By: Elisabeth Goodin
Struggling to get through your everyday biology classes? Tired of basic mitosis and photosynthesis content? So is Greg Smith. Greg teaches the biological and environmental issues focus area at Bellarmine Governor’s Scholars Program. He has been teaching with the GSP program for 33 years, using a “free will style” of teaching for the past three of those years.
I observed the class on Monday, July 8th. They started off by finishing projects done by various groups in the class. The research projects were made to inform the class about a current issue and learn from each other. The projects had a range of topics from the effect of food on health and diseases, mental health, GMOs, and plastics in the environment. Once each project had been presented, Greg opened up the conversation for ways to teach the entire campus about the topics covered.
After presentations, Greg lined up each scholar to put them into groups. Instead of last names or birthdays, Greg lined students up in alphabetical order of their moms first name. Once in groups of two, the class went outside to practice using a dichotomous key and compass to identify various trees around campus. While walking around the campus, I was able to talk to scholars and Greg to get a wider view of the class and learn about the main goal.
“Diversity is very important, and it is my favorite part of GSP…. I want to provide content and an experience you would not get in a normal class.”
Greg does this by using his class to teach survival skills. The scholars are learning to cook, start and maintain a fire, identify plants for food, set traps, and sleep in the great outdoors. On Tuesday, the scholas went to a remote farm in LaGrange, Kentucky to use these skills and spend the night outside.
Prior to the camping trip, the class read the book, “Survival Skills” to further prepare and educate themselves. They also performed multiple experiments setting fires, and at one point within the first two weeks, they learned gun safety and shot caps outside. The goal to teach something new has clearly been accomplished. “I have definitely been pushed out of my comfort zone, and I think these survival skills are something that everyone should know,” a scholar of Greg’s said.
As a huge biology and science lover, it was a great opportunity to sit in and learn more about this class. Greg has a unique and interesting approach that provides a great learning experience for everyone. He always has the scholars interested and has given them lasting memories for this summer.
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