Name: Stephanie Peterson

Year: Junior (4th Year)

Major(s): Biomedical Sciences, German

Second Language: German

Learning Plan for 2016-17:

Leadership

1. I plan to develop my personal leadership skills through my study abroad experience in

Germany as I will have to work with people from all over the world in my classes. This is
especially true for group projects where the blending of leadership styles will be key to
maintaining a cohesive group.
Demonstration: I will write a reflection in my portfolio on the experience of
working together in a multi-cultural group.
2. I will also develop my leadership skills through travel. This will take place through the
planning of trips with groups of people and working together to make decisions about the
places to go and what to do while there, at the same time making sure that all voices are
heard and everyone is satisfied with the decisions made.
Demonstration: I will again write a reflection in my portfolio on the challenges of,
and lessons learned from, working with a group of people outside of a classroom
experience.

Research

1. I will talk with Honors Staff regarding the option of conducting a research project,
perhaps regarding cultural norms in the United States versus Germany, as part of a
HONR 499: Independent Study course.
Demonstration: I will, if approved to contract HONR 499 credits, create a
research project and add an artifact (perhaps a paper or otherwise) to my portfolio
along with a reflection on the research process.
2. I plan to search for a research lab assistant position in the Biological Sciences department
of Friedrich Alexander Universitt (FAU) in order to honing my skills in the laboratory
while I am not at Minnesota State University.
Demonstration: I will write a reflection in my portfolio discussing the experience
of working in a laboratory outside of the United States and the kinds of
challenges/new learning opportunities that may bring.
Global Citizenship

1. I will be spending one academic year, based on the German academic calendar, studying
at Friedrich Alexander Universitt in Erlangen, Germany. This will allow me to observe
and experience a new culture to that found in Minnesota.
a. Demonstration: I will keep a journal documenting my experiences, then at the end
will write a reflection in my portfolio about those experiences and what I learned
about both the culture of Germany as well as the culture of the United States.
2. I will be taking some courses with other international students at FAU, which will allow
me to interact with people from many diverse backgrounds. This will hopefully help me
to expand my worldview and better understand other perspectives on many topics.
a. Demonstration: Again, I will be keeping a journal to document my experiences
and I will use that to help write a full reflection in my portfolio on what I have
learned by interacting with multicultural groups.