Educational philosopher John Dewey believed that we actually learn more from thinking about our experiences than from the actual experiences themselves. This idea is not new. The practice of examining and reflecting on experiences, or metacognition, dates back to Socrates and
The opportunity to study abroad is no longer a luxury in the 21st century. Learning about the world first hand is a crucial component for success in our globalized world. Research shows that first generation college students in particular benefit
From the halls of Congress to the halls of our local schools, people tend to interact only with those who are just like them. They rarely understand issues from other points of view because they rarely spend any time with
My husband recently underwent surgery in a world-class university hospital. Its motto, “we put patients first,” was plastered on nearly every wall, elevator and large screen monitor. And the medical care itself was excellent — a world renowned surgeon, and
There is a huge untapped source of human capital that could revolutionize the support and mentoring that current first generation college students desperately want and need: first generation college student alumni. Colleges and universities are only beginning to realize the
This is a very exciting time to be a first generation college student! Today’s first gens are connecting, sharing ideas and advocating for themselves as a distinct group. In a three-part blog series on first generation students, I will explore
Entrepreneurs, students and community activists use design thinking to solve complex problems. And through its process of solving problems and conquering challenges, design thinking forces us to exercise our brains as creative thinkers and doers. A recent article in the
If you want to find unexpected solutions to complex problems, then you had better consider adding visual thinking to your problem solving repertoire. Visual thinking, the use and exploration of multi-dimensional images as tools for communication, understanding and creative problem
Making the transition from high school to college is challenging for just about every young person. But making the transition to college — especially surviving the first semester — is crucial for first generation students. What creative solutions can support
When is the last time you were bored? And, what did you do about it? Day dream? Leisurely observe the world? Or, like most of us, fill your time with a structured activity? Recent studies on boredom and creativity suggest that boredom can
