Our Time 1998

P e r s p e c t i v e s o n t h e C o r e o f I n t e g r a t e d L e a r n i n g W hen notified of their acceptance to IMSA, incoming sophomores were asked to make the extremely important decision of which study track to follow. Faced with this question, some chose to join the core experience, while others chose the path of Integrated or Perspectives. When the year began, many sophomores were unsure if they had made the right decision. All started their first year at IMSA with fingers crossed hoping that they had made the right choice. This year, the Integrated Learn– ing Experience (or ILE) got off to an interesting start. With their pursuit of the study of perception, they began with an in-depth examination of the eye. Through a dissection of a cow's eye, Integrated Science students learned with a hands-on approach about the mechanisms and different Antonia Sargeant Adrian Sauder (Jenevieve Schaack^ (Brandon Schtesinger Sarah Schmidt Robert Schwaba parts of the eye. "All the stuff we did with light and perception was really cool," exclaims sophomore Jenny Creamer enthusiastically. Integrated students continued in the year to study topics in chemistry such as equili– brium constants and stoichiometry. The core, or "traditional", ap– proach to learning was quite different from that of Integrated. Core students started the year with a study of moles and then went on to topics in physics such as kinetic and potential energy. Students were able to study many subjects in both chemistry and physics by performing labs and writing up lab reports. Many sophomores felt that they learned quite a lot in science and other subjects. "I think that I 'm learn– ing a lot this year," sophomore Jeff Pasqualucci declares. Upperclassmen who were in core their sophomore year agree. "I feel that I learned a lot of concrete information," states junior Margaret O'Leary, reflecting on her sophomore year in chemistry and phys– ics. Meanwhile, the path of Perspec– tives was a mix between the way of learning of the ILE and the core classes. While Perspectives students had physics and chemistry just as the core students, the program included some activities outside of class that further enhanced their learning. Every Wednesday nights, a lecture or activity would be planned for students to expand their horizons. "Perspectives was fun because they fed us sometimes, " says sophomore Maria Wilson. Overall, sophomores were satisfied with the study paths they ended up in. Most people had fun with their tracks of study and felt that much was learned. Like the upperclassmen before them, they enjoyed their learning experience sophomore year and looked forward to their junior year with anticipation. Qustavo Setrini Samantha Shaddte Jian Shen Ayanna Shepard Jufie Shin Myra SiSCey Jason Siefferman MichaeCSiew MichaeCSinha JdlSison Marina Sivday Jfyun Jin Son 9 0 J iJMdesuda&smen>