Liberal studies 200 has given me many tools to help in my studies at Capilano University. Research using primary sources was something I didn’t have a lot of previous practise doing, liberal studies gave me strong insight on how to examine a primary source and the best questions to ask when examining a primary source. We were shown where the North Vancouver archive is and how it can be used in our personal or scholastic studies. This field trip made it quite clear to me how important the North Vancouver archive is for North Vancouver as a community. Throughout liberal studies I was given the skills to demonstrate how to access primary sources and how to incorporate them into various forms of literatures. This knowledge actually helped me a great deal in other courses this semester. In my history course I was assigned to write a history essay using primary as well as secondary sources. With the help of my knowledge from liberal studies 200 I was able to find and access primary sources and then incorporate them into my research paper.
Interviewing was another skill that I acquired during liberal studies 200; again I had no previous experience or knowledge in interviewing so this module was practical and functional for me. By the end of this module I was able to decide which questions were most important to ask during an interview, and how to ask these questions in a non-bias way to the interviewee. Interviews can be useful in many aspects of life and academic studies. Knowing the process of an interview behind the scenes can also be helpful in careers and jobs, being the interviewer or interviewee. I learned that an interview should not be as cut and dry as question and answer, and it is important to build a relationship and a trust with the interviewee. There should be always be a connection being built and a conversation being had, rather than just questions being asked.
I think liberal studies 200 gave me tools and skills that I will be able to use in my life and upcoming educational studies.