Self-Designed Experience Proposal-2
Self-Designed Experience Proposal-2
Self-Designed Experience Proposal-2
Basic Information
Full Name: Michael Rice
Title of Project: European Art Intensive
Thematic Area(s): Creativity
Expected Start Date: May 9th 2015
Expected End Date: June 27th 2015
GUIDELINES
1. Proposal submission timeline: Proposals should be submitted at least one month prior to the expected
start date of the experience. International experiences require at least two months notice. Contact your
honors advisor immediately for any exceptions.
2. Proposal length: While the quality of the proposal is most important, strong proposals are typically 3-4
pages single-spaced.
3. Proposal format: Please maintain the proposal format (e.g. headers, layout)
4. Time commitment: Experiences should consist of at least 75-90 hours of preparation, execution, and
reflection. This is approximately equivalent to the commitment of honors seminars and pre-approved
experiences.
1. Abstract
Briefly describe the experience. What makes this experience personally meaningful? What goals do you have for this
experience? What is your timeline for this experience?
*If you are proposing an international experience, provide an itinerary.
**If you are developing this experience from an existing opportunity (class with a study tour, campus organization, co-op,
etc.) that is not already an honors seminar or pre-approved experience, how will you differentiate your experience from
what is already required of other students?
This summer for 7 weeks, I am planning to join a group of friends in backpacking around Europe. We intend to
immersive ourselves in a variety of cultures from Eastern Europe to Scandinavia, Western Europe to Northern Africa.
Along the way, I intend to create artwork that absorbs and reflects on this variety of cultural experiences. Throughout the
duration of the trip, I intend to develop both an analog and digital portfolio. I want to develop a sketchbook filled with
architecture drawings, street scenes, and anything else I can pull inspiration from. In a smaller journal, I will scrapbook
instant-print photos and write about daily experiences, so that experiences can be captured through interpreted language,
interpreted drawings, and representative photography. I also intend to expand this reflection to the digital realm. I want to
hone my photography skills throughout the trip, a medium I have not explored in-depth yet. And finally, I intend to use
film and to address the making-of process, incorporating street scenes, speed drawings, and other visual reflections of the
cultures we see.
I am truly excited for this trip, as I have always been interested in Europes development. To this day, I still find it
intriguing how so many cultures can coexist in such a small space relative to the United States. Much of Europe is cloaked
in history, with monuments dating back hundreds of years. Museums and architecture will offer insight into how a citys
visual culture has evolved throughout time.
Ultimately, this trip has a two-fold process. Firstly, I want to have a deeply immersive and culturally diverse trip. I
want to absorb myself in local lifestyles, and understand the vast variety Europe presents. Secondarily, while experiencing
the cities, I want to create artwork that is meaningful and truly reflects the experiences I had. I intend to explore further
into finding inspiration in my immediate surroundings. I want to create artwork that captures and reflects my visual
experiences.
a. House of Parliament
b. Wallace Collection
c. National Gallery
Reykjavik, Iceland 3 days
a. Hallgrimkirkja
b. Solfar Sculpture
c. National Museum of Iceland
d. Wilderness exploring
Advisor Feedback
Must Include:
Required Revisions:
Effective:
2. Experience Advisor
Identify an experience advisor and provide their contact information. Explain why you chose this person and how you
plan to utilize your advisor for this experience.
Note: Advisor(s) should have knowledge or expertise in an area related to the experience. Honors advisors, undergraduate
students, and family members cannot be experience advisors.
I am asking Brian Schumaker to be my advisor throughout the experience. He is a drawing professor with a strong interest
in the usage of sketchbooks. I was enrolled in his class Foundations of Drawing in the School of Design, and enjoyed the
insight he offered into the development of sketchbooks. Prior to the experience, I will speak with him on his time studying
abroad, and how he utilized the experience to inspire his own work. Upon returning to the United States, I will present my
sketchbook to him. Upon his feedback, I will address how I succeeded and what I still have to learn.
Advisor Feedback
Must Include:
Required Revisions:
Effective:
5
List 3 learning outcomes from any thematic area(s). Provide specific activities you plan to engage in to help you make
progress towards the chosen learning outcomes. Describe how you expect each activity to help your progress. Include an
estimated time commitment for those activities.
Advisor Feedback
Must Include:
Required Revisions:
Effective:
Advisor Feedback
Must Include:
Required Revisions:
Effective:
6
1-2 academic resources connected to the
learning outcomes
Title and author of each resource
Description of how resources will help
make progress towards learning outcomes
and execution of experience
5. On-going Reflection
The on-going reflection should help you process the experience and progress toward your chosen learning outcomes.
Describe your method for reflecting throughout the experience. Indicate specific reflection questions/topics you plan to
use to guide your reflective process.
Note: A variety of methods can be used for on-going reflection. Some examples are videos, drawings, blogs, songs, and
journals. Reflection topics to consider include your ideas/insights about the experience, connection to other areas of
involvement, and your progress towards the learning outcomes.
In truth, the experience itself acts as reflection. While having a deeply cultural international experience, the
sketchbook, photographs, and videos I produce should accurately reflect my progress throughout the trip. I plan to reflect
in a variety of methods, including drawings, photographs, videos, and writing. Reflection allows for a deeper exploration
into the mediums. I will primarily pursue depictions of architecture, but Im also interested in common centers such as
markets and restaurants, locations that provide insight into local culture.
Advisor Feedback
Must Include:
Required Revisions:
Effective:
Advisor Feedback
Must Include:
Required Revisions:
Effective:
7
At least one method to actively share takeaways/learning from the experience
A specific audience and why the audience
was selected
Advisor Feedback
Notes:
Required Revisions:
Effective:
8
Detailed budget of expenditures with
sources to justify budget estimates
*Indicates the number of hours per week
and number of weeks of participation
9
THEMATIC AREA LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning Outcomes for the Community Engagement Thematic Area:
By engaging in this thematic area, you will make progress towards learning how to
Discover new techniques to gain knowledge, consider options, make new connections,
and ask questions.
Explore a new creative competency/medium or seek new ways to engage an existing
competency/medium.
Understand and optimize the use of people, technology, physical resources or community
in a creative process.
Articulate the broader significance of a creative project and the value of its contributions.
Develop practical travel skills that promote safe, stimulating, and productive travel
throughout your life.
Summarize the interconnectedness of geography, history, cultural traits and world issues.
Articulate the interdependence of professional fields to address current and impending
global issues such as technology, the environment, human rights, or politics.
Demonstrate an understanding of cultural diversity by acknowledging the impact of their
own identity and the experience of social norms, customs, or beliefs that are different
from their own.
Demonstrate a sense of empathy, respect, and appreciation for others to build meaningful
cross-cultural collaborations toward mutual growth and prosperity.
Formulate and manage a shared vision and develop goals towards its achievement.
Motivate and collaborate effectively with others towards completion of shared projects or
goals.
Develop strategies to identify and respond to challenges and obstacles.
Identify personal strengths and areas of growth and evaluate opportunities to maximize
skills and abilities.
Synthesize the current trends related to a specific issue or field and evaluate how
thought-leaders are currently addressing them.
10
By engaging in this thematic area, you will make progress towards learning how to
Demonstrate the ability to locate, interpret, and critically evaluate primary sources
appropriate to field.
Identify and apply appropriate methods to collect and organize data for analysis.
Analyze and interpret the meaning of results.
Produce dissemination appropriate to the field in order to share the results or impact
of the research.
Articulate the broader significance of the research project and its relationship to other
fields, research and ideas.