Self -Reflection

 

 

1

 

 A lot more engaging

 

 

Isabel Zozaya

This class was one of my favorite classes by far. I enjoyed learning about something outside of my major that is still very applicable to my everyday education. I have a stronger value for education, especially after learning about how the school systems are completely changing and not appreciated or valued. I enjoyed learning about different kinds of learners and the importance of a good class structure and a good learning environment. I enjoyed the creativity in each student's final presentation, and I also enjoyed teaching the class myself. 

I loved our learning environment. I loved how, from the beginning, we learned everyone's names. I think it made us build relationships with each other, which made the class a lot more engaging. I looked forward to coming to this class every Tuesday and Thursday morning because I knew I was walking into a positive class environment. I also liked how we reflected our thoughts during each class in a discussion post. 

I would apply what I learned in this class to business because of the focus on leadership. I think in order to successfully teach a class you should be viewed as a leader. I am studying marketing specifically, and I would apply the creativity we learned to marketing. We learned about different arts and how some people can be more creative thinkers. In marketing that is so important, being a creative thinker. 

 

2

 All student viewpoints

Josh Boies

The Teaching and Learning class demonstrated that learning spaces need innovative flexible design elements to establish an optimal learning environment. The development of effective teaching depends on building strong relationships between teachers and students while providing students with a voice and hands-on activities leads to higher student engagement. The process of developing and teaching a mini-lesson showed me that purposeful planning with effective communication creates a positive learning environment.

The learning environment provided me with support, encouragement, and respect. The classroom environment provided open collaboration spaces which allowed me to participate in discussions without any anxiety. The classroom environment which supported creativity and personal expression allowed me to attempt new teaching approaches and lesson designs because no one criticized my work. The combination of instructor and peer feedback during group work and class discussions created an environment which welcomed all student viewpoints. Our learning environment showed that the student-centered space we want to build is done so by a base of trust, a shared desire for development, and curiosity.

As a Political Science major aspiring to become a litigator, I will use the knowledge gained from this course to develop relationship-based communication approaches for my clients. People need to experience visibility and support in order to place trust in an individual with their money or life. I will implement active listening and multiple learning approaches to support the different requirements of my relationships within my judges. The experience of creating and delivering a mini-lesson showed me how important it is to prepare in advance while being flexible and paying attention to the audience's needs which applies to most professional fields. I will establish particular areas which help people develop confidence while they work together to reach their targets. Ultimately, I think this class will help better understand how to help people learn something or perceive an argument in a new manner.

 3

 Student-centered environment

Olly Ansin 

This course really opened my eyes to what effective teaching and learning can look like when the environment is intentionally designed. I learned how much classroom layout, flexibility, and creative tools can shape the way students think, interact, and stay engaged. One of the biggest lessons for me was how essential relationships are—students respond better when they feel heard and when teachers make space for their ideas. Planning and teaching a mini-lesson also showed me that clear structure, thoughtful preparation, and honest communication can completely change the tone of a learning space. When those pieces come together, the classroom becomes a place where real growth happens.

I felt genuinely supported in this class. The atmosphere was relaxed, collaborative, and respectful, which made participating feel natural instead of stressful. The way the room was set up—open, flexible, and conversation-friendly—made it easy to share ideas without feeling judged. I appreciated that creativity and personal expression were encouraged; it made me more willing to try new approaches and experiment with lesson ideas I wouldn’t normally attempt. The combination of feedback from classmates and guidance from the instructor helped create an environment where everyone’s perspective mattered. Overall, the space showed me what a student-centered environment truly looks like: built on trust, curiosity, and a shared goal of improving together.

