Reflective Practice Project 
Cross-Disciplinary Teaching Circle Reports
Fall 2001-Spring 2002

IUP--Punxsutawney Campus
Interdisciplinary Teaching Circle on Retention
Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 1

Fall Semester, 2001

To save time and energy, this Newsletter will now be composed in an electronic format, which will allow easier and less wasteful deletion. Please ask to be removed from the distribution list if you do not want to receive it. Please delete this newsletter now, in fact, if you do not want to read it.

Welcome to Punxsy Branch Campus, Jim Gibson, Peter Narusewicz, & Jeff Staiger:
We know that, in these historic circumstances, you will never forget your first semester at Punxsy. If you need any help figuring out things here, please email one of the other faculty members listed in the "To" box above. Any one of us will be glad to help--or at least ponder things with you and attempt to help.

To Bring Everyone Up To Date on the TC Activities:
The Teaching Circle met twice in a formal way over the summer--once right after finals and once in July--to develop aspects of The First Year Experience Program here at Punxsy, a grant-funded curricular reform intended to more rigorously support our students during what research tells us is a critical time for them at the university. Specifically, Becky, Theresa, Rosalee, and Karen designed interdisciplinary links between Liberal Studies and developmental courses which shared the common theme of "Media Literacy."

This semester, the two Jims and the two Peters have enriched and energized our Teaching Circle by contributing their disciplinary perspectives (Philosophy, Sociology, English, Biology) to our conversations over lunch. It's amazing, really, that we enjoy such a diversity of input, and that's something you can't always find when you only interact with your own department.

Update On The Tuesday/Thursday Isolation Remedies:
As we all know, it's a bummer to feel isolated: it leads to low faculty morale and lack of unity, for two things. As we know, the T/Th teaching slot seems especially isolating (at least, this was my perception last year). Becky has generously offered to come to campus so we could hold TC meetings on one of these days for those people who teach then, which will go a long way to solve this problem. As cruel Fate would have it, though, our first Tuesday meeting was scheduled this past week--and we know what happened then. Four of us did get together for lunch, though what we talked about seems hard to recall, given the events of the day. We departed without setting a date for a future meeting.

So that's where we stand now as far as meetings.

MIRC: A Possibility for Enhanced, Easier, and Cheaper Communication with Students and Each Other

Jim Gibson came to campus this past Wednesday (going way above and beyond the call of duty, I'd say) to help acquaint us with a new computer program called "MIRC." (Hope I have that name right, Jim.) He had "John the Finn" (a computer wizard-student) instruct us on how MIRC can facilitate our efforts at communication. It was pretty easy, and I'm going to pursue it, because I believe I can write with my students individually and as a group in a more efficient way.

MIRC could help this Teaching Circle meet more easily, though many of you might not agree. How can I say that, when there is so much complaining about electronic messaging these days? Because, using it as a forum of communication, I can control when I want add to a discussion list's conversation (e.g., 5:00 AM is a good time for me to "meet" this way, but it may not be for you). As well, I don't have to physically attend a meeting, or go through all the hard work it takes to organize a meeting. I control when, how, and if I can contribute to such a meeting, which means more time for the 1000s of other things I have to do. The telephone is, in my opinion, an extremely intrusive and expensive way to communicate in these days of Yahoo Messenger Service.

Please Contribute To The Next Newsletter or Respond To This One
This is the third year I have initiated the Teaching Circle newsletter. Though I have always asked for contributions, dialogue, complaints, soap-box speeches, anything, no other faculty member has responded or participated. If any of you disagree with any comments or characterizations, or have anything on your mind that you would like to share with the rest of us, please, please feel free to post a response to this newsletter. I'd love to hear/see someone else's thoughts about anything, and I'm sure many of you are tired of hearing from just me. I plan to continue this newsletter for the rest of this academic year, so please feel free to contribute something that will add more dimension to this effort at communication. Toward that end, I've created a new column for the newsletter, which I hope offers a way to share eclectic thoughts we may all have:

Soapbox Soliloquy

I'm appalled at the way the nation (and the university and this branch campus) has suddenly become a nation of flag-waving Christians. Don't get me wrong: It's understandable, in light of the circumstances. And I, too, feel the need to turn to a higher power at this time, and I feel patriotic, too. (I have two paper flags from The Spirit taped up in my windows at home, for instance.)

