Community college freshmen participating in Honors are required to write a research proposal on a topic of their choosing in their 1st year experience course. Professors guide students through this experiential learning process that culminates in an informal poster session. Instruction includes constructivist principles supported by multi-disciplinary co-teaching.

1. Share an innovative 1st year experience project 2. Describe an engaging approach to undergraduate research with community college freshmen 3. Pilot our initial findings on our journey to publication

Community College freshmen participating in the Tyler Junior College Honors program are required to write a research proposal as 50% of their grade in Learning Framework (Honors EDUC 1300). This engaging assignment utilizes experiential learning to explore the process of academic research. Students write a draft of Chapter 1 of a thesis on any academic topic of their choosing. Professors guide the students through each step in the writing process, often co-teaching or guest lecturing in each other’s courses based on their areas of expertise. Students are encouraged to seek feedback from multiple professors across campus as they develop their topic. The research proposal is a cohesive part of the Honors curriculum as it spans 3 courses: Learning Framework, Introduction to Sociology, and Capstone. The project culminates in an informal poster session where students receive both peer reviews and feedback from invited outside professors, administrators, and staff.