HNRS 1010: Gateway to University Honors

Self-Designed Experiential Learning Proposal Assignment Directions

This assignment provides you the opportunity to become familiar with self-designed experiential learning project proposals and the rubric used to evaluate self-designed projects. While students are not required to complete a self-designed project, many students will complete at least one. Students are able to apply for grant funding as part of the proposal process. Referencing the ideas you generated over the past few weeks, choose an idea that you want to develop into a self-designed experience. If you do not have a concrete idea, you may propose a hypothetical experience or an experience that may take place in the future. Please remember that honors seminars and pre-approved experiential learning projects do not require a proposal. For a complete list of honors seminars and pre-approved experiences, visit the UHP website. Important notes about proposals: Proposals must be written and submitted prior to the project start date. We will not consider proposals for experiences that have happened in the past. Thus, planning is a critical part of the proposal process. While the quality of the proposal is most important, strong proposals are typically 3-4 pages in length (single-spaced). Be sure to maintain the proposal format. From time-to-time, the UHP staff will make minor edits to the proposal form. Before proposing a self-designed project, download the most recent version of the proposal form from the UHP website.

Instructions:
Step 1: Complete the self-designed experiential learning proposal worksheet (backside of this handout). The worksheet will help you outline the first three sections of your proposal. Step 2: Download the file Honors Experiential Learning Project Proposal from the UHP website: http://www.uc.edu/honors/experiences/experiencesselfdesigned.html. Respond to the prompts listed on page 1 using the template on page 3. The italicized text on page 1 emphasize the core of each section. Step 3: Upload your experiential learning project proposal to the Gateway section of your learning portfolio by the date listed on your syllabus. Note: You are submitting this proposal as a class assignment to understand the self-designed proposal process. Posting your proposal on your learning portfolio is not the official way to submit a proposal for review. After receiving feedback from your HNRS 1010 instructor, you will have the option to submit this proposal for formal review. More details forthcoming.

Grading Scale:
Students proposal idea is a viable honors experience; ideas are well-developed and appropriate detail is provided. Student maintains the format of the Honors Experiential Learning Project Proposal form and completes all sections of the proposal with careful attention to the instructions. Student uses proper spelling and grammar, has proofread, and expresses thoughts cohesively in their writing. Student uploads experiential learning project proposal to the Gateway section of their learning portfolio by the deadline listed on the syllabus. 20 points 20 points 10 points 10 points

HNRS 1010: Gateway to University Honors

Getting Started: Self-Designed Experiential Learning Project Worksheet

Read through the directions on the Experiential Learning Project Proposal form. Then, create an outline for the first three sections of your proposal. Rather than writing complete sentences, use this as a space to brainstorm your ideas. Additionally, write down questions you have so that you are able to clarify with your instructor prior to submitting your proposal. Section 1: Abstract Write a brief description of your project. Once a week, I read and converse with the patients of the dementia unit at a local nursing home.

Explain why your project is personally meaningful. Being a nursing major, the project will help me to connect with patients and develop a personal connection to them. Sympathy is a vital quality in a nurse.

Describe your time commitment (quantity and quality). One hour a week, for roughly a year. Additional time in reflection and creation of the presentation.

Section 2: Connection to Learning Outcomes within an Honors Thematic Area: List the 2-3 honors learning outcomes you will make progress towards achieving as a result of your project. See page two of the proposal form for the complete list of learning outcomes. Community engagement and research

For each learning outcome, provide specific examples of how you intend to make progress toward it. The community engagement thematic area is achieved by connecting to the patients. By connecting with them, I am overcoming a basic need that is often denied to them by society. Research is achieved by observing how the human connection effects them as individuals. Do the nurses observe that they are happier after I visit? How so? Section 3: Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (This is a two-part prompt): Part 1: Explain how this project will contribute to your future academic, professional, and/or personal goals. Being a nursing major, sympathy is a vital quality. It is important for nurses to be personable, understanding, and friendly. These are all qualities that this project will help me to develop.

Part 2: List 2-3 possible theories, readings, concepts, or courses you could use to prepare or gain background knowledge for your project. It would be important for me to research dementia and its effects on personality and mood. I need to understand what the patients are going through. It would also be vital to learn theories on communicating with individuals with dementia. Individuals with dementia obviously cannot process or remember information on the level of a normal human being, but they nevertheless are still conscious of their shortcomings. I would want to avoid offending them at all costs.