The Bringing Theory to Practice Project (BTtoP) encourages colleges and universities to reassert their core purposes as educational institutions not only to advance learning and discovery, but to advance the potential and well-being of each individual student, and to advance education as a public good that sustains a civic society.
Announcement from BTtoP—Register for the BTtoP Retrieval Conference, June 13-14, 2011, in Washington, DC
Reflections from the BTtoP Student Conference
Welcome to a special edition of the Bringing Theory to Practice newsletter. This past November, the project held its fourth National Biennial Student Conference, titled Recasting the ‘3Rs’ of Learning: From Reading, WRiting and ARithmetic to Reflection, Resiliency, Relationships and Responsibility in Washington, DC. The conference was so productive and special that we decided to dedicate an entire newsletter to what we, as national project leaders, learned, and to what the attendees learned about themselves. This newsletter will be composed almost entirely of the thoughts and reflections of students and faculty who attended the conference.
What Did We Learn About the 4Rs?
Student participants were asked to submit written reflections to be included in this newsletter. Attending faculty were also invited to share their thoughts and reflections on what they observed and learned at the conference. In reflecting on the success of the conference, we asked ourselves what, specifically, made this conference as transformative as it seemed to be for students, faculty, and for those of us working on the Bringing Theory to Practice Project.
What Else Can and Should be Learned about the 4Rs?
Conference participants (both students and faculty) were asked to reflect on the question: “What other aspects of the 4Rs should have been discussed at the student conference—or what aspects do you think need be addressed when considering the future of higher education?”
Where Can YOU Take It From Here?
With all this learning and reflecting, what is the next step? Will you try to answer the question of “what is holding us back?” Or answer Professor Fost’s question from earlier in this newsletter—“Why do some students have full sails, while others merely drift?” Wherever your individual or institutional path may go from here, a few reflections from students and faculty who attended the Student Conference may spark your imagination and fortitude.
The Bringing Theory to Practice Project (BTtoP) is an independent national effort. It is funded by the Charles Engelhard Foundation of New York, and functions in partnership with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC.
The Charles Engelhard Foundation is a New York-based foundation whose mission focuses on projects in higher and secondary education, cultural, medical, religious, wildlife and conservation organizations.
S. Engelhard Center is a nonprofit public charitable foundation; its mission is to support projects and initiatives that affect greater and sustained commitments by educational institutions at all levels to provide effective means of addressing the intellectual, emotional, and civic development of today’s students in preparation for claiming their positive future.
Association of American Colleges & Universities
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www.aacu.org
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