This is an archived UW-P news item,
originally posted: 12/5/2007.
First Summer Institute lifts "Teaching Spirit"
UW-Parkside's First Summer Institute Rejuvenates "Teaching Spirit"
December 2007 marks the end of a seven-month experiment for 10 faculty and academic staff at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. They are participating in the university's first Summer Institute: Infusing Diversity in the General Education Curriculum, a program developed and facilitated by the Center for Ethnic Studies (CES), supported by the Office of Equity and Diversity, and funded by the Provost's Office to strengthen multiculturalism in the curriculum. The Summer Institute was designed to assist General Education teachers in adapting their curriculum and pedagogy to a diversity of students. One participant credits the Summer Institute for refreshing "the teaching spirit in me."Summer Institute participants include: Peggy James, Political Science and International Studies; Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz, Communication; Megan Mullen, Humanities; James Sodke, Music; Judy Springer, Health, Physical Education and Athletics; Christine Tutlewski, English; Skelly Warren, Theatre Arts; Annette Wiesner, Math; Tom Witt, Computer Science; and Dean Yohnk, Theatre Arts. Other participants included Lori Allen, Chemistry, and Helen Rosenberg, Sociology.
The Summer Institute consisted of an intense two-week session in June, followed by a full-day retreat in August, and monthly meetings throughout the fall semester. The Summer Institute opened with Prof. Gloria Ladson-Billings, an Education Specialist from UW-Madison, discussing epistemology (ways of knowing) and critical pedagogy. Other sessions addressed students' perspectives on teaching/learning, teaching as an "undivided self," race as a historical and social construct, and white privilege. Facilitating the Summer Institute sessions were UW-Parkside Communication Professor and CES Director Fay Akindes, Director of Community Dialogues Roseann Mason, and UW-Parkside Teaching and Learning Center Director James Robinson.
The Summer Institute resulted in curricular changes by all participants. Noteworthy changes were:
* James Sodke integrated the history of racism more intently into his Jazz Appreciation class. He engaged students in discussions of the Jenna Six, connecting it to Billie Holliday's classic song about lynching "The Strange Fruit." He also made connections between Hurricane Katrina and Congo Square in New Orleans, considered the birthplace of U.S. American jazz.
* Dean Yohnk taught a new course on multicultural theatre examining plays by African American, Asian American, and Latino playwrights, including the first major plays staged by each group. In the future, he will include plays by Native Americans.
* Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz examined African American Vernacular English and code switching in her Communication and the Human Condition course. She assigned students to digitally record, transcribe, and interpret conversations in everyday language.
* Annette Wiesner modified her math syllabus for the large number of first-generation "new millennial" students who carry a deep-rooted fear of math.
After completing the two-week Summer Institute, participants were asked to share their comments anonymously. Here are a few comments:
-- "Getting to know other faculty has given me a renewed sense of community. It has refreshed the 'teaching spirit' in me."
-- "In general, my courses will be improved with the concepts presented in the institute. However, I believe the changes will improve my classes for all my students?not just minority students."
-- "The interaction with the students related to the readings was a terrific eye-opener...I had an experience that I will remember and build on for the rest of my life."
The Summer Institute has not only resulted in colleagues' professional and curricular development but it has had an enormous affective component due to the shared explorations and experiences. Recently, a Summer Institute member underwent heart surgery. The group is now collecting funny videos to cheer him up. On the evening of the last Summer Institute meeting on Nov. 30), the group attended a performance of "The Laramie Project" that Summer Institute participant Dean Yohnk directed.
The Center for Ethnic Studies is currently developing a proposal for the Second Summer Institute in June 2008. Interim Provost Jerry Greenfield and the Plan 2008 Executive Committee have given their verbal support to continue funding the Summer Institute for a second year.
Caption: Summer Institute participants and contributors included, seated, from left, Megan Mullen, Skelly Warren, Peggy James, Dean Yohnk, and Christine Tutlewski. Standing, from left, are Annette Wiesner, Fay Akindes, Judy Springer, Helen Rosenberg, Roseann Mason, Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz, and James Sodke. Not pictured are Tom Witt and Lori Allen.