I do think, however, that this hymn-singing and flag-waving could be counter-productive or even dangerous. It quiets those of our students are who are agnostics, atheists, or Moslems, for instance. As well, this return to God is instantly recognized as hypocritical by those students who recognize such things. Since we clearly have Attention Deficit Disorder as a nation, and I wonder what cynicism these students will develop when, in two weeks, we tire of the TV coverage. After all, we've got soap operas and football games that must go on. How soon will it be until we hear that annoying platitude, "It's time to move on" being mouthed in the media? My students are betting two weeks. And how long will the MegaCorporations have patience with this interruption in the flow of their revenue? (Ever see Wag The Dog?)

I usually feel compelled to defend the rights of sincere Christian students in the university, because I know that their belief system is constantly challenged in many classes. I believe, as a matter of fact, that they are the most marginalized minority in our community. As I said above, it is now being assumed that we will "come together as one" for "prayer vigils," "candlelight services," and to perform quasi-religious acts. Will we seen as troublemakers if we don't join the group-think and cooperate?

Paradoxically, I would usually be glad to do all these things in a more "normal" time. Counterparadoxically, though, I'd be probably be regarded as a troublemaker for suggesting we do so.

Rosalee Stilwell

The Punxsutawney Interdisciplinary Teaching Circle Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 3
January 7, 2002

Dear Faculty:
We must have been having a good time, right? It can't possibly be THAT time again....
...........*sigh* but it is.

Welcome to the First Year Experience Program at Punxsutawney Campus for Spring Semester, 2002. I wanted to send you some dates you might want to note:

Teaching Circle Meeting: Getting Back Together
A Brown Bag Lunch in Room 21 from 11:45 to 12:45 on Friday, Jan. 18
We thought we'd get the semester started off quickly for our group this time and bring you up-to-date on all our activities, plans, and progress with the First Year Experience Program.

Teaching Circle Meeting: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Brookville
A Brown Bag Lunch in Room 21 from 11:45 to 12:45 on Friday, Feb. 1
Theresa Ruffner has made a wonderful connection with this group. If all works out, we'll have lunch with the BB/BS and discuss volunteer opportunities for our students with their organization. This will not only be chance for students to provide service to the local community, but for faculty to expand their service to the university.

II. Interdisciplinary Events (Everyone Welcome)

A. "Life As A POW In The Philippines" by Dr. Gwen Mugliston. (Co-hosted by the American Association of University Women and The Teaching Circle) Feb. 7, 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, The Student Union Building Refreshments Will Be Served Courtesy of Dr. Mancuso
Gwen will relate her experiences as a child in the Philippines when she and her family were prisoners of the Japanese. Gwen is an extraordinarily charismatic scientist of great character whose background and life-accomplishments are inspirational. Please invite your students to come and hear her, and come along yourself, if you so desire. This event is part of my own focus with my classes on the notion of the Heroic Ideal in our contemporary media--which may be (in my humble opinion) one doorway to hope through which we might to go with our students. If you are interested in developing an interdisciplinary project on this (or any other) topic with me, just drop me a line. I'd love to create something with you!

B. March Interim
At Punxsy Campus, faculty try to have a week in which we "touch base" with our advisees about how they are doing BEFORE it is too late to withdraw from a class or to help themselves. Since most of us are assigned a substantial advisee workload because we teach classes at this campus, advising can represent a sizeable chunk o'work on top of everything else. March Interim is that "season of advice" (and it puts some boundaries on when students should be looking us up). The Teaching Circle is a great place to get help and information about how to do student advising without getting overwhelmed. More information will be forthcoming soon. Feel free to ask any one of us questions about the Interim period or advising.

