Hello everyone! My name is Tyler Viljaste, and I am a Junior pursuing a dual degree and Bachelor of Philosophy in Politics&Philosophy and Finance. This semester, I am working with my fellowship mentor Bernard Hibbitts on a special teaching project through the Chancellors Undergraduate Teaching Fellowship for his honors law class entitled “How Law Began”….
Ancient Disciplines
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Dr. Horton’s Critical Making course fundamentally shaped my approach to college. When I first arrived, I tried to anticipate everything and plan my four years out by day two. However, I quickly learned that doors open and close in exciting ways, so I should keep an open mind….
Distant and Critical
“Critical making refers to the hands-on productive activities that link digital technologies to society. It was invented to bridge the gap between creative physical and conceptual exploration.” -Wikepedia. Tucked away on the 4th floor of the Cathedral of Learning lies Virtual Media Lab where Dr. Zach Horton hosts his Critical Making course in the fall….
From High School Science Nerd to Researcher: My Journey Through the World of Science
Over the past year, my work in the lab of Dr. Steven Little has been the most rewarding and intellectually challenging research experience I have had. It is my cumulative research experience throughout my years of undergrad that have led me to be doing the project I am today for the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship….
Prosecutors and Police Chiefs and Corrections Officers, Oh My!
During my first semester of college, I was fortunate enough to take American Politics with Professor Chris Bonneau. Throughout this course, I was very engaged in the material and often attended office hours or scheduled times to meet with him to discuss parts of the content which I did not understand. The following semester, I…
The Joys of Learning, Teaching, and Everything in Between
Ever since completing General Chemistry 1 with Dr. Ewing, I knew I wanted to collaborate with him again during my undergraduate career. I became a UTA for the course the following year but could not work with Dr. Ewing as he was on a sabbatical. During my second year, I learned about the great variety…
Mischief Management: Reflections and Advice on Learning to Teach
Developing close working relationships with your professors is by far the best way to get involved with research and other fellowships here at Pitt. My faculty mentor, Dr. Lori Campbell, has actually been a part of my journey at Pitt since before I even officially started here. In the spring of 2019, just a few…
Some Reflections on Teaching and (Un)Learning
I began working with my mentor, Gretchen Bender, this past spring as a research assistant in the development of the class for which I am now a teaching assistant, HAA 1025: Museums: Society and Inclusion?. As we worked to refine the course, we had no idea that it would be taught remotely in a…
Learning Through Teaching in a Virtual Environment
Working with Professor Gretchen Bender this semester as a teaching assistant for Museums: Society and Inclusion? has been an enriching experience. I was also fortunate enough to work with her this past spring as a research assistant alongside several other undergraduate students from the History of Art and Architecture department. We helped Professor Bender develop…
The Research Process: How To Polish A Diamond In The Rough
The research process can be tough, and at times, grueling. There are a lot of hiccups—the struggle to find the best sources, not having “good data”, trouble with equipment, endlessly reading dense materials, having insufficient technical understanding of the content, the stress of having limited funds, and among all, the burnout and lack of motivation…
