking and Listening - Immediately going into speaking and listening is the idea that perspectives can be arranged in a spoken language, something much more personal than writing. I am taking a course right now to fulfill this requirement, ASL 1000. Being able to speak and listen is a surefire way to have proper communication, something that all types of careers and majors need. As an example, in business, communication is key. Learning different languages in order to be able to communicate fulfills on being able to speak and listen to others, to be able to gain perspectives you might not have understood at first.

Writing - Finally, writing is something I have also fulfilled through my Humanities Core courses back in my first time in college. Writing is a well-rounded concept, a necessity for a multitude of paths. It is also another way we are able to communicate. As a business major and someone who works in warehousing, I have to send emails every single day. Who would read my emails if I could not articulate my words properly, or better yet, did not know how to proofread what I had written? In all honesty, this course I had done pushed me to put hard work into my writing skills. While I may not be the best, I am still seeing improvements from this highly foundational course.

In research-based classes, Information Literacy helped me evaluate credible sources, identify bias, and properly cite evidence. Quantitative Reasoning strengthened my ability to interpret data, graphs, and statistics, which improved both problem-solving and decision-making. Reading courses taught me to analyze texts critically, identify main ideas, and look beyond surface meaning.

Speaking and Listening skills developed through presentations and group discussions, where I learned to communicate clearly and actively engage with others’ ideas. Writing-intensive courses emphasized organizing arguments, supporting claims with evidence, and revising drafts to improve clarity.

Overall, these skills all build on critical thinking. Together, they prepare me not only for academic success but also for professional and everyday situations where clear communication and informed decision-making are essential.

Reading-focused courses pushed me to move beyond surface-level comprehension. Close reading, annotation, and analyzing an author's purpose helped me develop patience and deeper engagement with complex texts. These habits carry over into every subject, especially when working with dense academic articles. Speaking and listening skills developed through presentations, group discussions, and collaborative projects. These experiences taught me how to communicate clearly, respond thoughtfully, and engage with different perspectives. Listening actively has been just as important as speaking, especially in settings where understanding others' viewpoints strengthens the overall discussion.

Writing has been a constant thread throughput my education. Writing-intensive courses helped me organize my thoughts, support claims with evidence, and adapt my tone depending on the audience. Whether drafting essays, reports, or discussion posts, writing has become a tool for clarifying my thinking. EDven if someone hasn't taken a dedicated course in each area, these skills appear across many subjects. Together, they create a foundation that supports academic success and prepares students for real-world problem-solving and communication.

I am currently taking Math for the Vocational Learner.  I use quantitative reasoning skills by applying percentages, using multiple types of measurements, budgeting, and basic problem-solving that relate to real-life and CTE shop situations. 

Public Speaking helped me gain confidence, organize presentations, and communicate clearly to different audiences. This is something I am still working on improving. It has taken time and practice to improve, even after being aware of some of the public speaking elements that I struggle with. For instance monotone voice, under or overusing hands while speaking and blanking out when I get nervous are things I struggle with. I noticed I was saying “um or “you know” in my video assignment, too. The public speaking class was great because most people were feeling some of the same insecurities, therefore, were supportive listeners.

Although I have not taken a reading or information literacy course, I have practiced critical reading, evaluating credible sources and sources from different perspectives, and using research responsibly through my writing assignments.

Information Literacy is extremely important in business. In courses like Intro to Business or Marketing, I’ve had to research companies, analyze market trends, and evaluate sources for credibility. I learned how to distinguish between reliable data and biased information, which is essential when making business decisions. In today’s world of social media and online news, being able to verify information is a critical skill.

Quantitative Reasoning plays a major role in business. In math, accounting, or finance-related courses, I’ve used numbers to interpret data, calculate profits and losses, and analyze performance metrics. Understanding statistics and financial data helps with budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning. These skills are not only academic they are directly tied to running or managing a successful organization.

Reading is also key. In many of my courses, I’ve had to read case studies, textbook chapters, and articles about business strategies and leadership. Reading helps me understand different management styles, economic trends, and ethical dilemmas. It improves my ability to analyze situations before making decisions.

Speaking and Listening are crucial in business environments. Through presentations and group projects, I’ve practiced explaining ideas clearly and listening to others’ perspectives. In business, communication affects teamwork, negotiations, and customer relationships. Being able to actively listen is just as important as speaking confidently.

Writing is another foundational skill. Business communication requires clear emails, reports, proposals, and professional documents. In my classes, writing assignments have helped me organize my thoughts, present arguments logically, and support ideas with evidence. Strong writing makes communication more effective and professional.

Overall, these general education skills are not separate from my major they support it. They help me think critically, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions. Even outside of business, these skills are necessary for everyday life, whether managing personal finances, evaluating news, or interacting with others in professional settings.

One of my favorite courses I took was Public Speaking. This course required me to think critically and consciously about what we were discussing and advocating about or for. It also integrated some key skills learned in reading and writing courses. In my career of Hospitality I use the skills learned daily. The one bias to public speaking, more content specific is perspective. Perspective is both a massive pro and con of any industry. However, in the service industry we practice "silent service". This is where, we are not meant to listen in on guests private conversations. Minus the argument of imagining everyone in their underwear when public speaking, that theory just made me chuckle. Furthermore, the skills learned are so transferrable and are used when I'm speaking with potential clients or students of mine.

In my quantitative reasoning courses information reasoning was a key part of the class. The instructor I had structured the content to be focused on what was happening in or around the world/economy around us. This increased my want to know more and more importantly to understand the theories and concepts that were being discussed.

With information literacy, one thing I would add is the importance on perception is most peoples reality. In the "new" world of TikTok and reels I see more-so how we can educate the upcoming generations on being present and focusing on the facts and truths of the matter.

5.2. I have taken a few courses that included diverse perspectives. The two that best fit are marketing and international marketing. It is unfortunate that it was in effort to market to a diverse population, but all perspectives need to be considered when marketing a product to reach the maximum number of consumers effectively. While trying to find effective ways to market to different cultures, religions, ages, and sexual orientation, I ended up doing a lot of research on those cultures, religions, ages, and sexual orientation, gaining a diverse perspective. As for topics I would add I cannot think of any. This section expresses the extreme importance of maintaining a diverse perspective. I am unable to experience the world any differently than I experience it. Listening to others is the only why I will ever learn what needs to change.

5.3. I took a class called Business ethics at Mount Wachusett Community College. This class was focused on the business side of ethics, but it gave a overall idea of what ethics means. I remember they had a few questions to tell if something was ethical. “Would you do it if someone was watching you?” and “If everyone did it, would it cause harm?” These questions do a good job giving insight into the ethics of actions. If everyone took private jets around the world, would it cause global harm? I f everyone used water irresponsibly, would it cause harm? If everyone cannot do it, then it may be unethical. It also covered what to do when something was unethical.

5.4. I took Drawing at Mount Wachusett Community College. Not only did we draw with different mediums in the class, but we learned about artists and different techniques. Taking this class refined my ability to view art and appreciate more subtle aspects including, brushstrokes, contrast and style. We also expressed ourselves when we drew our own pictures, My favorite medium was Charcoal.

5.5. I Think that History World Civilization II also works for this category. This class covered many different civilizations, how they started and how they ended. We looked at first hand sources and second-hand sources, and had to parse the information given to us.

5.6. I touched on this class before but Short Stories was very much in line with literary inquiry and analysis. This class was focused on going deeper into the meaning of the short stories and finding the human experiences hiding underneath.

5.7. I took Physical Education at Mount Wachusett Community College. In this class they stressed the importance of physical health, but also stressed emotional and mental health. Exercise can be good for the body and the mind, but meditation and relaxation were stressed as well.