As a Real Estate and Entrepreneurship major, I see a lot of overlap between what we learned in this class and the skills needed in my field. Entrepreneurship relies heavily on creativity, problem-solving, and being able to communicate ideas clearly—all things we practiced through lesson planning and class discussions. In real estate, building strong relationships and understanding people’s needs is essential, and this course reinforced how important it is to listen actively, adapt to your audience, and create environments where people feel comfortable and understood. Teaching a mini-lesson taught me the value of preparing with intention but also staying flexible, which mirrors what entrepreneurs face when pitching ideas, working with clients, or managing teams. The emphasis on hands-on learning and engaging people through different methods also connects to how I want to approach client interactions—making information clear, accessible, and meaningful. Ultimately, this class showed me how creativity and human connection drive learning—and in entrepreneurship, those same qualities drive innovation, trust, and long-term success.

 

4

 

 Natural instead of forced

 

Colleen Murtagh

This course stood out to me because it gave me the chance to learn about education from a perspective I’ve never explored before. It opened my eyes to how complex the school system is today and how much educators do without always receiving the recognition they deserve. I found it really interesting to learn about the different ways students absorb information and how much thoughtful planning goes into building a strong classroom environment. One of my favorite parts was seeing how creative everyone was in their final projects and getting the chance to teach a lesson myself was something I never expected to enjoy as much as I did.

The atmosphere of this class was genuinely one of the best parts. From day one, learning everyone’s names made the room feel comfortable and connected, which made it easier to participate and get to know people. I always felt like I was entering a space where people were positive, supportive, and actually interested in being there. The discussions we did after each lesson helped me stay engaged, and I appreciated having a class where sharing your thoughts felt natural instead of forced.

Even though my major is finance, I can see a clear connection between what we learned and the skills I’ll need in my field. Teaching requires confidence, clarity, and the ability to guide others, which are traits that are also essential in finance, whether you’re presenting data, leading a team, or communicating with clients. I also valued the emphasis on creativity. Finance might revolve around numbers, but problem-solving, designing presentations, and thinking strategically all require creative thinking. Understanding how people learn differently will definitely help me communicate financial information more effectively in the future.

 

5

 Uplifting energy throughout

Cami Beaulieu

1. This was my favorite class this semester. I learned a lot about how to be a good teacher 

   and what it takes to be a good teacher. I learned how difficult teaching is and how important 

   teachers are. This course has really reshaped the way I think about teaching and learning 

   by showing me everything that goes into being a good teacher. From the first class when we 

   learned about the physical elements of a classroom and how society has made it normal for 

   there to be rows and not an engaging atmosphere to the last classes where everyone had to

   learn how to teach a lesson plan, I learned a lot. I realized how powerful a carefully crafted 

   lesson plan and environment can change the ways students learn and grow. I learned how 

   when students feel seen and heard it can really impact them mentally and in the classroom

    and I learned how creativity can be applied to every aspect of the classroom and life. Thank 

   you for a great semester, I truly learned a lot!

1. I felt very comfortable in our learning environment. The first day of class where we all learned 

   each other's names and sat in a circle facing each other made me feel welcomed and 

   comfortable right away. I felt like we were one big community of students and created a sense 

   of belonging and friendship in the class. The classroom felt like a safe place to say what you 

   thought and engage with other students and the professor. I appreciated the discussion posts 

   after class to reflect on what you learned and the discussions with the people around you. 

   I also appreciated when we had to meet and talk with new people in the classroom, forcing 

   me out of my comfort zone a little bit to expand my circle of friendship in the classroom. The 

   room had an uplifting energy throughout the whole semester which I also appreciated. Everyone

    was positive and positive to each other and we collaborated and learned together. It was a great 

   semester and by far my favorite class this semester. I really enjoy going to class everyday. 

1. What I learned in this course could apply to any field. I am going into finance after I graduate 

   and this course has taught me a lot that can apply to finance, including leadership skills and 

   creativity skills. Communication and expressing yourself are core topics we covered in class 

   that can be applied to finance. It is important to be able to communicate what you think in an 

   appropriate way and think about others and how they are interpreting information. Understanding 

   other people’s emotions and how they react to what your saying is also important and is 

   something we talked about in class. Creativity is also important in any field, being creative in 

   finance helps with creative thinking to complex problems or presentations. Learning how to teach 

   and how to empower others is also important and something I will apply to finance.

 

6

Supportive and collaborative. 

