Castine Current
AN HONORS EXPERIENCE
Reflections by Prof. Susan Loomis, Capt. Richard Miller,
& David Markley '14
Aseducators,wearecommittedtoim-
proving the learning environment for al
students. Current academic programs
at MMA provide stimulating and challenging
courses of study, but there are few occasions in
the curriculum where students can participate
in a team-taught seminar outside of their majors
to interrogate and discuss global issues with an
interdisciplinary focus.
A new honors course was piloted in the Fal of
2013 to provide a context to identify, reward, and
nurture academic excellence. The educational
goals were designed to cultivate curiosity and
stimulate conversations that develop strong criti-
cal thinking skil s among highest-performing stu-
dents. The pilot course strengthened our offerings
to students and enriched faculty opportunities
to participate in new-to-MMA learning forums.
Students were guided by three faculty members
from different MMA academic departments who
facilitated high-level discussions.
Designing the course were Dr. Ann Cleveland
(Ocean Science Department), Dr. Thomas Batt
(Arts & Sciences Department) and Capt. Richard
Fall 2013 Honors Seminar students at Vinalhaven's wind energy site
Miller (Marine Transportation Department)
who selected the Cape Wind initiative as a focal
point for the course. The hybrid course consisted
of a three-hour evening class and an on-going
regard, but I have found moments of clarity in the
"
discussion thread online. Guest speakers, a visit
Honors Seminar. It created an atmosphere that
to Vinalhaven's wind energy site, and student-led
cultivated mindfulness, and encouraged mental
We've challenged
classes were some of the highlights of the semes-
clarity." Many different components contributed
ter.
to the success of the course including the conta-
our beliefs; we've
Facilitating the Honors Seminar presented in-
gious energy of the people in the class.
comparable opportunities for the three colleagues
"Some of my biggest `take-aways' from the class
debated; we've
from different disciplines and also offered stu-
were observing different personal strengths and
dents the chance to witness interactions among
approaches to discussions," stated Haley Hunt
failed; and we've
professors with different academic backgrounds
Griffin, a fellow Honors student. She continued,
and discourses. It was rewarding for the faculty
"Additional y, the exposure to scholarly articles
succeeded.
team to plan, facilitate, and assess the course to-
and a wide variety of assignments tested our com-
gether, and equal y rewarding to expose a diverse
munications skil s across different media."
group of MMA students to critical thinking skil s
We've challenged our beliefs; we've debated;
that cross academic disciplines.
we've failed; and we've succeeded. The Hon-
"
Honors student David Markley '14 wrote,
ors Seminar was an experience about learning
"We often spend most of our lives deciphering
how we learn. Faculty and students are looking
the pages of our minds. There are few moments
forward to the next iteration of this new offering
when I feel that I've made any headway in this
at MMA.
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MARINER / 2014- ISSUE 1
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4/10/14 11:39 AM

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