January 3, 2025Why Is It So Different In College?: Individualized Education Plans vs. Accommodations by Kira Campagna and Caroline J. KetchamA common point of confusion in the world of special education, with a shoutout to transitioning from a K-12 system to higher education in the US, are the differences between an individualized education plan (IEP) (often discussed alongside 504 plans), and…
December 6, 2024What’s in an Undergraduate Research Space?by Sabrina L. Thurman, Kenan Carter, Anna Grace Gilbert, and Kyla ZeldinThis semester, we have found ourselves thinking about the importance of research spaces for undergraduate research mentoring and research productivity. Dr. Thurman recently returned from a post-promotion sabbatical and rebuilt the infrastructure for her lab. Her psychology research program centers…
December 3, 2024CEL Student Summer Experiences by Kira Campagna This was my first summer participating in the Center for Engaged Learning student scholar experience. In late spring, I applied to be part of the CEL Student Scholar program. For those who may not know, the program consists of a…
November 1, 2024Learning Disabilities, Meet Learned Helplessnessby Kira CampagnaI am currently undertaking the course Educational Psychology here at Elon. While I was reading a section of my course textbook, I came across a statement that has been stuck in my head all week: “Students with learning disabilities might…
October 22, 2024Reflecting on my Experience as a Neurodivergent Learner by Ben KrasnowI recently started my role as a CEL Student Scholar for the 2024–2026 Research Seminar on Affirming and Inclusive Engaged Learning for Neurodivergent Students. As a neurodivergent student myself, I was able to provide an important perspective for the participants,…
October 8, 2024Building Trust in Mentoring Relationshipsby Sabrina L. Thurman, Azul Bellot, and Tiffanie GrantMutual trust is widely recognized as a significant component of effective mentoring relationships because emotional and psychological safety allows both mentors and mentees to use their energy for learning and productivity rather than self-protection. Unfortunately, limited research exists on building…
June 12, 2024CELebrating Collaboration: Eyes of Innovation by Annelise Weaver, Azul Bellot, Tiffanie Grant, Kira Campagna, Ben Krasnow, and Kaz KellyAs undergraduate CEL Student Scholars working with the Center for Engaged Learning, we often are asked what our roles entail. Both in the context of the research itself, as well as in our partnerships, this collaborative leadership team was developed…
May 28, 2024Meaningful Undergraduate Experiences and How They Matter Nowby Jessie L. MooreThe Center for Engaged Learning periodically conducts surveys on students’ experiences in higher education and their application to students’ post-graduation lives. Our latest iteration surveyed 956 U.S. residents who were 18-34 years old and graduates of two- or four-year higher…
May 14, 2024Student-Reported Benefits and Tensions about Generative AI in Academics: Part 2by Aaron TrockiIn part one of this two-part blog post, I shared some findings from a focus group interview conducted at the end of last semester. In the first part of the focus group interview, students provided their reactions to the Artificial…
May 7, 2024Fluttering into Change: A Journey of Metamorphosis through Mentorshipby Azul BellotThe life cycle of a butterfly, spanning from 30 to 200 days, often passes unnoticed by many, who focus solely on the standout moments within that time frame. While three or four memories stand out, for butterflies, each day is…