Share an experience in a course that had a positive and/or memorable impact on learning. by DU OTL

Museum Visits - Instructors Introduction to a Field

2016-01-20 20:03:32 UTC

I really enjoyed visiting several museums in the Denver area last year during my first museum studies class. It was a great way to start off my graduate program for several reasons. I was able to get familiarized with the city of Denver, museum professionals in Denver and with the my field of study. It showed that my instructor cared about helping us make connections and network for future projects and career choices.

Instructor Enthusiasm

2016-01-20 20:17:49 UTC

I took an art history course with a professor who obviously loved what she was teaching. She came to class with stories and dance moves pertaining to the time period. This made me really excited to learn the course content and I feel I learned more about the course as well.

Office Hours

OTL — 2016-02-08 16:49:13 UTC

Two years ago I sat in the office of my english Professor and asked for his thoughts on my resolve to drop out of college. For about half an hour we talked about the pros and cons of what could happen if I were to drop out. He didn't just immediately push the idea to stay in school, he let me talk about why I felt the way I did and how I thought leaving my academic career behind would help me. In the end, he told me if I have the option to go to school I should because it's a privilege so many others do not have. However, he also told me that I didn't have to follow the same route everyone else was. He said he knew I was smart and would figure out what works best for me. It was because of this conversation that I chose to continue pursuing my education, and I'm extremely grateful he cared enough to listen to me.

WRIT 1122

OTL — 2016-02-08 16:51:59 UTC

Last year I took my second required writing class with a rather interesting professor. She's whimsical and free flowing, and her explanations to books and our readings were more emotional descriptions rather than direct analysis. In her class I learned that "doing life," or working in a job doesn't have to follow being the best in the technical sense. Rather, feeling a situation and the energy that follows it was encouraged; to seek within to find a conclusion. I think I learned that I need to work on feeling the emotion and my own personal response to "doing life" rather than trying to be the technical best at something.

WRIT 1133

OTL — 2016-02-08 16:53:14 UTC

I wasn't excited about having to take a writing class at DU. I knew that when spring quarter came around every freshman would begin to post on facebook "take my short survey for my writing class!" I didn't want to take another boring class researching topics I didn't really care about. I was pleasantly surprised when my class required no such surveys. Instead, unlike any of the other writing classes, we learned about the vast amount of ways to to talk about a topic, and how each way presented a new insight. For example, one assignment was to tell a story of something that happened to us in three ways. It could be done as a narrative, as a statistical analysis, as a cause and effect situation, etc. We then analyzed how applying those different methods to the story changed it's meaning. Instead of conducting monotonous surveys on uninteresting topics, we chose a research question we really wanted to know about, and wrote a research paper on how we would go about researching that topic. The class was the most intellectually stimulating class I've ever taken, and really changed the way I approach papers to this day.

Space for Creativity

OTL — 2016-02-08 16:57:09 UTC

In one of my film elective classes last quarter we were given a free-form final assignment. We could write, draw, paint, photograph, research, present on or do whatever our heart desired. The only constraints were that it demonstrate something about nature and integrate class concepts. These can often be the most challenging projects and difficult to start, but they can also be those most fueled by passion instead of grades and those that are personally empowering versus simply meet requirements. This form of an assignment allowed me to take a project I hadn't been able to bring to my full vision for another class and expand and improve it. It allowed me to tap into my deepest passions and interests and produce something not only satisfactory for the class, but exciting for me.

Creative Writing

OTL — 2016-02-08 16:58:55 UTC

One of my creative writing teachers always brought in her therapy dog, Ginger, to class. We all loved Ginger. In a way, she brought us together as a class. We had awesome, helpful workshops because we all loved each other to a point where we weren't afraid to be honest. Halfway through the class, we found out Ginger had cancer and wasn't going to make it much longer. We decided to all finish the class strong for her. Two weeks after the class ended, we all received an email saying that Ginger had passed on. I will never forget that dog, or the community she brought together.

"Fail Better"

OTL — 2016-02-08 16:59:47 UTC

I had to take the WRIT series at DU like we all do, and I had the privilege to get into the courses taught by someone who is now one of my all time favorite professors. I've always felt like a strong writer but there are certain aspects of my writing that I was uncomfortable with, particularly in just straying away from "safe" writing. So this one professor said to me, "Hey, don't worry about that. Don't be afraid to try something new or be a little weird. Just 'fail better.'" When he said to "fail better" he was quoting Samuel Beckett, and it was a mantra that he repeated throughout the course. Since then I haven't been afraid to take an interesting angle on papers or other projects (within reason of course), always with the thought in mind that even if it fails, it might not be a failure.

