Education Commons^™

Bilingualism And The American Family, Caitlin M. Nickerson

Senior Honors Projects

Bilingualism is the ability to speak more than one language fluently. People of all ages may aspire to learn a second or third language in order to fulfill both personal goals and communicate with a variety of people in different contexts. Irrespective of one’s walk of life or socioeconomic status, being bilingual is a valuable skill. Although English is the language of power in the United States, there are hundreds of other languages spoken in this country.

There are a number of different ways in which children can become bilingual. For example, they may enter the school system speaking the …

Retention Effects Of An Experiential Pedagogical Approach, Kelsea E. Adams

Senior Honors Projects

The quality and nature of delivery of education, especially at the K12 level is a major focus of the education reform movement. As an aspiring teacher, I am interested in developing a personal understanding of the efficacy of different modes of delivery. A large body of studies has examined the differences between experiential learning versus traditional classroom learning as well as effects on student retention. Traditional classroom learning involves literary texts, PowerPoint presentations and teacher-centered learning. In contrast, experiential learning is a hands-on, real world experience that provides students with an environment to expand their critical thinking skills and apply …

The Major Dilemma, Erin Bohan

Senior Honors Projects

The variety of academic majors offered by universities seems to become more eclectic each year. From public relations to environmental economics to 3D graphics, the coursework and journeys taken by students across the country are exceptionally diverse. The University of Rhode Island offers over 100 majors, making it undeniable that some disciplines are disparate. My project calls attention to similarities in an area where the focus is customarily on the contrary. Before students were categorized, they all faced the same question – “What should my major be?”

At an age where we search for ways to identify ourselves, we often …

China's 80后 And 90后: The Next Generation Of Leaders In The World's Next Superpower, A Students-Teaching-Students Course, Patrick Slavin

Senior Honors Projects

In light of China’s recent reemergence as a global superpower, it is becoming increasingly important for westerners to understand its history and culture. For current college students, the culture of China’s youth is particularly pertinent.

In this project, a course, HPR 107: Chinese Youth Culture, was designed and taught through the Students-Teaching-Students program, which provides senior Honor’s Program students the opportunity to design and teach their own Honor’s Program course. The HPR 107 course focuses on China’s 80后 and 90后 generations, those born in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively.

This multi-faceted project includes: subject matter research, course development, pedagogy development, …

Uri Student Bridge, Nicole Aragi

Senior Honors Projects

The project that came to be known as URI Student Bridge began with my amazing college experience and my desire to share that experience with others who were making the decision of whether to begin a college experience of their own. I have been very fortunate to have the funding and motivation to attend college, and have had many opportunities that I know others may not ever have. There are many options and opportunities that are available for graduating high school students. Many choose to begin a career with a high school education and never even consider the idea of …

The Rhode Map To Success: The Exploratory Student’S Guide To Choosing An Undergraduate Major, Kaitlin O'Hara

Senior Honors Projects

Entering college without a major has become more prevalent over the past decade. Colleges and universities are opening their arms to the undecided, providing them with extensive resources and assistance to help direct them to a major and, ultimately, a career. The University of Rhode Island has admitted an increasing number of undeclared incoming freshmen over the past few years. This fall semester, approximately fifteen percent of freshman class did not declare a major prior to starting classes. This percentage of students represents a very special group at the University College. The undecided academic advisors at the University College developed …