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MCC Daily Tribune

Celebration of Learning: Faculty Testimonial #3

Are you a faculty member or advisor of a student club that is interested in learning more about the 4th Annual Celebration of Learning? Maybe you aren’t sure what type of student work is highlighted. The short answer: Everything! This celebration invites all MCC students to share their learning journeys in a supportive, relaxed setting. 

Over the upcoming weeks, you can read these Tribune Announcements from faculty who supported students in last year’s Celebration of Learning. We will share how the Celebration of Learning was valuable to our students AND give you examples from our classrooms of the student learning that was highlighted.

In the spotlight today is Ben Schermerhorn (Hey, that’s me!) from Engineering Science and Physics.

Question: Why did you choose to support students from your classes in the Celebration of Learning?

I have projects built into most of my classes. The celebration of learning is low-stakes and a way for students to share their journey. It helps students build skills at communicating with people who are outside their discipline, and it builds connections for everyone involved.

While Scholar’s Day is a phenomenal opportunity for many of our students that go above and beyond the call of the classroom, the celebration of learning is a chance for any student at any level to be excited about what excites them, whether it is class projects or other ways they have connected their learning to the outside world. The celebration of learning shows how we value all learning at any stage. Learning is a process and engagement is key!

Question: What types of projects or learning did your students share at the Celebration of Learning?

One of the classes that I teach is a mixture of Excel, python, and robotics. In the second half of the semester, students are building, designing, and testing a robot they built from Legos. This last year the competition involved shooting wooden hockey pucks through a moving gate. Students had a chance to show off their launching mechanism and talk about the work they put into planning and design.

One group of students from my engineering statics course (including a student who wasn't taken the course yet!) shared their work on the final structure project. This team had constructed two model bridges and explored how minor differences in the shape of the bridge affected the way that forces were distributed to each of the beams. 

Event Details:

  • Date & Time: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
  • Location: LeRoy V. Good Library, Brighton Campus

The Celebration of Learning encourages students to present their work in whatever format feels right to them, be it a poster, PowerPoint, artwork, essay, or prototype. This isn’t about competition; it’s about building confidence, sharing knowledge, and recognizing each student’s unique voice. The atmosphere is welcoming and accessible, making it a perfect way for students to experience the satisfaction of sharing their hard work with our community.

Encourage your students to participate in this event or incorporate it into your class! Applications will be available this spring. This event is a wonderful opportunity for them to feel supported and celebrated in their academic journey.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Questions? Contact:

Benjamin Schermerhorn
Celebration of Learning
12/09/2024