Diary of a Colloquium Instructor #8

I had a terrific class tonight! So much of our course content is policy, science, and statistics. The course is catalogued in the department of Interdisciplinary Studies, and it is taught by professors from all different disciplines. This gives us some flexibility in our approach, and though all the major papers are the same no matter who teaches the course, the rest of the syllabus and how we address the outcomes, are all up to the instructors. I've begun using one week out of the course to take a literary persecutive. We read Marjory Stonemason Douglas' The Everglades: River of Grass. Most students seem unaware she was a writer before she became known as an environmentalist. You can learn more about her with a Google or YouTube search. She is a wildly interesting woman.

The lesson and assignment for the reading is for the students to annotate as they read. I don't tell them the end result is going to be to create a found poem. Many of them would just check out completely. I ask them to take down phrases, words, and pieces of description that strike them while they read, and bring them to class. I promise them I won't quiz them. In class, I hand out note card strips and tell them to write one phrase per strip. Then I ask them to sort their words and phrases to create a found poem from MSD's words. I share an example and explain there is no wrong response other than no response. The fact that they are using someone else's words is supposed to make the assignment of writing a poem less intimidating.

This semester, I asked for volunteers to read and I was able to get five of them to share! I was blown away because they were so good. I always love this class and assignment because it is more laid back and creative. After getting through a huge text (Plan B) of research and statistics used for policy, and the various articles in our course reader, this is a welcomed change. We visit the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and talk about the significance of the Everglades along with some history about MSD. Then we break into the poetry. They have 48 hours to post their poems in the online discussion board. I like to give them time to finish up and revise.

It's a really nice change of pace and a chance for those who are more creative to have a chance to shine.

Tomorrow I'll share the results...