5.8. I took Managerial Accounting at Mount Wachusett Community College. In this class we learned about following the proper procedures for entering accounting records into the general ledger and how to create the end of year reports. For some assignments, we were given some information and had to work logically backwards to find the missing info, which we could then fill in and work forwards to get all the information we needed. Thiws took logic and the proper following of procedures to accomplish.

5.9. I took Sociology at Mount Wachusett Community College. This class focused on the science of people. This class made us look at the world and see patterns big and small. We analyzed neighborhood behavior, state behavior, and global behavior patterns of humans.

I would also likely complete creative projects, such as producing a drawing, digital design, short performance, or written reflection on an artwork. Through these assignments, I would learn how artistic expression involves both imagination and intentional decision-making. Every choice—such as color selection, camera angle, or musical tempo—contributes to the overall impact of the piece. This process teaches problem-solving and attention to detail, as well as how to accept and apply constructive feedback.

The ideas discussed in other learning areas could also apply within a fine arts course. For example, understanding diverse cultural perspectives would help when studying art from different regions or time periods. Ethical reasoning might come into play when discussing controversial artwork or freedom of expression. Historical context would be important for understanding why certain artistic movements developed and what social issues they reflected.

If I were to add another idea to the discussion, I would emphasize the importance of communication skills. Fine arts courses strengthen the ability to clearly explain interpretations and support opinions with evidence from the artwork. Overall, Fine Arts Expression and Analysis develops creativity, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and effective communication—skills that are valuable in many academic and professional settings.

For fine arts expression and analysis, the closest class I took was The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll. That class looked at music as a form of cultural expression and explored how different artists and time periods influenced society. Literary inquiry and analysis clearly applies to English 101 and 102, where we analyzed texts, wrote essays, and practiced critical thinking about what we read.

Some of the other categories, like scientific inquiry or personal wellness, aren’t classes I’ve personally taken yet. However, I can see how those areas would still be valuable because they help students think critically, understand research, and learn skills that apply outside their specific major. Overall, these types of courses are meant to give students a broader education and help connect ideas across different subjects.

Another category I would add to this discussion is financial literacy. Many students graduate without a strong understanding of budgeting, taxes, credit, or loans, even though those things affect everyday life. A course focused on financial literacy could help students make better financial decisions and prepare for life after college. I also think communication skills could be another important category, since being able to clearly express ideas, write professionally, and work with others is valuable in almost any career.

These kinds of classes also focus on building skills like forming strong arguments, evaluating whether information is reliable, and being able to clearly explain your thoughts. I think they are useful because they teach you how to think through problems instead of just memorizing information. They also encourage students to consider perspectives that might be different from their own.

Overall, courses like these help prepare students not just for other classes, but also for real life. They help you become more aware of what is going on in the world and how your actions and decisions can affect other people and your community.

Diverse Perspectives: I have seen that a lot of my courses as a Business major go into diverse perspectives. This is because I must be able to speak and connect with a multitude of people while in a position of management. This is where I have seen a lot of managers fail, where they cannot connect to some of their employees and thus neglect their needs in the process. Diversity of race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religion, geographical differences, and so much more needs to be taken into account. It is more than likely why this must be a requirement.

Ethical Reasoning: This requirement is also met by my major, and is seen in a lot of my courses as well. Ethical reasoning goes more into deciphering what is right and wrong. It builds character, moral, and ethical values meant for daily life. A good example of this is artificial intelligence in businesses. While it can be useful, we must be able to ethically choose whether AI is well-suited for a job or if a human should do it for the most authentic experience. Without this, work done by businesses could be seen as illegitimate, or perhaps even illegal. That is why there are laws catered to AI in the workplace.

Fine Arts Expression and Analysis: I have taken a course in fine arts. It is another way in which we communicate: the communication through a multitude of art expressions. The course I had taken allowed me to appreciate the diverse range of art, and how it can be analyzed to inherently figure out an artists' meaning behind their piece. In a way, I was also able to express myself through the understanding of their art. A great example of this topic in action would have to be in museums. We are not just there to admire art, but feel connected through it as well.

Historical Inquiry and Analysis: This is a requirement I have already completed as well. Historical information is pertinent to how we continue to adapt and change, for better or for worse. Scrutinizing evidence provided to us allows us to continue to avoid past mistakes, while also forming our own opinions of what may be true or not. More so, it goes into what is trustworthy or not. Historical evidence can also be seen in business in the way businesses have functioned correctly or gone under from their mistakes. Taking any kind of evidence of success or downfall and analyzing it is what this topic is all about.

Literary Inquiry and Analysis: Similarly to historical analysis, literary analysis requires the ability to evaluate and interpret complex texts. It is another form of communication, and allows us to uncover deeper meanings and engage with our surroundings in a critical light. While I have not completed this requirement yet, I can see why it is necessary, especially for my major. Business requires reading, being able to not only interpret numbers, but also written reports as well. As a manager, I must be able to pick apart what my employees write for me and to be able to generate an overarching report for my own supervisors of what is needed and what has been done.

Personal Wellness: While everything so far has been major-related in some way, personal wellness diverts from what I would classify as major-related topics. This is meant to educate me on how to care for myself better, which I personally struggle with as is. I have not completed this requirement, but I will soon. Staying healthy and fit is something that is necessary for personal lives. Being able to decompress will improve physical and mental health. I do hope that this course I will be taking will help me in my weight loss journey by being educated on health and fitness.

Procedural and Logical Thinking: This requirement was fulfilled at a different university under Chemistry. Chemistry is very logical and systematic, but it teaches us to also be able to adapt the same skills learned for a different result. While I am no longer a STEM major, I can still use what I learned in this course to be able to apply it to my work life. Some aspects of management can be systematic, such as procedures I must follow when employees break their own provided procedures, in the case of an emergency, etc. Adapting what I know from this set of rules is the logical path.

Scientific Inquiry and Analysis: Finally, this requirement was also fulfilled in a different university under a Biological Sciences course. We must also be able to navigate our natural world and validate the knowledge provided to us. Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data is a big part of this requirement. Once again, analytical thinking is necessary as a business major, as I will be getting a lot of data about consumer information. What consumers need is an integral part of improving within a market, and can also be seen as a way to interact and adapt to the world around us.

In discussions about ethics, I tried to consider the consequences of actions and think critically through moral dilems, realizations that carry over to many aspects of life. Courses in Fine arts expression and analysis required me to be very aware of fine art and to be able to identify elements such as symbolism and the way in which the artist portrays its ideas through the visual elements used. Literary inquiry and analysis also requires a great deal of awareness and thought of literature and its themes as well as having to identify deeper meanings within the text of a novel and analyzing it.

Health and Wellness classes concentrated on learning about different aspects of health and fitness and how our personal choices impact our overall health. The procedural and logical types of reasoning I was taught in math and statistics classes focused on problem solving by breaking down very structured steps to reach a correct answer while using logical thinking. Scientific inquiry and analysis is all about collecting evidence for your ideas, creating hypotheses based on that information and finally analyzing your findings. The core idea is that the General Education classes at MSU teach students to learn different skills that are closely tied to each other – critical thinking, analysis, communication and problem solving. These skills are also relevant in many other places and situations.

For example, courses centered on diverse perspectives and ethical reasoning often push me to examine how my background influences the way I interpret information. Discussions about fairness, responsibility, or cultural context show up in everything from business case studies to literature. These moments remind me that ethical thinking is not limited to philosophy it is part of decision making in any field.

Similarly, procedural and logical thinking connects strongly to the work i have done in the economics and finance. Learning to break down problems, evaluate evidence, and follow a structured process helps me approach complex scenarios with more confidence. at the same time, scientific inquiry and historical analysis encourage me to ask where information comes from, how it was produced, and what assumptions shape the conclusions. These skills make me a more careful reader and a more intentional writer.

