HSE-7 Implementing Student-Led Group CESL Projects in a Pilot Digital Photography and Urban Sociology Cluster Course
Start Date
12-4-2024 9:30 AM
End Date
12-4-2024 11:30 AM
Location
University Readiness Center Greatroom
Document Type
Poster
Abstract
We know that community-engaged and/or service learning opportunities are high-impact practices leading to better outcomes for student learning. In a still-ongoing effort this spring semester, we three co-presenters developed and implemented student-led cross-course group projects as part of Professor Kirkland’s Digital Photography and Professor King’s Urban Sociology courses. We organized shared class meetings in which we delivered shared course content to students in both courses together. We facilitated experiential activities in and around the city of Spartanburg which students engaged with community organizations and local leaders throughout the city. Early in the semester we prompted students to form small groups around shared interests. In these groups, students were assigned to develop projects capturing aspects of urban social life in and around the city of Spartanburg using photography, sociological research, and other disciplinary and interdisciplinary methods. Professor’s Kirkland and King shared their disciplinary perspectives and expertise, and Instructor Kessler, a working artist and the Chapman Cultural Center and Hub City Writers Project 2023-24 Watson Brown Southern Studies Fellow in Arts and Letters, added their artistics insights and facilitated discussions supporting effective engagement in group work. Students have been working on these projects throughout the spring and will present the results of their work in a gallery show as part of Spartanburg’s Third Thursday Art Crawl on April 18, 2024. Through our poster, we will share preliminary outcomes from student work, share reflections about our process in developing these courses and course activities, and consider the efficacy of these activities, identifying what worked well and what we would adjust for future improvement.
Keywords
digital photography, urban sociology, service learning, community engagement, cluster course, group projects, teaching and learning
HSE-7 Implementing Student-Led Group CESL Projects in a Pilot Digital Photography and Urban Sociology Cluster Course
University Readiness Center Greatroom
We know that community-engaged and/or service learning opportunities are high-impact practices leading to better outcomes for student learning. In a still-ongoing effort this spring semester, we three co-presenters developed and implemented student-led cross-course group projects as part of Professor Kirkland’s Digital Photography and Professor King’s Urban Sociology courses. We organized shared class meetings in which we delivered shared course content to students in both courses together. We facilitated experiential activities in and around the city of Spartanburg which students engaged with community organizations and local leaders throughout the city. Early in the semester we prompted students to form small groups around shared interests. In these groups, students were assigned to develop projects capturing aspects of urban social life in and around the city of Spartanburg using photography, sociological research, and other disciplinary and interdisciplinary methods. Professor’s Kirkland and King shared their disciplinary perspectives and expertise, and Instructor Kessler, a working artist and the Chapman Cultural Center and Hub City Writers Project 2023-24 Watson Brown Southern Studies Fellow in Arts and Letters, added their artistics insights and facilitated discussions supporting effective engagement in group work. Students have been working on these projects throughout the spring and will present the results of their work in a gallery show as part of Spartanburg’s Third Thursday Art Crawl on April 18, 2024. Through our poster, we will share preliminary outcomes from student work, share reflections about our process in developing these courses and course activities, and consider the efficacy of these activities, identifying what worked well and what we would adjust for future improvement.