Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Final presentations this afternoon
The final presentations this afternoon were impressive--how many ways can one say: "Mimi Silbert and Delancey Street Foundation"? Well, certainly, seven times, plus one is plenty. Yet, each student from Chesi to Jonathan, Johnae and Haile, Mike and Sophia, presented another angle on what one student said is the most successful rehabilitation program in the country. Okay, so everyone except Frank and Dorothy, Dylan and I leave at 2 p.m., when Raymond walks in, another "Silbert" protegee and well, if one could imagine--Raymond's presentation was just as refreshing--no notes, passionate and inspiring. It was great!
Dylan's presentation on Al Gore was fun, especially after I snatched his essay which he was reading. We then had a conversation about Global Warming and why we should care. It was great!
Matthew's talk about Wendy Kopp and Teach for America was impressive. He passed out an abstract, a bio on Kopp and then proceeded to talk about this marvelous program that gets graduates from Ivy League colleges and universities into low-income classrooms to help teach. Matthew is going to open a school where the curriculum is relevant and applicable to the lives of the children, similar to what Tupac talked about when addressing the inequities of the public education system, which doesn't, he said, prepare children for life.
I asked students to evaluate the course and the instruction anonymously. The feedback was generally favorable. I got the usual --if you were a bit more organized.... I told you at the start of the course that my methodology is fluid...like a river; the writing process for me is one that is connected to a larger universe one cannot always control. I literally go with the flow.
I guess people thought I was kidding. If you don't like my open-ended teaching style, where the learning process is cumulative--the end is just as important as the middle and certainly the beginning--I suggest you take this course with another teacher...you don't want to feel frustrated. You are in an academic shopping mall where there are many chefs and fine dining establishments, not all suitable to your tastes. They are all 5-star or so we hope. Try the menu which suits your digestive system to avoid gastric problems. College is supposed to be fun!
Next semester, for those who are continuing with me, I plan to get papers back to you a lot more timely. I have an assistant to help me now. I forgot to return papers today, so if you can't find a few things Jessica and Jonathan and Chesi and Sophia, I have it and will put the grade on your check-list for Too $hort and the Jay-Z summary, the library assignment, the evaluating a website assignments and some early group essays.
Back to the presentations
Dorothy's presentation on the founder of The Women of Color Resource Center was informative. What was most interesting was her analysis of the research process, how she found the information --it sounded like a treasure hunt. It was also great the way Dorothy saw areas where the goals and objectives of WORC matched her own career goals. She also spoke about shared values and mentioned another organization, the Women's Economic Agenda Project or WEAP, which also had as its mission women's economic and political empowerment. Dorothy is a former WEAP employee.
Other outstanding presenters include: Sophia who involved the class by having a volunteer read the abstract. Her presentation was animated and smooth. She maintained eye contact and knew her material well.
Haile was the last presenter in the Mimi Suite, so he talked about himself and how the research process helped him become a better writer. He also let students know he was available to help with math classes--he is a tutor here at the COA, Chesi's in fact. Chesi, first to present, was so well-organized that she set the tone for the Mimi Silbert Hour :-)
Debbie and Jessica both chose Reggie James as their social entrepreneur, which was great since Reggie is a person who graduated from COA and is now a student trustee for the Peralta College District. Their presentations included photos of Reggie and copies of the Laney College Tower where he is editor.
Sheila's presentation on her pastor was heartwarming. Her passion and love for her minister and the role he has played in her life and her child's life was wonderful to hear.
Mike had great quotes to share on Mimi Silbert, as did quite a few other presenters. Considering the fact that none of you has taken a speech class--a graduation requirement, everyone is to be applauded who was brave enough to get in front of the class and defend your paper. I hope the student feedback was helpful.
For those who were not able to present because we ran out of time, please feel free to come by Friday morning, Dec. 21, L-235 and join my early morning class at 8 a.m. Final call for portfolios is Friday, Dec. 21, by 10 a.m.