Even areas like fine arts expression and personal wellness, which might seem separate from academic analysis, play an important role. Creative work teaches flexibility and interpretation, while wellness-focused courses remind me that learning is most meaningful when i am balanced and attentive to my own needs. Both areas help me understand myself better, which strengthens my ability to engage with challenging material.

If I were to take courses in areas I haven't explored yet, I imagine the same themes would apply. Each subject offers a different lens, but the underlying skills critical thinking, empathy, analysis, and reflection carry across disciplines. I would add that the most valuable learning often happens when these areas intersect, showing how academic ideas connect to real-world questions about community, identity, and responsibility.

Ethical Reasoning/Diverse Perspectives - Last semester I took a philosophy course that truly challenged every belief that I “believed” I had. This course challenged me to think critically without my own parameters. The end goal of this course was to better understand that each person may have a different perspective or course of action on a particular topic. As a part of the final assessment, we had to “argue” our case of what something meant to us, and I found this assignment so intriguing as it opened me up to how another one of my classmates interpreted the same text. I enjoyed this as it was a great reflective practice. 

These are just two of many examples of why Civic Learning is important in society.

In continuation, Civic learning is of continual development of all people.

For Diverse perspectives and History Analysis, I took Food & Culture. This was my favorite class that I took while earning my associates degree. This class took a deep dive into the history of food around the world. It also taught us about how geography, religion and culture affect ingredients, cooking styles and techniques. 

Scientific Inquiry and Analysis would be the category that I took a lot of culinary classes in. I took multiple food labs from baking and pastry to international cuisine.

I have not taken college classes in the following areas, but here are some thoughts on what they are about. 

Civic learning teaches how government and communities work. It helps students understand their rights, responsibilities, and how people can take part in society.
Ethical reasoning teaches students how to make fair and responsible decisions.
Literacy inquiry focuses on reading and understanding. Students learn how to think about what they read and form their own ideas.
Fine arts classes explore creativity through things like art, music or theater. Students learn how people express ideas and emotions through art.

Personal Wellness

Personal wellness is an important subject to have as a focus for any course. It is how we decide to take care of ourselves so we can ultimately be the best version of ourselves. In my first year of Salem State I took a course called the first year seminar, and within that course, I learned a lot of things. It was a great introduction into college. As simple as the seminar was, it taught me that less is more. Certain things like professional emailing and having an agenda, helped me map out how I wanted to handle life, school, and any extracurriculars that I wanted to do. Being able to decide what you’re going to do for the next 24 hours is great for your personal health because it gives you a sense of what to expect. Students put certain assignments into portions and that allows us to complete what we’re capable of.

Diverse Perspectives 

As a business major, I believe it is very important to develop diverse perspectives because viewing situations from all angles allows us to have better answers to those situations. It allows us as students to develop a knack for listening to others and viewing where they are coming from. We are from all different walks of life and have been put in many different situations, so allowing others to impact us in such a way creates versatility between each other. 

In my freshman year at Salem State I took a course called media and race and the primary focus was diverse perspectives. The key takeaways from that class for me was positionality, and understanding that everyone's background directly affects how they may answer a problem. That’s a lifelong skill to comprehend because like I mentioned prior we all come from different walks of life and the things we see and go through determine how we handle certain situations. Another thing that I really appreciate from this course was developing my ability of civil discourse. It is important to talk about sensitive topics because they are often the elephant in the room. Being able to address things even if you don’t completely agree with another party, but being able to communicate and being understanding is very important. No one person is the same. Having differences of opinion is very common in our life, being able to talk about why we have different opinions and why you may feel a certain way without being hostile can further and progress relationships.

Even in courses I haven’t taken yet, like environmental studies, integrative learning would be useful because solving problems often requires multiple perspectives. Overall, it helps move beyond memorization and encourages using knowledge in meaningful, practical ways.

For example, accounting isn’t just numbers, it ties into real-world decision making, budgeting, and how businesses actually run. Then business classes build on that, so it all starts to come together.

I think this kind of learning is important because it makes everything feel more useful instead of just memorizing things for a test. It also helps you feel more prepared for a real job, since in real life everything is connected.

One example I would add is how work experience fits into this too. Working in a restaurant has taught me a lot about communication, time management, and problem solving, and those skills connect directly to what I’m learning in school. So it’s not just classes connecting to each other, but also connecting to real life.

The method is valuable in courses that encourage open-ended problem-solving, cross-disciplinary collaboration, or linking personal experience to academic knowledge. Projects might combine financial metrics, teamwork, and narrative clarity, demonstrating how integrative learning connects diverse subjects.

Reflecting on patterns between classroom lessons and workplace situations enhances integration, while transferable skills like problem-solving support broader understandings of consumer behavior or organizational culture. Ultimately, integrative learning equips you for real-world decisional, where issues are rarely confined to a single field.

I have not taken a class in integrative learning. After looking into the definition of an integrated learning course, I reached the conclusion that they are classes that focus on connecting what you learn in different subjects and applying it to real-world situations. Instead of studying just one topic, the class encourages students to think about how ideas from different courses relate to each other.. Students may reflect on what they have learned in college and show how subjects like math, writing, history, and science can work together to help solve problems and better understand things The goal of the class is to help students see how the knowledge and skills they gain from different classes can be combined and used in practical ways beyond the classroom.

The other course that I would believe to be considered Integrative Learning would be the public speaking/communications course completed at NECC. This course connected how writing turns into speaking, and public demonstrations. Learning the ability to turn a piece of literature or announcing something to a crowd is a skill that I connected to while completing that course.

Integration courses are there to connect classroom learning to application in real world scenarios. I feel each course I have taken through my college journey could be attributed at some point to real world application whether I think of it or not.

One other course that may be considered would be a Skills for Success or entrepreneurship course.

Creating change in this area requires a combination of knowledge, skills, and intentional action. It involves understanding how financial systems work, recognizing the structural barriers that limit access to education, and developing the communication skills needed to teach financial concepts in ways that are approachable and culturally relevant. It also requires collaboration with schools, community organizations, and policymakers to design programs that are accessible and sustainable. Ultimately, meaningful progress depends on both individual initiative and collective effort.

Several General Education learning outcomes directly support this work. Critical Thinking helps identify the root causes of financial inequality and evaluate which solutions are most effective. Communication is essential for explaining financial concepts clearly and building trust with diverse audiences. Quantitative Reasoning strengthens the ability to analyze data, interpret trends, and assess the impact of financial programs. Global and Cultural Awareness ensures that solutions are inclusive and sensitive to the different financial realities people face. Finally, Ethical Reasoning guides decisions that prioritize fairness, transparency, and long-term community well-being. Together, these outcomes provide a strong foundation for addressing financial literacy inequality in a meaningful and lasting way.

For ethical reasoning, I took a course called “egoism vs. altruism.” We studied why people of fame did the things they do. Specifically, I did a paper on mother Theresa and studied her impact on the worls. Generally, when you think of her, you think of a selfless person who did good for the world but my perspective of it could be she was trying to make herself look good and appear holy. I personally believed the former was true, that she was truly a good person, but it was interesting to look at it from the devil’s advocates’ perspective.

I did not take any courses in fine arts. I would imagine that taking a course in that subject would help define the creative portion of someone’s brain. It would allow them to explore the imaginative portion of their exploration. It would help them see things from multiple perspectives and help them come to peace with the idea that not everything is linear.

