Outside the classroom windows the beautiful mosaic of autumn transforms. Students inside may peer out every once in a while and catch a glimpse of the bleeding colors of orange and red. A classroom where students are immersed in nature, rather than enclosed from, is exactly what senior Ashely White and junior Amanda Malkowski plan to create.
Capstone project creates alternate learning environment
Giannina Gonzalez
Staff Writer
Outside the classroom windows the beautiful mosaic of autumn transforms. Students inside may peer out every once in a while and catch a glimpse of the bleeding colors of orange and red. A classroom where students are immersed in nature, rather than enclosed from, is exactly what senior Ashely White and junior Amanda Malkowski plan to create.
The outdoor classroom is White and Malkowski’s Honors Capstone Project. The project will be located behind Lynch Hall and completed in the Spring of 2011. President JoAnne Boyle approved the idea this past spring.
The two students wanted a project that would benefit the university for years to come.
“It will offer a different form of learning. It is always nice to go outside and experience class in a different way,” White said.
The idea of an outdoor classroom has been a lingering idea at Seton Hill for several years, according to Carol Zola, who has hoped that the project would become a reality through a class gift or Capstone.
The Griffin Technology Advantage has significantly impacted educational opportunities in the outdoor classroom. All students on campus have iPads, making it possible for them to download materials for class such as Power Points or documents. They will then be able to use these resources in the classroom.
“Instructors were concerned that they would be limited in an outdoor classroom, however with Wi-fi students will be able to use their iPads to view Power Points and such,” White said.
Zola said she was very impressed with the thought process the two students put into the project. She accompanied the students as they scouted out locations on campus for the classroom. The students chose a site behind Lynch Hall, however they surveyed several locations and considered various factors such as distance from buildings, terrain, size and lighting.
Letters of support were recently sent out to local businesses by White and Malkowski. The students have a model and several sketches made. A contractor is helping with the project as well. The women’s lacrosse team will help with construction of the project as part of their community service.
Honors program director John Atherton has expressed immense enthusiasm in the project.
“It is an incredible opportunity to expand our educational venues,” said Atherton.
Atherton sees the project as a bridge between the university and nature as well as a bridge toward the Laurel Highlands. He has hopes that students will have more opportunities to learn in a different way through outdoor activities.
“It is a nudge in the right direction,” Atherton said.
White and Malkowski hope to keep the classroom open to students between classes. Several instructors have already expressed interest in using the classroom upon its completion.
Zola finds the project an exciting opportunity for students who will be able to get outside and experience a change from the ordinary surroundings they see in class every day.
“If I were a student, I would be delighted to have class outdoors,” she said.