Good-bye, Mentees!!

So it's been a long road here, but we made it! Congrats to all the students who participated in the blog and we wish you all the best in everything that life brings you! Whether traveling, working, or continuing your education this summer, always keep your interdisciplinary skills sharp and ready for action! As we have seen through the semester, so many different activities can benefit from an interdisciplinary mind. If you are working, going to school, raising your kids, going to a job interview, or anything in between, try to remember some of the things we have talked and read about this semester.

I know I will always remember Rule #6 and Jill Bolte Taylor's message. Equally so, this conversation that we've had on Blogger has revealed some really interesting stuff, too. I am always going to try to remember to keep an open mind and search for an alternative solution to problems through other disciplines. I hope you all take something away from this experience as well.

Hope you all had a great semester!
Good luck with finals!

Amber, Jess, and the Crew

*week 8*

Hi Mentees,

The end of the semester is coming up before we know it, so exciting! This week we will reflect on your e-portfolio, and your career goals.

*Share how you're planning to use reflection in developing your e-Portfolio content pages * Everyone will have a different opinions with this, there is no wrong answer.

I plan to use reflection in my portfolio by revealing a few details about myself that, while at first may seem unimportant, are the basis for work ethic that I am proud to have today. My love for reading and writing is a detail that is very important to me and is something that future employers may not think to ask about. I can read a book cover to cover in a few hours, while writing notes and creating my own work in the meantime. This skill is integral to my ability to process information and has helped me succeed in many areas of my life so far to this point. By reflecting on these skills and the accomplishments, I will provide a solid reflection into my own life.

Sometimes it is hard to understand what the difference is between to words that are very similar. We came up with this, and after we want you to *Share your understanding of reflection. How is it different from description?To us a reflection is different than description because it is a deeper look within yourself. A reflection is when you explain yourself in a manner that a person may not expect, bringing to the surface details that they may not have noticed otherwise. Reflection is a discussion of who you really are, the things you like most about yourself and things others may not be able to tell just by looking at you or your resume. It goes beyond the traditional parameters of what makes a good job candidate and makes the candidate stand out from the crowd.

To keep up another great week of conversations, *we want to know what your personal philosophy is on your professional life, is it interdisciplinary or not? Have your career goals altered? Lets hang in there everyone, its almost the end. Do not forget to sign your full name at the bottom of your post. Happy blogging! :)

week 7

While a cover letter and resume serve as a way to introduce your strengths and experience to a potential employer, it is important to remember that this is often a first impression that can be the determining factor in securing an interview.

With that said, the presentation can be just as important as the content itself, so it is important to remember that it is not simply what you say, but how well you say it.

Think about your cover letter and resume and how they work hand in hand to provide a snap shot of who you are as a professional.

Some quick things to remember are that your resume should summarize your abilities, skills, and accomplishments. While your cover letter should not duplicate your resume, but should highlight your qualifications and achievements that relate to the position that you are applying for in an enthusiastic, confident tone.

Let's examine cover letters and resumes a bit further...

What are ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?

What are some questions about cover letters you've have?

Share your best cover letter

What are questions about resumes that you have and/or share some advice?

Share any resources you've found about cover letters and/or resume

The semester is almost over, lets keep up the good conversations! :)

Happy blogging!

Week 6 * Interview

This week we will practice our interview skills. Visit the link below
and follow the instructions listed here.
http://www.perfectinterview.com/ucf/
Instructions:
1. Complete one "short" interview where the selections are chosen for
you. Complete one "short" interview where you make the selections.
Choose at least three areas you'd like to work on the most. Note the
options of the "Alternate Response" and the "Coach" that can be used.
2. You may choose to either use video capture or no video capture. If
you choose no video capture you will be required to type your
responses. Save both interviews.
3. Draft a reflection about your practice interview, commenting on the
questions asked and your responses to the questions. You might comment
on what questions were problematic. What were the strengths of your
responses? What could you improve in your responses? How did you
responses compare to the "Alternate Response"? What did you learn from
the "Coach?"
4. Give one question about interviewing or a piece of advice that
you've gained in your interviewing experiences.
5. Click on "Review Saved Interviews." Click on the "Share" button.
E-mail yourself your interview and include the links in your posting.

Interviews are inevitable when you enter the workforce. Think about
the interviewing process and some of the exercises above. . Post your
thoughts about the results of your interview practice, the best
answers you can come up with for standard and non-standard interview
questions, how you might deal with a phone interview or an interview
in front of a panel, and if and when there is a good time to talk
salary with an interviewer.

