Collegial immersion

Superior High School juniors explored math principles with cake, discussed morality in the Harry Potter series and saw the film that sparked the rock and roll revolution during an immersion day event Thursday at the University of Wisconsin-Superior campus.

Students spent two hours attending courses that focused on everything from beginning acting and athletic training to sonnets and physical “hotness.”

“I actually like going to college classes,” said Kathryn Recznik. “Everyone can speak their mind. You don’t have to raise your hand. You can just talk.”

Derek Struss agreed.

“I like it this way,” he said. “It’s more hands-on, based on personal learning styles.”

Struss said he found out his learning style was a tie between logic, mathematics and hands-on activities during the first class of the day, “Learning Styles.” During the second, he helped divide up a cake during a course entitled “Using Math to Make Everyone Happy.” The key to math happiness, SHS students said after the class, was to divide things up proportionately in a way everyone feels is fair. Did that mean everyone got the same size piece of cake?

“Nope,” said Bill Collins as he watched Struss and Alex King munch on their marble cake.

“There are different views of proportions,” Struss said. “Everyone has a different view on what they think is the right size.”

A few classrooms down, Professor Joel Sipress gave students a peek at “Blackboard Jungle,” the 1955 movie that changed popular music forever. By pairing opening scenes of rebellious youth with the tune “Rock Around the Clock,” the movie connected teenage rebellion to rock and roll music. Teen sales drove the formerly-obscure song to the top of the chart and set the rock and roll movement in motion.

“They still try to appeal to that kind of rebellious streak as a teenager to convince you to buy their product,” Sipress said of today’s music producers. “You associate certain kinds of music with these feelings.”

The goal of his music course, said the history professor, is to get students to look deeper behind the surface to see why things are the way they are.

In a class led by Social Psychologist Shevaun Stocker, teens learned that while physical attractiveness can start a romantic relationship, other factors determine if it will last. Similarities, investment, relative values and even proximity are more important factors in the longevity of a relationship, Stocker said.

With a Harry Potter film clip, ice breakers and anecdotes, Monica Roth Day broke down Kohlberg’s stages of moral development for SHS juniors.

“My role is to give you a taste for what I do in classes and answer any questions you have,” said the associate professor in social work.

Social work combines many different disciplines to help the disadvantaged and underprivileged. They could be homeless youth, the elderly, minorities or low-income families, she said. A social worker’s goal, Roth Day said, is “to help them and also change the world, change the community so everyone has the same opportunity.”

In a way, that is what Thursday’s event was meant to do. One goal of the half-day on campus was to give the high school juniors an idea of what college classes are actually like and show them it’s possible to go to college, according to Tonya Roth, director of admissions.

“I think there are a lot of misperceptions of what college is,” said Roth Day. “This gives them an idea what it’s not.”

The second goal is to introduce them to the many education programs available on campus.

“It’s in their backyard, it’s always been there,” Roth said. “They probably don’t recognize the quality and maybe the diversity of the academic programs on campus.”

For some students, it was their first visit to campus.

“I didn’t know there were actually this many buildings,” said Courtney Reder. “I didn’t know it was this big.”

“I think it’s pretty nice,” said her classmate Kyler Moss. “I like the new buildings.”

In all, 82 SHS juniors spent the morning at UWS.

“We want to thank UWS for providing this opportunity,” said SHS counselor Kelly Bergum. The event fits with the school’s goal of offering career and educational exploration opportunities to students, she said. Roth said UWS may extend the immersion opportunity next year, offering a full day at UWS to seniors from all area high schools. It would include tours and a chance to sample the on-campus food.

In today’s society, Roth said, a high school diploma is not sufficient for many entry-level jobs. That’s why it’s important to encourage today’s juniors to think about beginning their college search.

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