Anna Sutton

I really loved taking this class and feel like I’m walking away with so many meaningful takeaways. I enjoyed working with different groups throughout the semester because it allowed me to meet new people and learn from their perspectives. I also liked learning more about elementary education. Since I have a sister in second grade, it was especially interesting to connect what we discussed in class to both my own experiences in school and her experiences now. It really showed me how much impact teachers have on young students.

I thought the learning environment in this class was great. Our professor put a lot of effort into every activity, and you could tell everything was designed to help us learn in creative and engaging ways. I especially enjoyed the final project and getting to see everyone teach—it was fun, interactive, and made the class feel very supportive and collaborative.

I will take what I learned in this course and apply it to my own field of study, especially as I move into real estate. Understanding how people learn, communicate, and respond to different environments has given me ideas for how to better connect with clients in the future. The creativity, collaboration, and communication skills we practiced in class will definitely help me as I build relationships and create positive experiences in my professional life.

7

 How to listen

Max Silver 

 I want to go into contract law and work with various companies and high-end clients. This class has allowed me to gain a better understanding of how to interact with people and truly understand what they want. Being personable is a key skill I’ve developed through class discussions, presentations, and group work. 

This class has also helped me improve my communication skills, which will be essential when negotiating contracts and explaining complex legal terms in a way clients can understand. I have learned how to listen more carefully, think critically, and respond professionally, all of which will benefit me when working with clients and businesses. 

Overall, this class has prepared me to build trust, handle difficult conversations, and approach my future career with confidence. 

 

8

 New activities without judgment

Vittoria Papa

My key takeaways from this course were realizing how powerful the arts can be in shaping how students learn, think, and express themselves. Sound-art, tableaux, creative movement, and reflective writing showed me that art is not just an “extra,” but a meaningful tool for building engagement, encouraging expression, and supporting different learning styles. I learned how creativity can deepen understanding in any subject.

I felt comfortable and supported in our learning environment. The class was open, creative, and welcoming, which made it easy to participate and try new activities without judgment. The atmosphere allowed me to enjoy learning, feel connected to the material, and appreciate how different teaching methods can change the energy of a classroom.

I can apply what I learned in this class by bringing creativity, empathy, and clear communication into my own field of study. Whether presenting ideas, working with others, or developing projects, the artistic strategies we practiced such as storytelling, visual thinking, and movement can make my work more engaging and impactful. This course showed me that creative approaches can strengthen understanding in any academic or professional setting.

 

9

 Expressive, hands-on, and personal

Sophia Lourenco

One of my biggest takeaways from this class was realizing how powerful the arts are in shaping how students learn. Exploring movement, sound, and creativity helped me understand that learning doesn’t have to be rigid or strictly academic, as it can be expressive, hands-on, and personal. I appreciated seeing how activities like tableaux, sound-art, and creative movement encourage imagination, confidence, and collaboration. They showed me that the arts are not just “extra,” but an essential part of helping students think in new ways. 

I genuinely felt comfortable and engaged in our learning environment. The class was open, interactive, and welcoming, which made it easy to participate and try new things without feeling judged. The activities were fun and different, and they made the class feel less like a lecture and more like an experience. I liked that we were encouraged to express ourselves, be creative, and connect with each other. It made the class feel both relaxing and meaningful. 

In my own field, I plan to apply what I learned by being more open to creative approaches when I study or work on projects. I feel that no matter what field I am in, the idea that learning improves when people feel engaged and connected still applies. I can use techniques like visual thinking, storytelling, and movement to help me better understand material. Most importantly, I’ll carry forward the idea that learning is strongest when you feel supported and encouraged, something I will make sure to keep in mind both academically and in my future career.

 

 10

  Impactful small decisions

Lilly Kraus

This course honestly taught me so much more about education than I expected. It showed me how layered teaching really is and how much thought goes into making a classroom feel safe, creative, and engaging. I loved seeing all the different ways students learn and respond to activities, and teaching my own lesson ended up being one of my favorite experiences. It made me appreciate educators so much more and helped me understand how impactful small decisions in the classroom can be.