Week 5

Hi mentees! Hope everyone is having a great week. We have made it half way so far, yay! J For this week’s topic we will be discussing professional opportunities and job skills. Being interdisciplinary students we are lucky enough to say we have more job skills than most graduates because our degrees focus on more than one area. I have personally worked many jobs that were not involved with my areas, but with all my skills I have learned being an interdisciplinary student, I was able to relate. Most of us don’t realize but we use our interdisciplinary skills a lot more then we think. Please answer the following question and share about your job skills! In Ambers personal experience and work history, I have used my interdisciplinary skills in many different ways. I had an office management job that required multiple disciplines of knowledge. For instance, one minute I would be fixing some technological problem with my computer, the next talking on the phone utilizing my customer service skills with a guest of our hotel. And even just moments later I would be tallying up someone's resort bill using my mathematical skills (however lacking they might be lol). Over the years I have also had waitressing jobs in which the same skills as well as many others are utilized on a daily basis.

· How have you used your interdisciplinarity in your professional life?

· What has been your professional history?

· What are your strongest and weakest job skills?

· What can you do to develop and improve upon your weak skills?

· Identify two professional clubs or organizations that are useful to your chosen career.

· How have internship or externship helped your professional development?

· Discuss your personal philosophy concerning your professional life

· How is or isn't this philosophy interdisciplinary?

· How have your career goals altered?

Please dont forget to sign your name at the bottoms of your post, and have a great weekend!

Week 5 - Interdisciplinary in your professional life

• How have you used your interdisciplinarity in your professional life?
• What has been your professional history?
• What are your strongest and weakest job skills?
• What can you do to develop and improve upon your weak skills?
• Identify two professional clubs or organizations that are useful to your chosen career.
• How have internship or externship helped your professional development?
• Discuss your personal philosophy concerning your professional life
• How is or isn't this philosophy interdisciplinary?
• How have your career goals altered?

Week 4* Interdisciplinarity

We hope that everyone is enjoying the blog so far. This week we will be discussing interdisciplinarity.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word interdisciplinary as "involving two or more academic, scientific, or artistic disciplines." Our major is a great example of this. It requires us to use multiple disciplines in order to create a unique program of study. Some of us are already moving a step further and integrating those disciplines, while others are not yet ready. You have likely given thought to what interdisciplinarity is. This week, we would like you to try something a little different.

What do you think interdisciplinarity is not?

Are you currently integrating your disciplines? If so, how do you do this?

Outside of the major, there are other places where we may apply our interdisciplinarity. It can be applied in number of places, including the workplace, a volunteer opportunity, or even your kitchen. Something as simple as baking a cake can be interdisciplinary, as you may use math and science during the baking process, and art while decorating.

How do you apply your interdisciplinarity in daily situations?

Do you know anyone who has an interdisciplinary profession?

What are some opportunities (personal, professional, or academic) that can increase our interdisciplinarity?

Finally, we would like to share two opportunities with you.

The Interdisciplinary Studies Student Association is a club specifically for IS majors. It allows students to "meet and network, share diverse experiences, talents, resources, and skills." More information can be found athttps://www.facebook.com/ISSA.UCF.

Volunteer opportunities often provide a setting that can increase our interdisciplinarity. Volunteer UCF "links interested students with community organizations that best fit their interests, talents, and majors." More information and upcoming volunteer opportunities can be found at http://vucf.getinvolveducf.com/

We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Happy blogging! :)

New Week, New Topic. This week, we’re talking about Critical Thinking. Watch this video, as it offers a pretty clear explanation of what Critical Thinking is, what is not, and what critical thinking aims to accomplish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg&noredirect=1

After watching the video, do you have a deeper understanding of critical thinking? Do you agree with the video’s assertions, or disagree? Is there a link that can be drawn between critical thinking and interdisciplinarity?

Complete the activity below.

1. Click the link below which will take you to an interactive exercise called Virtual Philosopher developed by Dr. Wade Maki from the Philosophy department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Virtual Philosopher Link (must have updated FLASH to play correctly): http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/vicecrime/vp/vp.html

2. Comment on your critical thinking reasoning that led to your decisions for all three scenarios: the friend's problem, the lifeboat problem, the liver problem.

3. Explain where your critical thinking gave way to your values, ethics, and beliefs. Comment on the differences you perceive between "ethical" and "critical" reasoning and what kinds of problems it caused in doing or reflecting on this exercise and even in your academic experiences.

4. Comment on how the Virtual Philosopher scored your response. From the comments you received about your responses, what insight have you gained about your own critical thinking and reasoning?