I have taken multiple historical inquiry courses. From the standard US History to the History of the criminal justice and psychological fields. It is always beneficial to understand how modern ideas and theories came to be what they are, today. I feel that in every aspect in life, there is a history and a reasoning behind why we do it. I think it is ingrained in us as humans as we grow. If we make a mistake, we tend to not do it again, and if we make a choice that benefits us, we tend to repeat those choices.

I have taken a handful of courses in literary Inquiry. I have take African American literature, and I read several books in French for my language development courses. I think literature plays a vital role in our ability to understand the stories told in the past that have an impact on our lives today. Like history, literature can teach us lessons in what to avoid, and what to repeat.

Personal wellness is a topic that I am continuously learning about and building upon. In the military I took a course to be certified as a master fitness trainer. We dispelled major mainstream myths about wellness, about dieting, and about exercise. I use the concepts in those courses to help teach others about personal wellness and how to tell the difference between truths and myths when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

For procedural and logical thinking, I tok a course in statistics. This was a course where I thrived because we worked with data. We learned how to display facts. We learned how to analyze data to support research and to confirm truths in reporting, Statistics can help in almost every career. It goes back to the idea of History and repeating good choices and deviating from bad choices. With data to support those advisements, it helps guide people to make the correct choices that is beneficial to them.

I took a course in Biology in my first year of college. It really set the stage for understanding life from the smallest cells to the most complex animals like humans. It was interesting to learn the basics of life development and evolvement. I apply it in my everyday life in managing my garden, managing my chicken flock, or teaching my kids basic life skills. It also gave me a better appreciation for all forms of life. As a kid, we used to kill bigs and spiders for the fun of it. Now, I try to preserve life and recognize their value to the ecosystem in this world.

It’s time to talk about Information Literacy and why it’s crucial in today’s information age. Before we can tackle the war on misinformation, we have to know how to critically assess the information we read, and to have an awareness of any possible bias or information distortion. If we do not learn how to become information literate, we will always be at risk of being misled by misinformation. Being information literate helps us to think critically and become more informed. It also helps to prevent the spread of misinformation.

Critical and Creative Thinking is important. As individuals, we all have to learn to question, to examine, to reflect on the arguments and information that are being presented. To develop an informed perspective on the world around us. We need to evaluate information, which can often be manipulated to attract attention by playing on our emotions, with sensational headings, and with insufficient information, making what are often very complex issues easy to understand. As evaluators we have to think about how the information can be divided into parts to assess its credibility and where the bias lies.

The truth about Speaking and Listening We know that Speaking and Listening is an area of learning where children have to navigate how to challenge or refute information as it is passed on through conversation. Communication, negotiation and agreement and listening to contrasting views are all important skills in facilitating discussions and preventing misinformation. This area of learning and geography is crucial in explaining how to refute myths without "falling out" with others.

Students will be learning about Ethical Reasoning as part of their online safety curriculum. Information sharing is a privilege and with that privilege comes corresponding responsibilities. We know that sharing unsubstantiated or untrue information can have serious consequences for not only the source, but also for the target, as well as for the broader community and society in general. The concept of ethical reasoning is one that asks us to consider the impact of our actions upon others; that it involves the exercise of critical thinking to determine those social norms, expectations and rules of behaviour which surround personal and professional communication practices.

The reason critical thinking is so relevant to the fight against misinformation is that so many misinformation issues start with a science issue such as health, climate change, or technology. Scientific Inquiry and Analysis is the process by which we get our scientific information. It determines what is real and what is not. It allows us to determine what the quality of the evidence for and against a claim is. Critical thinking is about building trust in a process, not in our opinion or our imagination.

The combined skills reveal that battling misinformation is a much more complex challenge than initially thought. It requires not only critical thinking, clear communication, ethics, but a host of other skills. And these are exactly the types of skills that students are supposed to gain through General Education.

2.      Speech encourages curiosity. During the class we learned about other people’s passions, which made me interested in topics I had never thought of.

3.      Speech also covers the ability to convey emotions through facial expressions and body language.

4.      World Civilization II will give insight into how to act in social situations.

5.      Business ethics should teach how to be responsible.

6.      World Civilization II should teach about civic duty.

7.      Short stories are a great place to learn about love. It also helps with the next two on the list, loss and dealing with disappointment.

This matters to me because I’ve seen how it affects people in real life. Whether it’s friends or coworkers, you can tell when someone feels like they have to hold back who they are. That shouldn’t happen. As a parent, it also makes me think about the kind of world my kids are growing up in. I want them to be accepting and respectful of everyone.

Some of the general education outcomes that connect to this are diverse perspectives, ethical reasoning, speaking and listening skills, information literacy, and civic learning. Learning about different perspectives helps people become more open-minded. Ethical reasoning pushes people to think about fairness, and communication skills are important for real conversations that lead to change. Information literacy helps people avoid misinformation. Being able to find accurate information helps people form better opinions. Civic learning is important because it encourages people to speak up, vote, and support policies that promote equality.

Overall, I think change comes from education, open conversations, and people being willing to challenge their own thinking.

The system could be improved by focusing on clearer communication, and a more collaborative approach between all parties involved. Providing immediate access to medical care and reducing administrative delays would help injured employees recover sooner. These changes would help employees make a faster recovery and less stress.

Courses such as communication skills, quantitative reasoning, and information literacy can play roles in addressing these issues. Strong communication skills will help all involved clearly understand expectations and recovery plans. Quantitative reasoning can assist companies in analyzing injury data and identifying ways to improve response strategies. Information literacy would help both employers and employees make informed decisions. Skills related to ethical reasoning, diverse perspectives, and personal wellness would help the insurance company and the injured employee. Being educated in these areas can lead to a more efficient and effective workers’ compensation process with better outcomes from illness or injury.

Civic Learning: It will teache government systems and how to advocate for expanded programs like MassHealth.

Information Literacy: It will equip me with the ability to research reliable health policy data.

Scientific Inquiry & Analysis : This will help me to evaluate medical statistics and evidence based solutions.

Critical & Creative Thinking: This will enable me to bring about innovative ways to overcome healthcare barriers.

Integrative Learning : This will enable me to blend or combine knowledge from multiple fields to create practical family-health equity solutions.

With the help of these general education courses, i will be able improve and expand Healthcare to most low income families.

In order for this to change, I believe there needs to be a better alignment or reasoning behind the process. More and more in the news we are seeing how people are hunted down and then incorrectly and illegally deported because ICE believes they are illegal. My cousin whom is a legal citizen of the states was asked outside Manchester Airport for his papers and where he is from.

The first focus of learning of most importance is Diverse Perspectives. There needs to be a heightened approach to the backgrounds and approaches that you are following. In life, everything is a two sided street. In my career I see all sorts and shapes of people, a course on diverse perspectives would benefit those.

Another focus course would be on information literacy. Prior to forming a solidified opinion, there needs to be a highlight on how and where to find the information. With today's media and the fear mongering that is constant, I can see why most immigrants are afraid.

In continuation ethical reasoning courses should be mandatory as it is easy to form a position whether it is right or wrong without proper knowledge. When I think of ethics I think of what's right and what's wrong, however, the difference is being able to process the situations and get down to the truth of the matter. "Ethical reasoning builds peoples'"abilities to evaluate their own values and beliefs, think critically about ethical issues, and apply an ethical reasoning process to generate sound decisions"(Horner, 2021, P130)(Tracy,2026)

Speaking and listening courses would also be part of the solution. In the current world, people need to know how to both be an active speaker and listener. One of the courses in my college experience that influenced me the most was public speaking/communications. In this course I had to write three types of speeches(informative, persuasive, and narrative), with this I learned where to find credible information and where to find the facts. With the immigration crisis, we need more people whom know where to find the necessary information to assist in the solution. From there, they would be able to properly advocate for the change necessary for all people to feel safe.

