End of Semester: Learning, Products, Student Reflections

It is May; graduation is almost upon us - and at the end of the semester, when we delve into the final exams handed in by students of each course, we do occasionally begin to doubt if anyone learned anything. (A lack of faith that is, hopefully, stress-induced and bears little truth.)
The three Interdisciplinary Studies courses I taught this Spring leave me with somewhat more hope, however - each resulted in project work and student-driven assignments rather than standard exams, and students tend to shine more when they have control over their subject. The eleven students enjoying the Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies wrote individualized plans of study: "what do I know? how does this relate to my career interest? what do I still want to learn about?" - As it turns out, those who are Sophomores are somewhat less clear on each of these points than my five Seniors - and that's ok. It takes a while for studies and classes to make sense, but hopefully, after a few years, they do. (That's my assessment plan, right there.) The two graduating Seniors in the program, after semester-long internships, have created documents for IT and our DeLoach Center, respectively - these projects will stay with Coker to facilitate our operations and decisions; they are also show pieces for the graduates' job searches.

And then there's Bear Island - "Seeing What's There." How do you measure the quality of work produced on the beach? For a single credit hour of 100-level expectations? And: what remains, in the files, in the students' minds and hearts? As it turns out, that varies, too - although not due to Sophomore or Senior standing.

In their own words:

I feel like I gained a vast amount of knowledge from this trip. From the state park, I learned about the local ecosystem, species endangerment, and the importance of reducing our footprint. I thought it was great that the island is a trash-free zone. This adds to emphasizing the importance of becoming more sustainable.

(from a student who used the course to plan a Spanish-language elementary school lesson on sea turtles)

This morning I finally got the chance to attempt some meditating activities. I never thought that there was so much to be learned and interpreted about finding myself, and redefining the way my life is looked at. I found myself at times questioning my existence and asking open questions about what my purpose here is.

(from a photo student who is incorporating yoga in his art work)

There were some insights into how we manage when confronted with Nature:

It also showed me that there’s certain things in life you can’t rush nor change, and instead of doing those things one must be willing to accept, withstand, and most importantly, learn.

As far as my research went, I was proud of myself for being able to change my proposal [in response to the weather] and still manage to incorporate fitness. 

There were some lessons about the community we wish to see:

What impacted me the most was the ability for ten students, two professors, and one Finn to come together as mostly complete strangers and have ten projects come out of that. We really did rely on each other when adversity such as the weather struck and it was pretty amazing to me that people who I had never spoke to before this trip were offering help and food and clothes it really did give me a little hope for the world. 

And about solitude in a natural environment:

I heard that the Atlantic is much uglier than the Pacific. I do not know if that is true, but I kept finding myself captivated by the ocean changing colors and the unevenness of the waves. I always have this image of the ocean being perfect--every single drop. I always picture the tide being even when it flows in, and for me to see the ocean as imperfect, but still lovely, was an experience I had for the first time at Bear Island. I have only ever been to the beach once, and it was filled with people, birds trying to steal food, and trash--not the best first impression, though maybe the realest.
The experience I had on Bear Island is one I wish to have again with nature. I wish to stare at the oceans for hours; not caring if I was unable to write much because the wind was too strong. I enjoyed the silence, the peaceful feeling that came with observing an untouched nature, and I hope to return again--hopefully once the sea turtles are nesting.

The first comment I read, just by chance, was submitted by a student who has been breaking records in track for Coker College, performing amazing feats at every meet.
Bear Island gave me a lot of first time experiences, such as running on a beach. 

If this had been the only experience the course provided, for a track star to run on the beach for the first time, it would have been worth the trouble.


The Bear Island trip, in its experiential beauty, is all about the individualized opportunity, about lessons that are not necessarily tangible but still formative. Sometimes it's a bit like reading Chaucer in the original: a beautiful gift that mystifies at first sight, only to unexpectedly reveal its usefulness a few years down the road. Sometimes it provides just the right kind of break, or nudge, or moment of pleasure.

Let's do more of that.