Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
Honor students from Florida State College at Jacksonville Nassau Center teamed up with the Nassau County Public Library Feb. 26 to host a fun-filled mini-carnival for toddlers, blending education with entertainment in a unique way.
This event was part of an innovative learning project for FSCJ’s newly established honors cohort at the Nassau Center. FSCJ reinstated its honors program in 2017, primarily based at the South Campus. However, due to growing demand, the Nassau Center admitted its first honors cohort in the fall. As part of their rigorous coursework, these students were allowed to enroll in an honors-level statistics course this spring, designed to provide an enriched and interactive learning experience.
“I really like the aspect of project-based learning,” said FSCJ honor student Leilani Walker, a Nassau County resident.
In line with the program’s commitment to hands-on learning, students in the statistics course recently explored the concept of probability. They studied games of chance, learning how to analyze fairness in such games by utilizing probability calculations. As an extension of their studies, students took their knowledge beyond the classroom by designing and creating carnival games, complete with calculated probabilities and ticketing systems to determine fairness.
To put their games to the test, the students collaborated with the Nassau County Public Library’s Yulee Branch to organize a mini-carnival tailored for toddlers. The event not only allowed students to assess the functionality and fairness of their games in a real-world setting, but also provided a delightful and engaging experience for young children in the community.
Through this initiative, the FSCJ Nassau Center honors students who successfully combine academic learning with community engagement, demonstrating the value of experiential education while bringing joy to local families. Their creative approach to probability turned a mathematical concept into an interactive and meaningful event, showcasing the dynamic learning opportunities that the FSCJ Honors Program fosters.
“We can be very interpersonal with the other students and the teachers,” said FSCJ honor student D’Jade Jacobs. “We also get to do a lot of projects, which is really fun. It’s a better way to learn, in my opinion.”