Finally, Procedural & Logical Thinking course would be beneficial for most to take. In the crisis of immigration, there needs to be more research on the process of becoming a citizen, ensuring resources are available to those in process of acquiring the proper paperwork to stay in the United States. With studying procedural and logical thinking "We can use a rational, systematic procedure to arrive at conclusions, examine or build underlying patterns and structures, or deduce further information"(Tracy, 2026) This course outlines the investigation of the problem while outlining potential solutions. In our current immigration crisis, where we have a large population doing jobs that no-one else wants or is willing to do, contributing to the tax base, and not causing trouble there needs to be a solution for them to stay.

If they are here serving as a benefit to society, what is the real issue of them being here?

To change, we need to adapt as a society gather factual information and follow that. But, if a process(immigration) is broken we need to find a way to fix it. Or I fear that we will find ourselves in a status of unintentional segregation. Our immigrants should be of equal importance to our economy as a general citizen.

With careful consideration, there is quite a lot that needs to be learned to change this kind of problem. The first one is that we must be able to speak and listen properly when it comes to identifying and remedying LGBTQ+ rights. This is because without knowing how to communicate correctly back and forth, misinformation spreads, which is what the topic pushes to help scholars avoid. Next is seeing into the diverse perspectives of the LGBTQ+ community. This aids with knowledge through not only history, but modern perspectives as well, how people within the community then and now have been affected by systemic discrimination and the implementation or revocation of laws. Eventually, this kind of understanding helps lead allies to help make the right decisions for the community.

The fine arts are also able to loop into diverse perspectives, as the LGBTQ+ community does an immense amount of communication through art. How to properly interpret LGBTQ+ art aids in avoiding harm towards those in the community, as art tends to speak louder than words at times. I actually did a paper on contemporary art that tied into the community, and I am still baffled at the amount of not just art, but photography as well that speaks to the struggles the community faces on a regular basis. Integrative learning is a must in order to face the issues within LGBTQ+ rights as well, as no situation involving these rights are the same, such as the bans on gender-affirming care. Being able to adapt the knowledge of communication, diverse perspectives, into real-world situations is a must. A good example are the bans and limitations on gender-affirming care for children under the transgender umbrella, where fighting against these statutes must take the adaptation of the countless struggles the community has faced beforehand into a new light. Finally, the most crucial part of the learning outcomes that would help change the direction for LGBTQ+ issues is information literacy. Misinformation is rampant within the news regarding those within the community, such as the indoctrination or “grooming” of children to favor the community. Learning to know what is real and false information is crucial to combatting the mistreatments of LGBTQ+ people.

Other general educations courses contributed in different but equally important ways. Math and science taught me patience, logical reasoning, and how to break down problems step by step, while social science courses expanded my awareness of people, cultures, and systems. Even courses that didn't seem directly tied to "being human" ended up teaching discipline, time management, and adaptability. Altogether, these experiences helped me build the practical and interpersonal skills that support becoming a more capable and effective human being.

The tutorials on evaluating sources and academic honesty were especially useful because they highlighted the importance of credibility, accuracy, and ethical participation in academic work. They also helped me recognize areas where I still have questions, such as how to judge borderline sources or how to refine search terms more effectively. Overall, the tutorials served as a helpful refresher and gave me a clearer sense of how to navigate research with more confidence and intention.

The first important learning outcome is critical thinking. Climate change is a complex issue involving science, politics, economics, and ethics. Developing critical thinking skills allows individuals to evaluate evidence, identify misinformation, and make informed decisions about environmental policies and personal behaviors. For example, someone with strong critical thinking skills can assess the credibility of sources discussing climate science and avoid being misled by false or biased claims.

A second key outcome is quantitative reasoning. Understanding climate data—such as carbon emissions, temperature trends, and energy consumption—requires the ability to interpret numbers, graphs, and statistics. By practicing quantitative reasoning, individuals can better grasp the scale of the problem and evaluate the effectiveness of proposed solutions. This skill is essential for both scientists and everyday citizens who want to understand reports or make environmentally responsible choices.

The third learning outcome is ethical reasoning. Climate change raises important moral questions about responsibility, fairness, and the impact of current actions on future generations. Ethical reasoning helps individuals consider these issues thoughtfully, such as whether wealthier nations have a greater responsibility to reduce emissions or how to balance economic growth with environmental protection. This perspective encourages more just and sustainable decision-making.

Another valuable outcome is communication skills. Solving climate change requires collaboration and public awareness. Being able to clearly communicate ideas—whether through writing, speaking, or visual media—helps individuals advocate for change, educate others, and participate in meaningful discussions. Effective communication can influence public opinion, inspire action, and support policy changes.

Finally, civic engagement is crucial. Addressing climate change involves participation in community and political processes, such as voting, advocacy, and supporting environmental initiatives. By developing civic engagement skills, individuals learn how to take action, work with others, and contribute to solutions at local, national, and global levels. This outcome empowers people to move beyond awareness and actively work toward change.

In conclusion, climate change is a pressing global issue that requires informed and engaged citizens. By developing critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, ethical reasoning, communication skills, and civic engagement, individuals can play a meaningful role in addressing this challenge. Education not only increases understanding but also empowers action, making it a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

In courses that use integrative learning, you might do projects where you combine skills from more than one class, reflect on how different experiences fit together, or solve real-world problems using what you’ve learned. For example, a group project might require writing, research, and teamwork — pulling skills from different classes into one task.

If you’ve taken classes that asked you to reflect on your learning, connect ideas across subjects, or use knowledge in real situations, you’ve already done integrative learning. Other examples could include internships, research projects, or service learning — all of which ask you to bring together different skills and ideas.

So in your answer, you’d list general education courses you’ve taken and explain how each one helped you build skills that matter for life beyond school — not just for passing tests, but for being thoughtful, effective, and engaged in the world.

The evaluating sources section was especially useful because it gave me a clear way to judge whether a source is reliable, like checking the author, date, and purpose. I also didn’t have many lingering questions, but I think I’ll need more practice applying these skills in real research assignments. Overall, the tutorials were straightforward and helpful for building stronger academic research habits.

Food-Since my first degree was in culinary arts, a lot of mu classes had to do with food. I took American cuisine, international cuisine, garde manger, intro to baking and pastry arts, baking 2, menu planning, meat cutting, dining service, etc. These classes taught me about the science behind food and the art behind foodservice and hospitality.

Water-The classes that might fit this category are mixology and personal nutrition. Water is a need for humans to function and we learned about that in nutrition. In mixology we leaned how icing down beverages can make them more refreshing!

Rest-I can't think of any college credit classes I have taken that have to do with rest, but some staff professional development seminars we have done at school focused on stress management and mindfulness. I have learned that rest is a very important part of humaning correctly, that often gets overlooked or frowned upon, but in reality is a crucial part of living your best life.

Communication- Classes that have been great for my education in communication are public speaking, food & culture, english comp 1 and 2, how to manage student behavior in a healthy safe environment and sheltered English immersion.

English Composition helps you organize your ideas

SEI helps you adapt your message to your audience

Public Speaking helps you deliver your message clearly and confidently.

Food & Culture helped me understand why group of people have certain traditions, food staples and cultural norms.

Critical thinking-The classes I took for credit that tie in with critical thinking are my co-op experience at a hotel where I had to learn and adapt in the moment. Menu planning and cost control where I learned to create a menu for a mock business and cost items accordingly to stay in business. Sheltered English Immersion helped me get a deeper dive into diverse perspectives. My community service internship at a soup kitchen in Providence, RI also helped my learn more diverse perspectives and empathy.

