Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Hello Cornerstone students!

This week’s topic focus is on critical thinking and interdisciplinary problem solving. There are various approaches you can take when it comes to problem solving with an interdisciplinary mindset. Interdisciplinary problem solving consists of looking at problems from a different approach as those of your peers with disciplinary majors. With an interdisciplinary problem solving approach you are take on problems from aspects from various disciplines.

 Errol Morris wrote an article about critical thinking and decision making in the New York Times.  This article discusses critical thinking and the way we think about things.

Critical Thinking Questions
1.  Do you think it requires critical thinking to effectively explain the degree, the advantages this degree brings to the table (vs. disciplinary degree), and how/why you chose this path?

Please read the Errol Morris piece in the New York Times Part 1.

2. How this can apply to the interdisciplinary model?

3. What insights have you gained from this reading?

4. How can you apply this to 'real' life situations.?

Interviewing, Networking, and Follow-Up

Hello Cornerstone Students!

Last week we discussed the modern job search and visited the Career Services website.  That website is a really great resource for students, with links containing specific information for both Undergraduate Students and also Non-Traditional Knights.

Part 1: Interviewing

Traditional interviews are a big part of getting a job or getting into graduate school.  A few days ago, I spoke with the program director at a graduate school and he told me that they weigh their candidate interviews as heavily as they weigh grades and work experience.  The person interviewing you wants to  know how you will fit in with their corporate culture.  There are also non-traditional interviews, such as an informational interview.  When you go in for an informational interview, you are interviewing a person working at a company that you are interested to learn more about.  Click this link to read an article about informational interviews.

Do interviews make you nervous?  UCF Career Services has a link to a "Perfect Interview Activity" on their website.  After creating and activating your account, the website creates a simulated interview where you are asked questions and must respond like in a real job interview.  You can use the interview coach if you need help.

Part 2: Networking

Jobs, interning, service learning, co-ops, and community service are just a few ways for UCF students to interact with the Orlando community outside of the university.  Networking is another key part of life both during and after college.  I'm going to graduate school for Sports Management next year, and my Sports Management professors here at UCF all know at least one person who works at each school I'm applying to.  When you build a strong network, the people you know can even pass information about you along to people down the line.  It's not who you know, it's who knows you!

Part 3: Follow Up

After an interview, you should always send a thank you letter! One of my classes this year required us to get professional stationery and business cards to send out to people after our interviews.  My professor taught us that as soon as you finish your interview, you should go home and write up a nice thank you note.  In the envelope, include two business cards--one for the interviewer and one for them to give away (building your network!).  Virginia Tech's website has some good tips for how to write a purposeful thank you note.  Sometimes it's the little things like a thank you note that will leave a good impression!

This website has a lot of good information about steps you should take after an interview to keep yourself ready in case another job opportunity comes along.

Assignment:

1.  Complete the Perfect Interview activity. Write a few sentences about what you learned from the activity and what you think you need to work on in interviews.

2.  Have you ever had an interview before? Were you nervous? If you have been interviewed, what advice do you have? If you haven't, what questions do you have?

3.  Who here at UCF is in your network already? Is there a person (department director, professor, dean) you'd like to be in your network but isn't? How can you continue to expand your network?

4.  How do you plan to follow up after an interview? 

Resumes, Cover Letters, and the Modern Job Search

Hello Cornerstone Students!

Part 1: Resumes and Cover Letters

Resumes and cover letters are really important items that give an employer a first glance at who you are before they see you and potentially invite you to an interview. In Education we use what is called a KWL chart. The K represents what the learner already know about the topic, the W is what the learner want to know about said topic, and the L is what the learner learned about the topic after doing research, readings, or assignments on the topic. 

Step 1: Type “K:” and list next to it everything you know about resumes and cover letters. What are some dos and don’ts you have heard? 

Step 2: Type “W:” and list anything you want to know and don’t know about Resumes and Cover Letters.

Step 3: Go to the Career Services website and search the web for dos, don’ts, tips, and examples of Resumes and cover letters. 

Step 4: Type “L:” and list everything you have learned as well as answers to the questions you listed is Step 2.

Part 2: The Modern Job Search

Many people wait until they graduate to think about what they want to do after college. Why wait and put yourself through that stress. School achievement is very important but employers also want to see experience. Experience outside the classroom can also lead to networking opportunities that may lead you to a job opportunity. What about graduate school? Are you interested in that? Did you know that graduate schools conduct interviews for acceptance? 

Step 1: Go to the Career Services website and look at the content for “Start Your Job Search” and “Plan for Graduate School”. Include in your blog response what you have learned.