The environment of this class was one of the best parts. It always felt welcoming, positive, and low-stress, which made it easier to participate and actually enjoy being there. Because everyone learned each other’s names and contributed to discussions, it felt more like a community rather than just another class. I always felt comfortable sharing ideas, and the energy in the room made the class something I looked forward to every week.

In Media and PR, creativity, communication, and understanding people are everything. This class reminded me how important engagement, presentation, and intentional planning are—skills that translate directly into campaign development, pitching, branding, and content creation. Learning how to design lessons that keep students involved is very similar to creating messages or visuals that keep an audience interested. I’ll definitely carry the creativity, empathy, and communication skills from this class into the way I approach marketing and PR work.

 

11

 Channel my inner creativity

Kerrigan Wesley  

 

 

This semester, I learned a lot about education and art and how to combine both to enhance classroom environments. What stuck with me the most was the power that teachers have to change the narrative around traditional public school and the role we have in the community to support them. Teachers and school systems are the foundation of the next generation and there should be more emphasis put on their development. Children should be free to explore creativity, imagination, and individuality and use those skills to enhance their learning of traditional topics and core curriculum. 

This class was supportive, understanding, and comforting. I felt like as a student, I was valued and respected for my ideas and opinions. Having a professor that shows genuine interest in student feedback was refreshing and not something I was used to in college environments. Aside from the environment, the content of the course was a refreshing change from my other coursework, as it was a cognate class for me. I appreciate learning things that were foreign to me and having a designated time during the week to express my creativity in different ways. 

I will apply the use of arts to enhance learning in the rest of my college career and future job. The importance of the arts has never been clearer to me than after taking this class. I will use techniques we learned in class to be a better learner and teacher throughout my life. Coming from an expertise focused on math and science, being a Global Health major, I often forget to channel my inner creativity. It can be easy to not value the arts as highly as traditional subjects, but they are equally as important. 

 12

 Effective teaching is holistic

Diarra Danville

The biggest takeaway from the class is that creativity is a central part of learning. Learning is not standardized ; it is more multifaceted than one may think. Utilizing artistic thinking to deepen understanding, promotes engagement. Understand a pupil's learning style is essential. Another thing was learning how  undervalued teachers are which can make them feel limited in their profession which can impact a student's learning abilities. Overall, effective teaching is holistic and should be student-centered

This semester I think my learning environment in TAL324 was relaxing and interactive, instead of being in a lecture heavy class. To me, this class sincerely ensured collaboration, creativity, and community which made me appreciative the duality of learning and that it doesn't always have to be so serious. There are ways to incorporate fun, meaningful and memorable experiences.

Moving forward,  I will apply what I learned to my field of study by incorporating active learning rather than passivity. Moreover, TAL324 taught me to think broadly and to continue using visualization, more creative processes and to be more open-minded when working with peers whether that its in school or in a  real world setting.

 

13

 Impactful small decisions

Trey Maddox

 

This course has truly opened my eyes to education in ways I didn't expect. It has shown me how layered teaching really is and how much thought goes into creating a classroom that feels safe, creative, and engaging. I loved observing the different ways students learn and respond to activities. Teaching my own lesson turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve had. It made me appreciate educators so much more and helped me understand how impactful small decisions in the classroom can be.

The environment of this class is one of the best parts. it always felt welcoming positive, and low stress, which made it easier for me to not be so nervous in the classroom when it came to presenting to my classmates.

In Media and PR, communication, and creativity class reminded me how important engagement, presentation, and intentional planning are skills that translate directly into campaign development, and branding its very similar to creating messages or visuals that keep an audience interested.

 

14

 More engaging and memorable

Kyle Hendricks

This class quickly became one of my favorites this semester. I really enjoyed learning about a subject outside of my major that still connects to my everyday academic experience. It gave me a deeper appreciation for education, especially after seeing how much the school system is changing and how often educators and learners are undervalued. I liked exploring the different types of learners, the importance of strong classroom structure, and what makes an environment truly supportive. I also loved seeing everyone’s creativity in their final presentations and getting the chance to teach a lesson myself it made the class feel even more engaging and memorable.