• Comment on how the Virtual Philosopher scored your response. From the comments you received about your responses, what insight have you gained about your own critical thinking and reasoning?
• How does the outline of your critical thinking disposition match with the application of it in doing the Virtual Philosopher?
• Is it appropriate for our values and beliefs to influence our critical thinking? Do these influences prove to be useful or harmful in making decisions?

Its the start of another great week and time for another great conversation! :)

Hello Cornerstone students, we are in the second week of our blogging and we hope you are enjoying it. For this week’s topic, in our blog we should focus on defining and understanding

INTEGRATION.

· What is integration?

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines integration as “incorporation as equals into society or an organization of individuals of different groups”. This of course is in the most literal of terms, but we see integration multiple times in our everyday lives. The computer is an excellent example of how different working parts have come together to form one product which most people utilize every day. What used to be performed by many machines is now performed by one.

Try to think of your own definition of what integration means to you. Also list some other examples of integration and put them in your comments for this week’s blog.

Integrating different disciplines of study into one final product of knowledge is a major component of the Interdisciplinary Studies degree. I have found that my two areas of study have often crossed paths throughout the semesters and have complemented each other with ease. I chose a minor of Spanish. The study of the language is hard to integrate with other genres of study, but in the future it will complement my candidacy in the job market nicely. No matter what I end up doing, I will be able to utilize my skills of the Spanish Language.

How have you integrated your areas/minor? And why is this integration important to the academic and professional worlds, as well as in your own personal development?

If you do not feel you have integrated your areas/minor yet, how do you think it is possible to improve on this?

A recent news story that we found talks about four universities coming together to make an interdisciplinary science program. http://www.hhmi.org/news/nexus20110608.html

How do you see integration in this article, and what makes it interdisciplinary? Comment on this post and share your thoughts. We are looking forward to hearing from you!!

Welcome! :) Introduce yourself

Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Fischer. I am a senior graduating in May! I can’t wait! My two areas are Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Elementary Education, my minor is Leadership. I am originally from Fort Lauderdale, and moved to Orlando for school. Once I graduate I think I’d like to move back down south. I enjoy being an IDS major because it’s made to fit who I am and who I want to be. One day I’d like to open my own gym and have a cheerleading and gymnastics team for kids with disabilities. For me it was hard to explain Interdisciplinary Studies to someone, but throughout the year I was able to fully understand more. You are able to do half of a two different majors, and combine them into one degree. This helps for students who are interested in more than one field and they can have the option of doing both. The Advantages of this degree is that you are able to explore more options than you would with a typical Education degree. The disadvantage of the major is that it’s not very well known, and no one really understands it. I’m looking forward to a great semester with you all! Good Luck J

Hello Cornerstone Students! My name is Amber and I am in Capstone this semester. I will be graduating in May with an IDS degree with specialties in Behavioral Sciences and Public Affairs and a Spanish Minor (hola). I will then be attending law school in the fall. I am from Indiana originally, but am a huge Green Bay Packers fan! I also like reading, writing, and hanging out with my dogs. When other people ask me about IDS, I tell them it is a custom design degree package made especially for me and my interests. I tell them that I have been able to combine all the fields that interest me into one degree and one final product. I think some of the advantages to IDS are just that, the ability to create your own path of coursework. The freedom allows for a little creativity in the process. Some of the disadvantages are that it is harder to get to know students with our major and the fact that no one really knows what it is. I'm looking forward to a great semester, tell us about yourselves!

Greetings Cornerstone Students! My name is Tai Chandler and I’m a Cornerstone student in my last semester at UCF. For me, Interdisciplinary Studies is the perfect fit because it has allowed me to blend Humanities and Letters and Modern Languages, with a Minor in Sociology, the perfect degree to nurture and grow in the areas that I love. I’m currently an Admissions Representative at a technical school and help students with their plans to further their education, so I can honestly tell you that I’m excited that I am blazing my own path as I prepare to graduate in May. After receiving my Bachelors degree, I will obtain a Masters degree to either continue my career in the corporate/education sector or pursue a career as a college professor. Either way, my degree in IDS is a strong foundation. I am often asked about my degree and explain that it is the perfect blend of the subjects that I love. The advantage is that my IDS is customized for me and allows me to focus on my strengths and passions. The disadvantage is that since the degree is specialized, knowledge and understanding of IDS is still growing. I’m looking forward to interacting with all of you. Cheers to a wonderful semester!

