2008 Woodie Awards
Students connect classroom, service
Lauren Sutton, Copy Editor
Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Among the books, computers and family photographs
characteristic of any college professor's office, a stack of student journals sit on Carley Dodd's desk. Ranging in color and style, the journals are filled with personal experiences of the 19 students who traveled to Honduras in July for a 10-day intercultural experience.
Led by Dr. Joe Cardot, professor of communication and chair of the department, and Dr. Carley Dodd, professor of communication, a group of students participated in a co-curricular excursion to Travesia, Honduras where they integrated traditional classroom studies with fieldwork and service learning.
"We have been very active for years in study abroad," Dodd said. "People in the department have been all over the world, but this is the first time we have been intentional about connecting service learning with the traditional cognitive learning."
Students were offered classes in intercultural communications and multinational global communications during their time abroad. Class work ranged from developing an analysis of appropriate intercultural leadership skills to forming a diagnosis of cultural themes. The application of their studies
was centered around Honduran culture as they conducted interviews, observed living conditions and worked closely with local ministries.
"I loved the co-curricular atmosphere," said Bethany Freede, graduate student in the Department of Communication.
"We spent the least amount of time in the classroom, but I came away from this learning more than I have in any other course." Prior to, during and after their time in Honduras, students were asked to keep a personal journal to chart their feelings and experiences.
"We asked them to do it everyday, but it was a little more fluid," Dodd said. "They really poured out their hearts, and their personal stories were reflected in their journals."
The Department of Communication partnered with Bridges to the World, a non-profit organization that seeks to meet the physical and spiritual needs of Hondurans through medical mission work. Some students worked with a physician
while others worked in construction and VBS at a local church.
"I felt that they understood everything more clearly," Dodd said. "By webbing the knowing, feeling and experiencing elements,
students' learning is enriched."
"I loved it; I think it's the best idea," said Freede. "We sat by the beach and had class, and then we would go to the village and work."
E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
characteristic of any college professor's office, a stack of student journals sit on Carley Dodd's desk. Ranging in color and style, the journals are filled with personal experiences of the 19 students who traveled to Honduras in July for a 10-day intercultural experience.
Led by Dr. Joe Cardot, professor of communication and chair of the department, and Dr. Carley Dodd, professor of communication, a group of students participated in a co-curricular excursion to Travesia, Honduras where they integrated traditional classroom studies with fieldwork and service learning.
"We have been very active for years in study abroad," Dodd said. "People in the department have been all over the world, but this is the first time we have been intentional about connecting service learning with the traditional cognitive learning."
Students were offered classes in intercultural communications and multinational global communications during their time abroad. Class work ranged from developing an analysis of appropriate intercultural leadership skills to forming a diagnosis of cultural themes. The application of their studies
was centered around Honduran culture as they conducted interviews, observed living conditions and worked closely with local ministries.
"I loved the co-curricular atmosphere," said Bethany Freede, graduate student in the Department of Communication.
"We spent the least amount of time in the classroom, but I came away from this learning more than I have in any other course." Prior to, during and after their time in Honduras, students were asked to keep a personal journal to chart their feelings and experiences.
"We asked them to do it everyday, but it was a little more fluid," Dodd said. "They really poured out their hearts, and their personal stories were reflected in their journals."
The Department of Communication partnered with Bridges to the World, a non-profit organization that seeks to meet the physical and spiritual needs of Hondurans through medical mission work. Some students worked with a physician
while others worked in construction and VBS at a local church.
"I felt that they understood everything more clearly," Dodd said. "By webbing the knowing, feeling and experiencing elements,
students' learning is enriched."
"I loved it; I think it's the best idea," said Freede. "We sat by the beach and had class, and then we would go to the village and work."
E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
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