C. "Women's Health Issues Today" Facilitated by Dr. Beth Kincade (Co-hosted by American Association of University Women and The Teaching Circle) Everyone Welcome
Thursday, March 14, 2002, 7:30 to 9:00 in The Student Union Building
Refreshments Will Be Served Courtesy of Dr. Mancuso
Beth is our Campus Counselor--a wonderful resource at this campus. We always learn something new and valuable when we talk to her about anything, so please invite your students to share in an interactive discussion with her. Both genders are welcome, of course. As of yet, we have no Men's Health Issues program to offer. Anyone want to volunteer to host such a thing? Our male students DO have health issues, don't they? Statistics show that rural (which usually means "white") and African American men are the most likely of all demographic groups to drop or fail out of college during their freshman year. What mental or physical reasons contribute to this situation? Can talking about it help? If you have an idea about ways to discuss any related issue with our male students, you can count on my participation.

Please feel free to say hello, voice an opinion, and/or alert all of us to any event you are planning or know about for this coming semester by tapping the Reply All button and telling us.

Thanks for reading!

~Rosalee

Teaching Circle on Publishing
Fall 2001-Spring 2002

Members:
Dr. Carolyn T. Camp*  (English)
Dr. Margaret A. Farrah (Professional Studies)
Dr. Lydia H. Rodriguez (Spanish & Classical Languages)
Dr. Caroll M. Young (Spanish & Classical Languages)

Our small reflective practice circle focused on the topic of Publishing. We met regularly in the first semester and irregularly (or as smaller groups/pairs if we could fit those in) during the second semester. We found our support of each other extending beyond publishing encouragement -- we talked about various professional issues and enjoyed the interaction. We each had "publishing" success and may continue the group next term. I am simply forwarding the individual descriptive emails to you so you can take what you need from them. There are four members: Caroll Young, Lydia Rodriguez, and Peggy Farrah, and myself. 

Carolyn Camp

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Carolyn T. Camp: 
2 conferences 
Oct. 2001 Central New York Conference on Language and Literature, held in Cortland, New York "Poetic Food: An Exploration of Gender and Food Imagery"

Mar. 2002 PCEA, held in St. Davids, Pennsylvania "Bladerunner: The Disney-fication of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

I hope this meets your requirements for our Reflective Group.
Carolyn

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I have had accepted for publication "Representing the Other: Alberto Britos and the Afro Uruguayan Intelligentsia" where I discuss his contributions to Afro Uruguayan discourse and his aid in the development of an Afro Uruguayan literary tradition. Britos died in 1999 and the article pays tribute to his work as a writer and literary icon in Uruguay. Most important, the article highlights his support of black writers and their work in Uruguay. The article will be published in the 20th anniversary issue of the Afro Hispanic Review.

Caroll Young

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Hello Carolyn,
I have completed the paper entitled "La proximidad y la lejanía del Realismo Mágico y la ciencia-ficción" (The nearness and the remoteness of Magical Realism and Science Fiction). It has been accepted for conference presentation at the Cincinnati conference on Romance Languages and literatures in Cincinnati, OH. I am presently trying to get it prepared for publication as well, yet I have not been able to do much on that part, because I have been finishing-up another article for publication entitled "El salto cuántico de Esquivel: La ley del amor" (The Quantum Leap of Esquivel: The law of love"). The editor has been very insistent that I get my changes completed quickly for the publication of it. This same paper, I presented at the Southwest Conference of Latin American Studies in Mexico (March 2002). So that is were I am right now in terms of scholarship. I have a third project going, but I prefer to reserve it to myself since, it's in its diaper stages. 
Take care,
Lydia Rodríguez

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My publication info is as follows: 

Article Title: Technology Meets Mark Twain: A Web-based Interdisciplinary Unit Published in PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, Vol. 21, #1, Fall 2001

I hope I can discipline myself to write this summer--even though I am "not working" in the summer, my calendar is already filling up with meetings because I am on the Search Committee and because of a collaborative initiative with the Derry Area School District. What I have come to realize is "not working" in the summer is a joke--it is just that I won't be teaching! Somewhere in all of this, I have got to devote some time to churning out a few articles! Take care--hope our paths cross at some point!

Peggy Farrah