Super Natural in San Francisco
Thursday, Dec. 20, MC Super Natural will be at Slim's in San Francisco. Remember the field trip I had to cancel two months ago, well Ankh Productions is trying it again. I'm thinking about going, after I call first to make certain it's actually happening. Tickets are $20. All ages are welcome and the doors open at 8 p.m. There will be Def Jam poets warming the house up before the headliner comes on.
Dylan's presentation on Al Gore was fun, especially after I snatched his essay which he was reading. We then had a conversation about Global Warming and why we should care. It was great!
Matthew's talk about Wendy Kopp and Teach for America was impressive. He passed out an abstract, a bio on Kopp and then proceeded to talk about this marvelous program that gets graduates from Ivy League colleges and universities into low-income classrooms to help teach. Matthew is going to open a school where the curriculum is relevant and applicable to the lives of the children, similar to what Tupac talked about when addressing the inequities of the public education system, which doesn't, he said, prepare children for life.
I asked students to evaluate the course and the instruction anonymously. The feedback was generally favorable. I got the usual --if you were a bit more organized.... I told you at the start of the course that my methodology is fluid...like a river; the writing process for me is one that is connected to a larger universe one cannot always control. I literally go with the flow.
I guess people thought I was kidding. If you don't like my open-ended teaching style, where the learning process is cumulative--the end is just as important as the middle and certainly the beginning--I suggest you take this course with another teacher...you don't want to feel frustrated. You are in an academic shopping mall where there are many chefs and fine dining establishments, not all suitable to your tastes. They are all 5-star or so we hope. Try the menu which suits your digestive system to avoid gastric problems. College is supposed to be fun!
Next semester, for those who are continuing with me, I plan to get papers back to you a lot more timely. I have an assistant to help me now. I forgot to return papers today, so if you can't find a few things Jessica and Jonathan and Chesi and Sophia, I have it and will put the grade on your check-list for Too $hort and the Jay-Z summary, the library assignment, the evaluating a website assignments and some early group essays.
Back to the presentations
Dorothy's presentation on the founder of The Women of Color Resource Center was informative. What was most interesting was her analysis of the research process, how she found the information --it sounded like a treasure hunt. It was also great the way Dorothy saw areas where the goals and objectives of WORC matched her own career goals. She also spoke about shared values and mentioned another organization, the Women's Economic Agenda Project or WEAP, which also had as its mission women's economic and political empowerment. Dorothy is a former WEAP employee.
Other outstanding presenters include: Sophia who involved the class by having a volunteer read the abstract. Her presentation was animated and smooth. She maintained eye contact and knew her material well.
Haile was the last presenter in the Mimi Suite, so he talked about himself and how the research process helped him become a better writer. He also let students know he was available to help with math classes--he is a tutor here at the COA, Chesi's in fact. Chesi, first to present, was so well-organized that she set the tone for the Mimi Silbert Hour :-)
Debbie and Jessica both chose Reggie James as their social entrepreneur, which was great since Reggie is a person who graduated from COA and is now a student trustee for the Peralta College District. Their presentations included photos of Reggie and copies of the Laney College Tower where he is editor.
Sheila's presentation on her pastor was heartwarming. Her passion and love for her minister and the role he has played in her life and her child's life was wonderful to hear.
Mike had great quotes to share on Mimi Silbert, as did quite a few other presenters. Considering the fact that none of you has taken a speech class--a graduation requirement, everyone is to be applauded who was brave enough to get in front of the class and defend your paper. I hope the student feedback was helpful.
For those who were not able to present because we ran out of time, please feel free to come by Friday morning, Dec. 21, L-235 and join my early morning class at 8 a.m. Final call for portfolios is Friday, Dec. 21, by 10 a.m.
Super Natural in San Francisco
Thursday, Dec. 20, MC Super Natural will be at Slim's in San Francisco. Remember the field trip I had to cancel two months ago, well Ankh Productions is trying it again. I'm thinking about going, after I call first to make certain it's actually happening. Tickets are $20. All ages are welcome and the doors open at 8 p.m. There will be Def Jam poets warming the house up before the headliner comes on.
