From Passion to Practice: Creating a Common Reading Program at Marshall University to Unite Campus and Community and the Lessons We Learned Presenter:

From Passion to Practice: Creating a Common Reading Program at

Marshall University to Unite Campus and Community

and the Lessons We Learned

Presenter: Jennifer Sias,

Associate Professor & Information Literacy Librarian

M.S.L.S., M.A. Humanities

How did it all begin?

The inspiration for the program –

WVLA Annual Conference One Book One ConferenceThe Glass CastleJoe Lucia - Villanova

Planning

• Fledgling group comprised of key administrators and faculty developed a proposal for the president. Then, a more formal committee developed.

• President Kopp made a commitment to purchase copies of the book for all freshmen.

Where to put the program?

• Placement of the program in University 101 (UNI)

Development of instruction plans for UNI instructors

Development of library instruction curriculum tied to The Glass Castle

Each UNI, HON and COL 101 class visits the library once for library instruction. This year, we focused introductory research strategies on topics (poverty, homelessness) related to The Glass Castle.

Library Instruction

Author Interaction

• Maintained contact with the author and secured her commitment to visit campus for Freshman Convocation

• Publicity

Program Planning

• Panel discussion on the role of education – attendance?• On the River’s Edge, a special viewing of this documentary

film about homeless individuals and their plight by Francesca Karle – attendance?

Website

Blogs

http://www.marshall.edu/onebook/students.asp

Implementation

Selling the program:– Special training sessions for UNI instructors– Shirley Lumpkin’s students’ assistance– Orientation – introduced program to students and their

parents. Distributed copies of the book.– Media coverage

Freshman Convocation

First-year Marshall University students march to Freshman Convocation with President Stephen Kopp and author Jeannette Walls

Freshman Convocation

Author Jeannette Walls shares a laugh with Marshall University Head Football Coach Mark Snyder

Book signing and reception

Using the book in UNI classes

Instructors’ use of The Glass Castle in the course varied, but there was a commitment to use the book and its themes. Instructors were provided with sample instruction plans and training sessions.

Sharepoint site for instructors – complete with lesson/instruction plans and a place for discussion

Habitat for Humanity House

What we learned from 971 students responses…

Did you read The Glass Castle?•889 Yes •71 No

“At first I wasn’t excited to read this book. I thought it sounded boring. After I read the first chapter, I couldn’t stop reading. It turned out to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. It made me think about a lot I hadn’t thought of before.”

“From what I read and heard it was a really good book, but eventually I’ll read the whole thing.”

If you read the book, when did you start reading?

703 Before classes started 190 After classes started

“Don’t give me summer reading!”

“Reading over the summer bored the hell out of me”

Student Reading Habits

Students who responded classified what they read for pleasure:

Fiction – 476; Non-Fiction – 332; Newspaper – 239; Magazine – 494;

Other – 27; I don’t typically read – 191

Student Views of Class Activities Related to the

BookHow often did you discuss The Glass Castle?

Excessive – 45; Often – 327; Fair – 465; Not Enough – 76; Not at All – 47

How was the book used in your class?In-class discussions – 840; In/out of class writing assignments

– 381; Outside activities – 92; Other – 16

“I liked The Glass Castle a lot! It was very good and it kept my attention. I didn’t like the blogging.”

Student participation in related programs

• 327 attended Freshman Convocation • 90 participated in Marshall Day of Service • 64 attended Meet the Filmmaker featuring On

The River’s Edge• 56 helped to collect funds for “Herd for

Habitat”• 25 attended “From Bear Hollow to Artisan

Avenue” panel discussion • 19 engaged in other activities

What students told usStudent use of the One Book website was low• 161 used the site• 802 did not use the site• “…Didn’t know there was a website.”

Student awareness about social issues• 768 said the book encouraged them to think about social

issues• 206 reported no• “Very Good Book. It encouraged discussion, and touched

on many social issues.”

Students offered 4 times more positive comments than negative

comments

• “The Glass Castle was a fantastic book and I have suggested it to my friends many times.”

• “Basically Phenomenal.”

• “great book, inspirational”

• “I really liked the book, but at times it made me so mad that I wanted to throw it.”

More student feedback

• “The book was wonderful. The program is great. Keep it up! Not nearly enough students read materials.”

• “Waste of time.”

• “I didn’t see the purpose of this book. College students have enough to do than read another book.”

Incorporating The Glass Castle in UNI 101 …

feedback from 56 instructors

Use of the book in class

23 instructors used the book in 1 to 2 sessions19 instructors used the book in 3 to 4 sessions

14 instructors used the book in 5 or more sessions

Activities used by instructors

• 54 used in-class discussions

• 31 used in/out of class writing assignments • 8 used outside activities relating to topics of class, extra

credit, blogs, and journals

• “Students wrote on blog and had an intense discussion of social issues raised in book and how issues affected them.”

How instructors rated in-class discussions

• 13 described discussion as excellent• 31 described discussion as good• 11 described discussion as poor• 2 described discussion as useless• “I attempted to tie The Glass Castle in with the topic of the

day (ie activities on campus to socialization in The Glass Castle; student budget to Glass Castle finance; Habitat…).”

• “I had Student Health Services come over and do their alcohol talk and then talked about and wrote about the effect of Rex Walls’ alcoholism on the family.”

Resources for One Book

Instructors used the following resources for this program

• 34 used the One Book website• 25 used SharePoint • 23 used discussion with other instructors• 2 used other resources

“Continue website with contributions of ideas/documents”

Support for the Program

Most instructors agreed there was support & training for the program

• 50 said yes• 2 said no

“I appreciate the sharing of materials and insights to the book.”

Future One Book Programs

Instructors were asked: Q. Do you support housing One Book Marshall in UNI/HON 101?• 37 said Yes • 14 said No

“Yes – Most logical place”

“Maybe – It’s probably the only consistent way to use the book for new students.”

“No – Best to use One Book in English 101. I felt inadequate in discussing book and was sometimes an after thought.”

One Book Marshall 2008

President Kopp formed a formal committee comprised of one faculty from each college/division (preferably a faculty member who teaches UNI 101) as well as student representatives, an Academic Affairs representative, the Dean of Libraries and the Dean of Students. Dr. Kopp charged the committee with the tasks of:

• Developing a book selection process for fall 2008• Selecting a book• Planning and implementing programs and events in

conjunction with the selected text• For fall 2008, the program will be “administered” once

again through our UNI and HON classes.

Thank you for your interest!

Questions and Comments

Acknowledgements:*Special thanks to

Michelle Duncan and Christine Lewis who provided helpful data and analysis!