Step 2: Provide a link to your dream job or graduate program. What steps and plans are you taking to reach that dream? 

As a last note, if you have a few years left and free electives you can take I would strongly suggest looking into the class Career Planning. You work on future planning, resumes, cover letters, interviews and much more. If you can’t do that you can always stop by Career Services and they will do the same things with you one on one. Also check out their workshops!

Introductions

Hi everyone! Welcome to your mentoring blog, "The Knight Life".  You'll have four of us as your mentors (Ray, Kristen, Michael, and Angelica) to guide you as you begin your journey toward a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.  The four of us come from different backgrounds (like all of you), as you'll be able to see from our introductions!

Ray

Hi, my name is Ray Shipman and I take pride in being your mentor. I am currently a senior and my areas of study are Commerce, Health, and Communications. I am also a part of the UCF football team (Go Knights!!). I transferred to UCF form the University of Florida where I spent two years playing basketball. Yes I switched sports... you’re not going crazy. I graduate this spring but due to transferring rules I was granted another year of eligibility so I will start grad school this summer. I wasn’t an Interdisciplinary Studies major at UF and my UF peers tend to ask what IDS is. I just tell them, “IDS is what you make it”. Interdisciplinary Studies is the integration of your specialties which is referred to as disciplines. Understanding the IDS major will enable you to explore boundaries and solve issues from a perspective many of your peers have never seen before. This may cause your peers to look down upon you major because they do not understand it but once you have the full understanding of IDS you will be even that more equipped to explain to them what you have in you IDS major.
I want to get to know you guys as individuals and be of help any way possible please answer so we can get to know each other.

Kristen

Hi everyone! My name is Kristen Fowler and (obviously) I'm a senior here at UCF.  I transferred to the amazing University of Central Florida from Florida State University after spending one semester in Tallahassee.  I'm originally from Orlando, so I never though I would end up going to UCF. I'll be graduating in May (a year early--you CAN finish!) with my bachelors. I'll be leaving the great state of Florida next year to get my Master's (not sure exactly where yet) in Sports Management.  My areas of study are Public Affairs, Arts, and I have two minors in Legal Studies and Sports Business Management.  Interdisciplinary Studies has been a great major for me because it gave me the opportunity to combine all of the different things I'm passionate about (music, film, sports, and the law).  Had I chosen a single discipline to major in, I would have lost out on so many different classes here that I've loved. You probably don't realize it while you're still trying to explain to everyone what exactly an Interdisciplinary Studies degree is, but after you've completed most of your coursework you will realize that the IDS program prepares you to be a more well rounded thinker and person.  I'm so excited to help all of you along your journey!

Mike

My name is Michael Kilpatrick and I am from Jacksonville, Florida. I am majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with subject areas in Education and Behavioral and Social Sciences with a minor in Business. I am a member of 2 organizations: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. I love music and I also like stepping as well.  After graduation I plan to be a teacher for a few years and later go to graduate school for Educational Policy. I am currently applying for Teach for America and will potentially move to Atlanta, Miami or Jacksonville depending on where they place me. My goal is to teach for at least 4-6 years and once I have my masters in Educational Policy, I want to take the necessary steps to be a part of the board of education and be a part of the decision making.

Angelica

Hey guys! My name is Angelica Carter but you all can call me Angel. I am originally from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and have also lived in Jacksonville for a few years. I am one of 6 children. I’ve lived in Orlando for almost three years now and I have a new Lab puppy by the name of Charley.  I used to be a Dance major and transferred to UCF my junior year and changed my major to Spanish. I was unsatisfied with this major so again decided that I wanted to change it once more to Business. I decided that Interdisciplinary Studies would be the best fit for me  because I liked to learn but was never really settled in one area of study alone. And also the more I changed my major the longer it would take me to graduate!  Therefore my two focuses  are: Dance and Commerce (business) and a minor in Spanish. After I graduate I would like to teach dance in a performing arts school. I am also venturing into opening up my own entertainment company. Hope that you all have a great semester and I am available if any of you have questions.

Your Assignment

Tell us a little bit about you!

We'll start with the basics:

How did you get to UCF? What are your areas of study and minors? What do you plan to do with it (if you know)?

And now some random questions:

What's your favorite food and why do you love it? What UCF experience has been your favorite/are you most looking forward to participating in?

Make sure you respond to your peers and feel free to ask your mentors questions! We will be responding throughout the week so if you have any questions about the major, the mentoring project, UCF, or anything in between all you have to do is ask!