Tag Archives: experiential learning

Teacher Apprenticeships

Teacher Apprenticeships

A Unique Experiential Learning Opportunity for Majors

Oliver Wlasiuk ‘24 (he/him).

The Department of Philosophy is proud to offer our students various experiential learning opportunities (ELOs). In the fall, three students participated in our teaching apprenticeships (TAs) ELO option. This ELO allows students to participate in college teaching by working closely with professors as they develop and teach their classes. The TAs’s experiences vary depending on the class. They might be able to help build syllabi, mentor students in and out of the classroom, lead review sessions, review drafts of papers, and more.

Students Anna Albright ‘24, Isabella Pack ‘24, and Oliver Wlasiuk ‘24 pursued TA positions with Professor Jennifer Baker. The TA position is customizable for students. Wlasiuk summaries his TA experience, “My TA duties included holding occasional review sessions throughout the semester that Dr. Baker and I scheduled, showing up to class, (re)reading all the material, making sure I understand everything at a sufficient level, and weekly meetings with Dr. Baker and the other TAs; Anna and Bella. My favorite part about being a TA was the review sessions because I like helping people understand philosophy, and, maybe more importantly, I gained a deeper understanding of all the material and the language of philosophy as a whole.” This unique immersive learning provided Wlasiuk with a deeper level of comprehension and allowed him to tutor students taking the philosophy course. Albright comes away from the TA position with a similar feeling, saying, “While understanding philosophical principles is a feat on its own, I find it more challenging and rewarding to explain these principles to other students. While deepening my understanding, I learned how to effectively communicate abstract ideas to others.” This is why the TA position offers a well-rounded experience for participants. It enriches a student’s understanding of philosophy, provides one-on-one mentorship with faculty, cultivates community building with other TAs, and allows the TA to give back by engaging with peers who are just beginning their philosophy studies.

Anna Albright ‘24 (she/her).

Albright’s TA position was with Professor Baker’s Biomedical Ethics course. For Albright, this ELO appealed to her because she hopes “to eventually continue my studies in medical ethics by attending graduate school. I thought that working as a TA would be great practice for future teaching endeavors. Another big reason I decided to become a TA was the opportunity to work with Dr. Baker, as she is just the best!” Albright’s experience highlights another benefit of the TA position. This ELO is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into a future profession the student is considering pursuing.

Albright’s interest in pursuing a TA position is due to the impact studying philosophy has had on her. She notes, “Philosophy courses have given me an invaluable insight into the foundations of humanity and morality. The ethical framework I’ve learned throughout my academic career in philosophy has given me the knowledge to navigate ethical dilemmas.”

Isabella Pack ‘24 (she/her).

Isabella Pack shares a similar sentiment, “Philosophy was like a beacon in the night. I came to college initially thinking I wanted to be pre-med, but this allowed me to fall in love with school and law all over again.” Pack continues, “The first class I ever took was with Dr. Neufeld, Philosophy, Law, and the Arts, and I have been hooked on philosophy ever since. It allowed me to, one, fall in love with reading all over again and, two, read things that are thought-provoking and make me question the ways they impact me, the people around me, or even society.” She attributes how studying philosophy results in skill building, “Through philosophy, I have seen my critical thinking, writing, and logical reasoning skills increase through the various years of classes here at CofC.” These are skills beneficial in most professions as well as in life and will serve these students well in their future pursuits.

 

Experiential Learning in Philosophy

Experiential Learning in Philosophy

Meet Vero Salib & Curtis Teegardin

The Department of Philosophy has several students who participate in experiential learning ventures. This includes but is not limited to unpaid internships as editorial assistants for philosophical scholarly publications or clerks at law firms, traveling to present research findings at an academic conference, pursuing community activism projects, or learning about the foundations of philosophy while studying abroad.

These types of ventures enrich their knowledge, build their vocational and academic experience, and help them reach their potential. In the previous six years, the Department of Philosophy has had twenty-four students participate in these experiential learning endeavors, which is approximately ten percent of students who majored or minored in Philosophy during those years.

Current Philosophy major, Vero Salib, reflects on their internship as an editorial assistant for The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism (JAAC), “Being the JAAC book review assistant has given me the opportunity to explore a variety of different philosophical books related to aesthetics and delve into all my favorite things about art! The mechanics of JAAC has helped me learn a lot about how to be patient and effective in my research, as well as how to best manage my time.”

Another student, Philosophy major, Curtis Teegardin, is interning as a copy editor for the Journal of the History of Philosophy as well as for JAAC. He highlights the importance of gaining vocational experience with this internship, “I’m most excited to refine my copy-editing skills in addition to reading philosophical works from numerous publications. This internship will aid me in both my post-graduation endeavors and ending my college career on a high note. I am so beyond grateful to Dr. Neufeld and Dr. Boyle for giving me the opportunity to get exposure in publishing since it is a notoriously hard industry to get into.”

Students at the collegiate level are experiencing formative years that will influence important decisions about their future careers and personal endeavors. It is crucial that students have access to opportunities that can help guide their scholarly and professional focus as well as expand their horizons on what is possible for their future. Experiential learning opportunities are one of those tools, and it is a goal of the department to expand these opportunities and make them more accessible to current and future majors and minors.