From my classes, I think some of the biggest human skills I’ve picked up are communication, critical thinking, and understanding other people’s perspectives. In my English and discussion-based classes, I’ve learned how to express my thoughts clearly and also how to listen to other viewpoints without immediately shutting them down. That’s huge in real life.

My business law classes especially made me think more about right vs. wrong in situations that aren’t always black and white. It helped me slow down and actually think before reacting, which honestly applies a lot in my day-to-day life, especially with my family and at work.

Even classes like math or business tie in more than people think. They teach problem-solving, patience, and how to break things down step by step. That’s something I use constantly, whether it’s dealing with finances, school, or just figuring out life in general.

Working in restaurants, I see these skills all the time. You have to communicate clearly, read people, stay calm under pressure, and solve problems quickly. It’s basically “humaning” in real time. So even though school and real life can feel separate, they actually overlap a lot.

Overall, I think general education classes help build the foundation of being a well-rounded person, not just someone who knows facts. They teach you how to think, communicate, and handle real-life situations, which is honestly the most important part.

A course that I took that helped me utilize integrative learning was in my first year seminar course, this was at Salem State. The idea of this course was to set ourselves up in order to be successful college students. I appreciate that this class took place in my freshman year. The different things that were taught to us was the idea of time management, being able to recognize what’s a priority and having to schedule that in our lives. As well as finding time to decompress because that is equally as important as putting the work in (as long as you are doing so). Also being able to take advantage of the resources that are in front of us. Things like the library, our professors, and even our peers can help us for the time that we are there. That course taught me that college isn’t forever and these resources that are available at the moment will also not be there forever so it’s important to take advantage and soak up as much knowledge as possible.

I’d say these things displayed the importance of integrative learning because time management and taking advantage of resources is applicable throughout life. It also makes different courses somewhat easier when considering those aspects. Creating time to complete homework/project/study, or even reach out to someone who has taken that course or teaches it can help massively.

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving (Math, Statistics, Philosophy)
These courses helped me learn how to break down information, look at problems from different angles, and think more logically. I also became better at questioning information instead of just accepting it.

Understanding Others (Psychology, Sociology, Literature)
Through these classes, I learned how people think, act, and experience the world differently. This helped me become more open-minded and better at understanding different perspectives.

Ethics & Decision-Making (Philosophy, Civic Learning, History)
I learned how to think about right and wrong in more complex ways, especially when it comes to real-world situations. These classes made me more aware of how my choices can impact others.

Civic Awareness (History, Political Science)
These courses helped me understand how society works and how individuals can play a role in creating change. It made me more aware of my responsibilities as a member of a community.

Critical thinking was also one of my choices, which is a necessity in order for basic human survival as well. Without being able to think critically, one may continuously make wrong choices out of ignorance, and of course, that does not fare well in the long run not only with relationships, but generally lives as well. Growth is fundamental for humanity, whether it be intellectual or in other formats. Hence, this is why it is important to have courses in not only logical thinking, but media literacy, listening and speaking, ethical reasoning, civic learning, and much more. Most of these categories I am completing currently or have already done so, however each of these courses I have taken has made me see that I am improving greatly in not only my knowledge, but with my interactions in my environment. I have been doing better with interacting with coworkers, my work ethic has grown stronger, and I am questioning processes that may not be as efficient within my workplace. College Learning Foundations helped with media literacy, plus a previous humanities course. Ethical reasoning is met by my business law course, and listening and speaking comes from my sign language course, and finally civic learning comes from a history course. All of the coursework that comes from each class has, thus far, been beneficial to my career path and my social life, which are both necessities to being a human as well.

Business Statistics (Quantitative Reasoning)- I learned how to look at numbers and know whether they are adequate, interpret data, and make decisions based on that evidence, not hypotheses. This will help improve my ability to make sound judgements and solve problems in the real world.

Art History (Fine Arts+Diverse Perspectives)- Study of the fine and decorative arts of the world with particular attention to interpreting meaning and multiple perspectives. How culture and identity shape interpretation of art. Empathy and awareness.

History courses (Civic Learning+Historical Inquiry)- Learning how past events shaped the current systems that we live in today and how we can be active citizens of today’s society.

Research-Based Assignments (Information Literacy)- Learned how to evaluate sources, identify bias and distinguish fact from fiction in order to become a more independent thinker and make better informed decisions.

Class Discussions/Group work (speaking and Listening)- Engaging in discussions throughout the school year will have opportunities to further develop and demonstrate ccommmunication and interpersonal skills through regular interaction with teachers and peers throughout the school.

Wellness/Fitness Course (Personal Wellness)- Learned how to assess health, recognize physical limitations and take actions to support overall wellness.

• Classes like English 1 & English 2 helped me use my comprehension skills and being able to showcase I am understanding what is being read. I believe comprehension is a big part of the course. But there’s different skills that are added such as being able to express what you think clearly, and giving sourceful reasoning to my answers as well. Courses like writing and speech also help with those skills but writing does a good job of adding those aspects within the classes. 

Critical Thinking & Logic (Math, Statistics, Philosophy)

• Critical thinking and logic are important aspects of taking the course Business Statistics. It requires students to use numerical equations/ formulas in order to create logical reasoning for a certain problem. That course helped me apply numbers in order to give clear reasoning/explanations. 

Empathy & Perspective-Taking (Literature, Sociology, Psychology)

• Courses that taught these different skills were crucial in my college career, they helped me consider different perspectives and understand the importance of that. Empathy and Perspective are lifelong skills that contribute to communicating with people from all different backgrounds. This can improve working within a group as well as reducing prejudice. 

• Ethical Reasoning (Philosophy, History, Civic Learning)

Very similar to the Empathy and Perspective section, Ethical reasoning helped me consider everyone's perspective based on their backgrounds. In a course I took last year Business Ethics, it shows how to use compassion and while still being able to be produce efficiently.

Ethical thinking- These classes challenged me to think deeper about everyday topics. Things like happiness and joy. You hear these words everyday but don't actually know what their deep meaning is. Being challenged is so important in order to grow and these classes helped me with that. A person will never grow if they are constantly in a state of comfort and safety. You must step out of that zone and be uncomfortable in order to grow.

Wellness/Fitness- Through my years of school I have always played sports and been active. But as of recently (the past few years) I have grown an obsession for wellness and maximizing the body's potential. These classes introduced me a whole new world of ideas and thinking and it has taught me so much. In order to human effectively we must take what we have learned, find what we are passionate about, and seek joy from that.

2. This class has done an excellent job demonstrating how skills taught in liberal arts classes apply in the real world.

3. My understanding of how liberal arts classes and more specific classes work hand in hand, both imparting skills that make it easier to use the other.

4. Looking back at my previous coursework did give me a better understanding of how I use the knowledge and skills I developed in previous classes every day in real world scenarios.

5. All the writing in this class has most certainly improved my writing ability.

6. my ability to find and retain relevant knowledge from credible sources has improved significantly during this course.

One issue I feel strongly about is the lack of equal access to quality education. Around the world, many people are unable to receive a good education because of factors such as poverty, location, lack of resources, or poor school systems. This inequality limits opportunities for individuals and keeps many people in cycles of disadvantage. In my lifetime, I would like to see a world where everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality education.

To create this change, several things are needed. First, there must be increased awareness of the problem so that governments and communities understand its importance. Second, resources such as trained teachers, technology, and proper learning facilities must be made available to underserved areas. Third, policies must be put in place to ensure that education is accessible and affordable for all. Finally, individuals and organizations must take action by supporting educational programs and initiatives.

Several general education learning outcomes can help address this issue:

Critical Thinking: This skill helps individuals analyze the causes of education inequality and evaluate possible solutions. By understanding the root problems, better decisions can be made to improve access to education.

