October 17, 2005 Source: University of Waterloo:
http://newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca/news.php?id=4612 High school students set their sights on 'vision' WATERLOO, Ont. -- Top local area Grade 10 students are setting their sights on "vision" this week in a Waterloo Unlimited program exploring that theme in a series of on-campus workshops at the University of Waterloo. Nominated by "teacher champions" in Waterloo Region, the 35 students are taking part in the second season of the UW program billed as "trans-disciplinary, residential enrichment for high school students of exceptional potential." Running from Oct. 16 to 21, the program features a public talk by fine arts Prof. Art Green, a workshop on critical thinking with philosophy Prof. Chris Eliasmith and an organic chemistry lab synthesizing dyes with chemistry Lecturer Steve Forsey. Optometry Prof. Sue Leat will offer a more literal take on the theme, with a session on the anatomy of the eye, the visual systems of the brain, things that go wrong with vision, "and some cool stuff about how babies see." Since the program was launched last year with a week-long event for local Grade 10 students, most participants have hailed from Waterloo Region. Now, Waterloo Unlimited is going national, says Linda Carson, spokesperson for the program. A session exploring the many facets of design -- "from research design in the sciences to spatial design in architecture" -- will welcome Grade 11 students from across the country to the UW campus from Nov. 13 to 18. "Teachers at selected high schools across the country are sending us nominees," Carson said. "We're choosing the rest of the participants from students who've 'nominated' themselves by submitting a written application," using the form available on the Waterloo Unlimited website. For details, visit www.unlimited.uwaterloo.ca. Developing programs around a theme, rather than a single subject, is a hallmark of Waterloo Unlimited. "Innovative solutions and groundbreaking research happen where disciplines -- and researchers -- cross boundaries," Carson said. "Themed teaching promotes an open-ended learning experience that touches -- and triggers -- leading-edge research and discourse. It develops students' higher-order academic skills, skills that generalize across all disciplines, such as analysis, synthesis, communication and collaboration." And it's fun, she added In the Waterloo Unlimited pilot program last November, students attended "skills sessions" in creativity, research, learning by heart and critical thinking. The goal: to enable the students to become "self-enriching." In May of this year, Waterloo Unlimited gave Aboriginal high school students from southwestern Ontario an opportunity to explore such topics as "the relationship between Indigenous knowledge and new scientific discoveries." Administered by UW's Office of the Vice-President Academic & Provost, Waterloo Unlimited aims to instill in young people a love of learning. "It's about challenging the borders of scholarship and developing higher-order skills: communication, analysis, synthesis, initiative, curiosity, responsibility, leadership, teamwork and creativity," said Carson. "It's about open-ended learning rather than memorizing an inventory of 'right answers.' It's about going home with the skills you need to become self-enriching -- and maybe even sharing those skills with siblings, peers and teachers." (Written by Barbara Elve, UW Communications & Public Affairs) Contact:
Linda Carson, Waterloo Unlimited, (519) 888.4567, ext. 5106;
linda@unlimited.uwa
John Morris, UW Media Relations, (519) 888-4435; jmorris@uwaterloo.ca
Release no. 229 -- October 17, 2005 2005-10-17 15:40:03
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