When it comes to teaching Engineering and Technology, students who may not excel in other areas can find pride in the work they do in Ware’s classes, while also working with writing, math, or other subjects students tend to “hate,” as Ware mentioned being able to sneak these subjects into her coursework. Ware gives her students options to talk about themselves, and advocates for “active learning,” where students become part of their own learning process. Instead of grading based on standardized test results, Ware focuses on how students used their materials and time, or how they worked with their team, to see how they contributed toward their project and how they can use that information going forward. If students can see where they went wrong with a project, they are learning, and can begin to take pride in their work. Ware describes such creative work as a representation of students themselves, as well as something they can have control over. Students are often struggling with things outside of school, and taking part of their own education and having some control over their work can help to increase a student’s confidence and even improve grades. To close her keynote discussion, Ware tells a story of one student whose life she had affected, a student who had previously been struggling, but thanks to her influence, found a spark and was able to find the courage to push through and succeed. She says that the stories of these students who have found life again because of their teachers support her when she gets discouraged; doing things differently can pay off, and going outside of what is expected can be what helps a student become their best self.
Visiting Scholars Series
April 14, 2022
Keynote Address by Mrs. Sharita Ware Hosted by Purdue University Honors College
IDEAS MAGAZINE / VOL.4
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