Communication Skills: Effective communication is essential for raising awareness about education inequality. It allows people to share ideas, advocate for change, and influence others to support educational improvements.

Ethical Reasoning: This outcome helps individuals understand the moral importance of equal access to education. It encourages fairness and responsibility in creating opportunities for all people.

Creative Thinking: Creative thinking is important for developing innovative solutions, such as online learning platforms or community-based education programs, especially in areas with limited resources.

Civic Engagement: This involves participating in efforts to improve society, such as supporting policies, volunteering, or advocating for educational reform. Civic engagement helps turn ideas into real change.

In conclusion, improving access to quality education is essential for creating a more equal and just society. By developing key skills and taking action, individuals can contribute to meaningful change and help ensure that education becomes a right enjoyed by everyone.

I’ve also grown more confident in how I communicate, both in writing and during discussions. On top of that, I’ve improved my ability to research and analyze information in a more effective way. These are skills that go beyond the classroom and will definitely be useful in any career path.

Earning a degree in a liberal arts and sciences program has real value because it shows that I can adapt, think from different perspectives, and tackle challenges not just complete assignments. Moving forward, I want to keep developing my communication skills and continue improving how I connect ideas across different areas of learning.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how to articulate the value of my degree, not just to myself but to other people. Before this class, I would have probably just said I was getting a business degree in accounting and left it at that. Now I can actually explain why I’m doing it and how the skills I’m learning apply to real life and future jobs. That feels a lot more meaningful and honestly makes me feel more confident about what I’m working toward.

I’ve also improved a lot in connecting different learning outcomes together. At first, everything felt separate, writing was just writing, analytics was just numbers, and discussions were just something to complete. Now I see how they overlap. For example, even in something like an analytics assignment, I still have to think critically and explain what the data means, which connects back to writing and communication. The same goes for discussions, those involve writing, perspective-taking, and sometimes even logical thinking. I didn’t really see those connections before.

Another area I’ve improved in is reflection. I’m not someone who naturally sits and thinks about what I’ve learned. I usually just move on to the next thing because my life is busy with work, school, and kids. But this class forced me to slow down and actually look at my own progress. I’ve started to notice patterns in how I learn, where I struggle, and what I’m getting better at. That’s something I want to keep working on because I can see how valuable it is.

I think I’ve also grown in communication, especially written communication. I used to overthink my writing and try to make it sound overly formal, which didn’t really sound like me. Now I’m getting better at writing in a way that is clear, natural, and still appropriate for school. That’s been a big shift for me, and it’s something I know will help me in future classes and eventually in my career.

If there’s one area I want to continue working on, it’s definitely confidence in unfamiliar types of work, like analytics and more technical assignments. I can do them, but they don’t come as naturally to me as writing does. I still second-guess myself a lot in those situations. I think with more practice, I’ll get more comfortable and trust my process more.

Overall, this class helped me see that learning outcomes aren’t just random categories, they actually reflect real skills that connect to each other and to real life. It also helped me recognize that even though I’m busy and sometimes just trying to get through assignments, I am improving and building skills that matter.

Growth Mindset - Growth mindset is something that is of high importance in the OCED courses. Almost every class I have completed has a high emphasis on looking at the world like a glass half full. In my teaching career I urge to have the "I can, just not yet" mentality - while they may not be able to do something to perfection now, they CAN learn how to do it.

Compassion - In my english comp 1/2 courses I learned the importance of compassion. It costs you nothing to be kind and treat people the way you would like to be treated. In English Comp 1/2 I read a variety of stories and had to understand the plot, climax, etc. With each piece of literature you have to have a level of compassion and caring. The best book I read in the class was a collection of short stories and in each one we had to decipher the climax and plot paired with understanding of what the characters were going through.

Empathy - Empathy is a crucial skill in my career and is paired with communication skills. In my Intro to Hospitality course the first thing covered is the Marriott LEARN model which is their guest recovery process that all employees use. LEARN is an acronym for Listen, Empathize, Apologize, React, and Notify. I better developed this skill in this course as I had to put myself in the customers shoes and level with them. I better understood the process of communicating effectively and still improve with time.

Critical Thinking - In the food service industry critical thinking is one of the required components. It is how you think quickly, rapid problem solving, and has a focus on flexibility. In my Hospitality Law course there was a high focus on legalities and how we problem solve. One of the assignments had to do with how you would have handled a potential issue that would have resulted in the business being sued - and I had to write out three different scenarios and approaches. I also believe that my English Comp 2 course assisted in my ability to think critically.

Communication - An essential skill that I have continued to develop with each course that I have completed. The course I learned to best verbally communicate in was Public Speaking. When you have to read, write, and speak as part of an assignment you better learn to communicate. In public speaking I learned that part of communicating is understanding the other perspectives in the room and reading body language so you have a gauge of the level or perception.

Confidence - I feel every course I have taken has improved my level of confidence across my life. With each course taken I feel I have a better understanding of the processes of life. Each time I learn something and can apply it tangibly I feel more confident. Furthermore, each person has confidence in something, but they need to have confidence in themselves.

General Physical Needs - Food, water, shelter, clothing.

• I haven't completed a course on this. These were just tangible necessities a person needs to survive.

I see how and where I better developed as a human being and the impact that some of my general education courses had on my career.

Below I have highlighted two courses that have a great emphasis on how to human effectively.

The most impactful course completed would be my Public Speaking/Communication course. In this class I better developed my ability to speak and lead with confidence. It encompassed one of my favorite assignments was to write and present a persuasive speech to the class. I did it on why the world should quit smoking. With this I feel I better learned how my words impact others and speak/lead with empathy and compassion. I credit this course immensely in my teaching strategies as it had a heightened impact on growth mindset.

Secondly my English Composition 2 course had a huge impact on my disposition to further understanding the plot and having a higher emphasis on ethical reasoning. I also better developed my abilities in critical thinking, communication, confidence, and growth mindset.

I feel I have improved in my level of self-awareness of learning outcomes. In addition I feel it has assisted in the bridge between learning and applying. In my teaching career I felt I always struggled on the understanding and writing of learning objectives for my own lessons. I now have a better understanding of how to compose them, and have structured in some flexibility and creativity.

When I think of something that I can continue to work on is to not overthink assignments/objectives. I am a tangible focused hands on learner, when assignments are solely online I find myself getting super anxious over the learning requirements and derail the train before it even leaves the station.

Learning Objective 1:

Having a degree can be an instrumental part of success in both a professional and personal career. It further builds a repertoire of understanding that you can carry with you throughout your career. While some believe that it is "just a piece of paper" it is far more than that. I myself have been working toward my bachelors degree for almost ten years, and it all will pay off in the long run.

Learning Objective 2:

I have a better understanding of learning objectives as a whole. It was difficult at the start of this course to accurately interpret and analyze how to apply it in real world scenarios. It was an adjustment getting used to the difference of assignments, but, I feel I have a better gauge on it now.

Learning Objective 3:

After this course I see how courses intertwine with one another. I understand better the prerequisite process of course selection. You need prior knowledge for some classes before you step into a level 2 class. For example if you have never taken English Comp 1 you cannot take English Comp 2 until the completion as you need the prior knowledge.

Learning Objective 4:

I am still developing in my own reflective practice. Occasionally I find it difficult to have a true reflection as I read each thing 20 times before I feel it is good enough. With this course I have a more sound approach to submitting coursework.

Learning Objective 5:

Written communication is an area in which I have a sound understanding. In my career as a restaurant manager/event sales director fluency in communication is a requirement. Whether it be leading a pre shift, or responding to a customers email, responses need to be concise and accurate. In this course I have been able to think of things with a more creative lens and practice a more liberal approach. I also have noticed an increase in my ability to effectively communicate proper steps.