Hello everyone! My name is Danielle Brown. I am currently in my final semester here at UCF and plan to graduate with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies in May. My areas of study are Behavioral & Social Sciences and Public Affairs, and my minor is Health Sciences. I've also completed a Substitute Teaching certificate. I lived on campus for my first two years or so, but I’m currently a distance student and finishing my degree online. Being able to still take classes at home is convenient, but not always the best for scheduling. When I have to explain my major to others, I tell them that IDS is a major that allows me to combine two areas of study and a minor to create a unique degree. Instead of fitting myself into a major, I am able to focus on my interests and design a major that fits me. I think that the ability to create a program that caters to your individual needs is the biggest advantage of the major. A disadvantage of the major is the fact that it is not yet well known. People generally know what you’re talking about if you say that your major is nursing or art, but that is not usually the case with IDS. Hopefully, that will begin to change soon. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great semester!

Hello to everybody! My name is Kailee Smith and I am from Palm Bay, Florida. I enjoy reading, cooking, playing with my cat, and taking my dog on walks- just so you know something about me! My areas of study are Psychology and Communication, and my minor is in Education. I am a senior to be graduating in May- feels nice to say that. When I explain IDS to others I always start by saying "My major is in Interdisciplinary Studies." Now, most of the time people have no clue what you just said, so you will have to explain it. However, some people know and they go straight to "What are your areas?" I always assume someone knows what IDS is until they ask me (seems to avoid some awkwardness in the communication), then I tell them, "IDS combines classes from 3 different majors to earn a Bachelor's Degree." I have found that this is a response that is easy to understand for most people! What I do not offer most of the time is the fact that all of my classes work together to provide me with a better understanding of not only the world around me but also ways in which to solve problems and achieve goals. The great thing about our degree is that we are so well-rounded. Also, IDS really allows people to be unique- it doesn't require us to fit into a cookie cutter design of what a 4-year education should look like. I will say that the only disadvantage may come when trying to get a job. Some employers may not understand the benefit of our "outside the box" degree. I think it will probably turn some people away, but if we explain it right, more times than not our degree will be something that separates us from the crowd, in a positive way. Good luck this semester!

Hello, my name is Alyssa Sherman, and I’m in my last semester at UCF as an IDS major. I was lucky enough to discover IDS as a sophomore, after changing my major five or so times before that. I just couldn’t decide between the areas I was interested in, so I was thrilled when a friend of mine started explaining to me what the major was. I was able to choose ALL of the things I was so torn between – which turned out to be Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, and a Minor in Women’s Studies, Tailor-made. It’s taken a while to iron out how I would explain IDS to people when they ask, but I’ve found that letting people know that I’ve been able to make sure I take the classes that truly interest me throughout my college career by hand-picking the areas of study that I wanted, it tends to make a lot more sense. IDS are a tailored program that allows you to connect varying disciplines to form a cohesive degree that will best suit your future goals in both academia and career. And truly, that is one of the largest advantages to the degree. The only snag I’ve run into with this degree has been the fact that it is a relatively new concept for colleges to allow such academic freedom to their students, and not everyone understands what hasn’t been established for a while. But, I would assume that within the next five years, that won’t be an issue any longer either! Here’s to a great semester together!

Greetings! My name is Thomas Edens and I am from Titusville FL. I am married with three young children. My wife graduated last summer from this same university with a degree in IDS as well. As far as hobbies go, my school work, kids, and job preclude me from doing much else at the moment, but I would always rather be snorkeling. As I am a Capstone student, you likely gathered that I am a senior on the verge of graduation this spring. After graduation, I plan to attend law school someone, and I am enjoying the recruitment process at the moment. When I decided to go to law school, I went in search of the perfect bachelor’s degree to prepare me. What I found out is that there is no such degree. In fact, law schools don’t even list a preferred undergraduate course load. I did a fair amount of research and came to the conclusion I was better off tailoring my degree to areas of study that were similar to law school. I knew there was a significant amount of writing and research. I choose to minor in writing and rhetoric and chose areas of study in Public Affairs (legal studies), and Behavioral Science (psychology). I think you will find that whatever you want to do post-graduate, you can tailor your IDS degree to prepare you. I look forward to further discussions about this and many other subjects during the year.


Now, it is your turn to tell us about you!
Please "Post a Comment" below sharing with us 1) who you are (not just your name-but something that makes you unique), 2) your areas of study/minor, and 3) your year of study(Freshman, Sophomore, Junior).

Also, share with us how you explain Interdisciplinary Studies to others. What do you see as an advantage to being an Interdisciplinary Studies student (will it aid your success in student life, career life, family life, and beyond)? What do you see as a disadvantage? Our hope is that this is a safe place to share your honest and open opinions with us and your fellow classmates, so feel free to get the conversation going!