The learning environment in this class stood out the most to me. I really appreciated that from day one we learned each other’s names, which helped build real connections and made discussions more meaningful. It created a positive atmosphere that made me look forward to coming in every Tuesday and Thursday morning. I always knew I was walking into a supportive space where people participated and encouraged each other. I also enjoyed the reflection posts we wrote during each class they helped me process what we covered and think more deeply about the discussions.

I can see myself applying what I learned in this course to my Finance and marketing studies, especially when it comes to leadership. Teaching a class effectively requires strong leadership, clear communication, and the ability to understand different perspectives, all of which are important in business as well. Since I’m studying Finance specifically, I also connected with the emphasis on taking leadership and creativity throughout the course. Learning about different forms of art and the idea that some people are naturally more creative thinkers relates directly to marketing, where originality and creative problem solving are key.

 

15

 The thinking that happens while students create

Frankie Ottimo

Understanding the difference between task-oriented and relationship-oriented leadership is important in the classroom because each style shapes how students experience learning. A task-oriented teacher is focused on organization, clear expectations, deadlines, and academic goals, which helps students know exactly what they are working toward and how to succeed. A relationship-oriented teacher is more focused on building trust, listening, and creating emotional safety, which helps students feel comfortable participating and taking risks. Effective teaching requires a blend of both approaches—setting clear academic standards while also nurturing a supportive classroom community where students feel seen, respected, and motivated.

A teacher’s intention is what really determines whether the learning environment leans more toward task orientation or relationship orientation. When a teacher prioritizes finishing assignments, managing time, and meeting curriculum benchmarks, their practice becomes more task-focused. When their primary goal is to understand students’ backgrounds, emotions, and needs, the approach shifts toward relationship-building. The most successful classrooms don’t choose one over the other; instead, they weave both together—using structure and accountability to support learning, while also making sure students’ voices, feelings, and identities are valued throughout the process.

Leader behavior connects to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) because both emphasize attending to students’ emotional, social, and cognitive development. SEL’s “SAFE” components—sequenced, active, focused, and explicit—mirror the idea of balancing clear structure with meaningful connection. A teacher who plans lessons intentionally (sequenced and focused) is demonstrating task-oriented behavior, while a teacher who creates opportunities for collaboration, empathy, and reflection is practicing relationship-oriented leadership. When SEL is integrated into the classroom, teachers shape spaces where students are not only learning content but also practicing self-awareness, communication, and responsible decision-making.

A process-oriented approach to learning through the arts centers on the idea that the learning journey is just as important—if not more important—than the final product. Instead of focusing only on whether an artwork “looks good,” this philosophy values experimentation, exploration, and the thinking that happens while students create. The teacher acts as a guide who supports students in trying new techniques, reflecting on their choices, and expressing their ideas visually. This approach encourages students to be curious, persistent, and reflective, helping them develop both artistic skills and meaningful self-understanding.

If I were a teacher, I would strive to create a classroom where students feel safe to take risks, be creative, and learn from mistakes. I believe that learning is most powerful when students can connect it to their own lives and identities. My goal would be to balance clear expectations and consistent routines with opportunities for choice, collaboration, and self-expression. I’d want my students to leave class not only knowing more content, but also feeling more confident, thoughtful, and compassionate toward themselves and others. Teaching, to me, is about opening doors—helping students discover what they care about and who they want to become.

I wasn’t present for the group poster activity, but if I had been there, I would have contributed to a poster that visually represented the balance between task-oriented and relationship-oriented teaching. For example, we could have drawn an image of a scale or two intersecting circles—one labeled “Tasks/Goals” and the other “Relationships/Community.” Around the poster, we might include examples such as “clear instructions,” “deadlines,” and “structured lessons” on one side, and “listening,” “encouragement,” and “student voice” on the other. This design would highlight the idea that strong teaching happens when both sides are valued and intentionally integrated.