Group Video Project

OTL — 2016-02-08 17:00:53 UTC

In my writing class we had the opportunity to make a short documentary about the school. I worked with one of my friends who is also a film major and had a lot of fun conducting the interviews, editing, and showing off the final project. It was the first time that I was able to use the technology we have available here at DU and I was really proud of the final product. I used some of the knowledge that I learned in my major as well as experimenting with concepts from other classes. I was excited to work hard and accomplish my project through teamwork with my group members.

Business Law

OTL — 2016-02-08 17:03:36 UTC

For the first couple weeks of fall quarter, business law was my least favorite class. The style of the class was unlike anything I've ever experienced. It was unconventional and challenging, and I couldn't stand it because it made me think. I would come to class and I would feel rage and I would get angry and passionate defending my beliefs, but I would also be challenged to open my beliefs. That's what is the root of learning and education. I left class, and at dinner, I would still be thinking. I started watching the news because of this intro to law class. I started calling my parents more. I've tried to learn and not memorize. I've tried to see the bigger picture in life. I've taken a hard look at my life and the decisions I've made. I now hold myself, my education, and my teachers to a higher standard. Thank you for this class.

Engineering Integration

OTL — 2016-02-08 17:04:54 UTC

This was a two quarter long course for teams to build a robot and compete against each other in hockey. It was the first time when engineers of different disciplines joined together to apply the knowledge we acquired from the first two years in DU's engineering school. The course was built on minimal instructions and we had to build the robot on our own. My team and I had many late nights, past midnight, building the robot and trying to perfect it so we could win the competition. Although the course demanded a lot from us, I learned so much by actually applying the materials I learned. We ended up taking 2nd place in the competition. Many teams donated their robots after the course was finished but I was the only one who kept it, I want it as a souvenir and to serve as a reminder on how far I've come when I eventually, or hopefully, get into the professional stages of my career. The hours were rough and I barely slept that quarter ...but hey, some of the best memories in life comes from the hardest times.

Legal Studies

OTL — 2016-02-08 17:06:33 UTC

In order to be a Daniels Student at DU, one must take a Business Law course. Since this course was required, I didn't think it was going to be anything extraordinary, but it turned out that this was my favorite class so far at DU. My professor taught the class with enthusiasm that made the students want to learn and participate. We looked at many different cases throughout the quarter and even participated in class debates against fellow students. I learned about current events and the do's and don'ts when running a business. But the best part of this class was Ethics Boot camp, which was an incredible experience that taught fellow Daniels students about ethics in a business setting and in life. This course helped teach me about law and gave me knowledge which I will carry with me forever. I would take this class over again if I could!

FSEM

OTL — 2016-02-10 15:59:16 UTC

At DU FSEM's are supposed to help students adjust to collegiate level schooling - learn how to use the course websites, manage schedules, etc. I was in the photography FSEM and while this course certainly helped me manage the transition form high school education to college, this course also helped get me integrated into life in colorado. Being from Arizona, i wasn't sure how to navigate this new city: what places to go, where not to go, how to get there, etc. The photo excursions we went on every week not only improved my photography skills, they helped me learn about this new place and really bridged the gap between living at home and learning to live on my own. They also taught me to see artistic beauty in the simplest of things.

History of Tibetan Buddhism

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:01:06 UTC

It was an elective class I took last year at DU. Each student is assigned a quote from the textbook and asked to design an interactive presentation in order to help the class understand the material. There was a classmate who divided people into groups and asked the groups to build a structural model using spaghetti and cotton candy. The group with the highest model will win. It turned out to be that each group built completely different shapes of models and all were really high. The quotation therefore became very impressive to me--there are countless paths that can lead you to the goal.

If He Does It, Why Can't I?