Learning Objective 6:

I am still developing in my ability to apply information literacy skills and the steps of research process in creative or independent ways. In my career everything tends to be black and white, where his course has leaned on the creative and choose your path approach. It has been refreshing to have the choice, and will continue to improve with time.

I feel more comfortable with Fitchburg States library - I liked how easy it is to search in the library. Furthermore, the organization is super effective in locating information, topics being broken up into applied sections makes it a lot easier to find.

One point of continued confusion -

Viewing texts that are supported online doesn't seem to be working and my login that I use for blackboard doesn't work on the system. There is also very little tech support on the website.

Also a question - To use the library on campus is it required to have your student ID on you?

One of the biggest areas of growth for me has been critical and creative thinking. At the beginning of the semester, I often accepted information at face value. Now, I find myself questioning ideas more, looking at different perspectives, and forming more thoughtful conclusions. This aligns with the goal of exploring ideas deeply before forming opinions and being open to changing them when presented with new evidence .

I have also improved in writing and communication. Through assignments and discussions, I’ve learned how to express my ideas more clearly and support them with evidence. I feel more confident organizing my thoughts and communicating them in a way that others can understand. This is important because the program emphasizes clearly articulating ideas for different audiences and purposes .

Another area I’ve developed is information literacy. I’ve become better at finding reliable sources and evaluating whether the information is credible and useful. Instead of just picking the first source I see, I now think more carefully about where the information comes from and how it supports my work.

In terms of integrative learning, I’ve started to see how different subjects connect to each other and to real life. Rather than viewing each class separately, I can now combine ideas from different courses and experiences. This has helped me understand the bigger picture and see how what I’m learning applies outside the classroom .

I’ve also grown in my awareness of diverse perspectives and civic learning. Through discussions and coursework, I’ve been exposed to viewpoints different from my own, which has helped me become more open-minded and understanding of others. I’ve learned that being an informed and responsible member of society requires listening to and respecting different perspectives.

Even with this progress, there are still areas I want to continue working on. I would like to improve my confidence in speaking and participating in discussions, especially sharing my ideas in real time. I also want to continue strengthening my time management and organization skills, as balancing multiple responsibilities can still be challenging.

Overall, this semester has helped me grow not just academically, but personally. It has shown me that learning is not just about completing assignments, but about developing skills that will help me think, communicate, and engage with the world more effectively.

One area where I feel like I improved a lot is written communication. Throughout this semester, I had to reflect more deeply on my own experiences and explain my thoughts in a way that actually connects ideas together instead of just answering questions one by one. I also think I improved my ability to revise my work and accept feedback without taking it personally. Earlier in my academic career, I would usually write a paper, submit it, and move on. But during this course, I spent more time revisiting assignments, making corrections, and improving the overall flow and structure. That process made me more confident in my writing moving forward, especially as I prepare for graduate-level work in my MBA program.

I also learned a lot about integrating multiple perspectives and areas of knowledge together. In both my military career and civilian work, I have seen firsthand how important it is to understand that there is rarely just one correct answer to a problem. This course reinforced that idea by making me reflect on how different subjects and experiences connect together. For example, communication skills, ethical reasoning, research, and leadership all overlap in the workplace. I think I have become better at looking at situations more holistically instead of focusing only on one narrow aspect.

One thing I still want to continue working on is balancing structure with flow in my writing. I have improved a lot this semester, but I still sometimes struggle with knowing when to organize papers with separate headings versus allowing everything to flow together naturally. I also want to continue improving my research skills and confidence with scholarly sources because I know that will become even more important in graduate school. At the same time, I want to keep developing my ability to communicate professionally while still sounding authentic and natural.

Overall, this course gave me a chance to step back and really reflect on how far I have come, not just academically but professionally and personally as well. Balancing work, military responsibilities, family life, and school has not always been easy, especially during such a heavy semester, but this course helped remind me that growth happens over time. Looking back now, I can honestly say I have gained more confidence in my abilities as both a student and a professional.

Most importantly, I got to see where I lack in information literacy and writing capibility, and how I can improve on those areas going forward. Recognizing where I went wrong in the past in these aspects gave me the tools to look at sources for reliability, potential bias, and organize ideas and present them effectively in writing. Through examining my portfolios through the semesters, I can tell that my writing and analysis skills did improve and allowed me to evolve as a writer and critical thinker as I worked through the lessons of the course and provided feedback through revisions and self-assessment. I plan on continuing to work on my writing, especially putting my ideas across more clearly and concisely through written word, and in addition work on oral communication. I plan on working on my ability to think more convergently as well as divergently, and I also hope to improve in acknowledging and working with perspectives that go against my way of thinking. The General Education requirements have been perceived by some students as pointless and are seen as taking away from the major/minor requirements that are seen as more relevant and important to future goals after graduating university. However, through this course, I gained a new appreciation for these requirements because they have provided me the opportunity to not only learn about my chosen field of business, but also give me insight on other valuable skills that are crucial to be successful long after graduation.

1. Speaking & Listening - when people are open to having honest conversations about mental health issues, it can help spread awareness and lead to help fixing these issues.

2. Reading & Writing - spreading awareness can lead to inspiring people to make changes. Reading and writing skills can help people conduct research on mental health.

3. Ethical Reasoning - is needed to help society realize that people that are struggling with mental health need compassion and not be judged

4. Information Literacy - Proper research done on mental health can help it help normalize these issues which can aid in societies ability to recognize mental health issues and avoid misinformation and stigmas.

5. Personal Wellness- when people are able to make comparisons to their own personal wellness, it can help them recognize problems that can lead to a decline on mental health such as stress and anxiety.

If we are able to improve research, education and awareness around mental health, it c an help create more positive stigmas and overall access to help people with mental health issues.

What I really need to improve on is seeing through a multitude of perspectives. I have some with my United States History course and Civic Learning as a whole, however, I feel it could be stronger. I will be taking a course that dives into Diverse Perspectives hopefully in the fall, which I anticipate will reinforce my developing knowledge in multiple perspectives. On top of this, I feel my written and oral communication skills could be a little better as well, and hope to continuously improve this with my subsequent courses and other endeavors in my schooling. In a cumulative sense though, I have improved in all aspects, just some more than others. I am quite anxious but also excited about what will come next for me in my education.

-articulate the value of and the personal reasons for earning a degree at a liberal arts and sciences institution, particularly to potential employers;

Like I just talked about, I learned not only content but also how important the rest of my schooling was leading up to this point and how each class has something to offer that I will need in the future.

-apply General Education learning outcomes and skills to real-world personal and professional situations and simulations;

I learned that each skill and lesson from Gen Ed classes is commonly found in everyday life and most jobs after college. I went from thinking most of them were pointless and just filler classes to realized how much I actually have in my toolbox.

-demonstrate how General Education learning outcomes and skills can be integrated together, utilizing multiple areas of knowledge and multiple modes of inquiry and benefiting from multiple perspectives;

I learned how transferrable the skills were because you need them for everything. Speaking, writing, communicating are all essential to any line of work if you want to be successful and gen ed classes gave me them.

-assess intellectual progress through reflections on and revisions of previous work within a portfolio;

develop their insights effectively through written and oral communication;

For the videos actually talking out loud really helped me hear and absorb the information on the slides rather than just mindlessly typing them. There is power in talking out loud and I think it has a lot of benefits.

-apply information literacy skills and the steps of the research process in creative and/or independent ways.

I really focused in on my communication from lessons I gained in this course. Mainly at my job with my bosses and coworkers. Communication can always improve and getting better at it has helped me in my life in many ways.