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:05:09 UTC

I had a math professor once who wasn't the youngest professor I've ever had. He was of pretty significant age. I've always hated math, I specifically hated 8 a.m. math. But sometimes in life you meet that one person who makes you think, "If such and such did it, why can't I?" This professor, as old as he was, not only made it to class at 8 a.m. every day, but he also did it by riding his bike, every day, no joke, rode his bike EVERY DAY. Rain or shine, he was there, 8 a.m. sharp, bicycle shorts and all but always there for us, so, "if he could do it, why couldn't I?" He was my motivation, he is my motivation. A simple man with a bike, he was there to teach, and I made it to class to learn.

Challenge

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:07:02 UTC

The most rewarding classes for me have always been the most difficult classes, in terms of structure and content. If I'm given a challenging subject material, then I'm much more likely to actively think and discuss the material. In a sociology of communities class, students were required to send the professor questions about the readings the day before discussing them. Not only did this serve as a great enforcement mechanism to keep all students reading, but also made class discussions much more thought provoking. It was a lot of work, but I don't think I've had a more rewarding class.

American Architecture

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:09:44 UTC

While studying art history, I took many courses on architecture. I fell in love with it because of the way my teacher presented it to the class. My professor was fully engaged and had a passion for teaching this subject. I was able to succeed and learn because of the professor - I am always looking for another mentor like that.

Classics

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:12:32 UTC

Taking courses in the greco-roman classics was one of the most influential experiences I have had. My professor was passionate about his field and made the class feel like a natural discussion of human nature while simultaneously instilling knowledge in us. I reflect on that class frequently even in non-academic settings.

Learning more than just Biology

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:37:54 UTC

During my sophomore year I had to take a biology course that I had dropped the previous year. The professor made a subject that I disliked, mainly because I didn't understand it, into one that was interesting. She took time outside of class to explain concepts that her students didn't understand. She never made a student feel bad about asking a question that we had already gone over in class. Another thing that I liked is that she incorporated different teaching styles because she recognized that her students have different learning styles. In one of her first classes, she taught students how to study for exams which is something no other professor has done for me before. This professor not only gave me knowledge on the course subject but also how to excel in other classes outside of biology as well.

Public Speaking

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:38:44 UTC

My Freshman Seminar class was one of the best classes to boost my confidence. It was about a subject I was very interested and knowledgeable in. I have always been afraid of public speaking and when I found out the last assignment for the class was a persuasive speech I was terrified for the rest of the quarter. I had never given a speech before, let alone one where I was supposed to convince people of something. When the day came, naturally I was first. But my professor was great at creating a relaxed atmosphere! He brought in food from various places and we all had a chat about respectfulness and got food before the presentation. This created a very comfortable atmosphere and helped me give a speech to my fullest ability since I was relaxed! Now giving speeches is a lot easier!

New Passions

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:39:51 UTC

During my freshman year at DU we were required to take two quarters of a writing sequence. I was hesitant as I hadn't written anything academic in a very long time. When I got to class I immediately loved my professor. She really seemed to understand my writing and push me to challenge myself more. I ended up taking another class with this professor and she became a mentor for me. We still occasionally email and I am excited to take other classes with her in the future when she returns. She pushed me to expand on my writing skills outside of school and now I have found a love for English and literature. I never would have known this passion if it weren't for her. Now I have grown as a student and as a person because of her time dedication with me and her patience. This was definitely the coolest academic experience I have ever had.

Get to know the client

OTL — 2016-02-10 16:40:43 UTC

In the fall of my senior year I took a Strategic Communication class in which the students were divided into teams, holding positions that modeled a PR agency. We worked together in our different positions to create and present a strategic plan for an event being held this winter by a real-life client. Being able to work together in different roles and with a real client was incredibly beneficial to me as a student. It allowed me to more thoroughly understand what a career in public relations would look like, should I choose that path after graduation. We learned the importance of really getting to know your client and creating specific goals, strategies and tactics to meet their needs. The real-world experience this class provided me is irreplaceable.

Flipping the Experience

OTL — 2016-02-11 16:36:45 UTC

For a “Financial Life Skills” course offered to freshman and sophomores, I was part of a team of faculty and instructional designers who developed the class. We implemented the “flipped classroom” approach - short, animated lecture videos were presented online each week along with required readings and assignments. The in-person class time was then primarily used for small group activities and discussion related to the topic for that week. At the end of the course, many students expressed that they greatly benefitted from this approach – being able to review the online content on their own schedule, and having the dedicated time and opportunity to work closely with their peers in small groups and explore each topic more deeply. For both the faculty and the students, this venture into blended learning was a success!