Two Event-Based Campus-Wide Learning Communities: On the Anniversaries of Brown v. Board and Origin of Species Walter Thomas Schmid Patricia H. Kelley.

Two Event-Based Campus-Wide Two Event-Based Campus-Wide Learning Communities: Learning Communities:

On the Anniversaries of On the Anniversaries of Brown v. Brown v. Board Board and and Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species

Walter Thomas SchmidWalter Thomas SchmidPatricia H. KelleyPatricia H. Kelley

University of North Carolina WilmingtonUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington

Focus of civically engaged higher Focus of civically engaged higher education:education:

Ideas and events that shape Ideas and events that shape thought and passions of a thought and passions of a whole peoplewhole people

Fundamental public debatesFundamental public debates– Meaning of racial integration in Meaning of racial integration in

American democracy, identity, American democracy, identity, law and societylaw and society

– Scientific, religious, educational, Scientific, religious, educational, and public policy issues relating and public policy issues relating to evolutionto evolution

Event-based campus-wide Event-based campus-wide multidimensional learning multidimensional learning

communities at UNCWcommunities at UNCW

Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education LC LC– 5050thth anniversary of decision (2004) anniversary of decision (2004)– Semester-long learning communitySemester-long learning community

Darwin anniversaries (2009)Darwin anniversaries (2009)– Bicentennial of birthBicentennial of birth– Sesquicentennial of Sesquicentennial of Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species– Multi-year Evolution Learning Community Multi-year Evolution Learning Community

(2006-2009)(2006-2009)

Purpose of campus-wide LCsPurpose of campus-wide LCs

Promote learning in Promote learning in and out of classroomand out of classroomBuild synergy and Build synergy and civic engagement in civic engagement in students and facultystudents and facultyPromote creativity, Promote creativity, research and research and innovative pedagogyinnovative pedagogyConnect academia Connect academia and societyand society

Brown v. Board of Education Brown v. Board of Education 19541954

Walter Thomas SchmidWalter Thomas Schmid

Relationship to ADPRelationship to ADP

““No case ever affected more directly the minds, No case ever affected more directly the minds, hearts and daily lives of so many Americanshearts and daily lives of so many Americans.”.”

Racism = deep roots in American historyRacism = deep roots in American history

American democracy = extension of Jeffersonian American democracy = extension of Jeffersonian idealideal

Purpose of Purpose of Brown v. BoardBrown v. Board

Community Dialogue to explore the judicial, Community Dialogue to explore the judicial, social and moral significance of the historical social and moral significance of the historical decision both in historical perspective and in its decision both in historical perspective and in its multidimensional aftermath. multidimensional aftermath.

Increase awareness and critical discussion of:Increase awareness and critical discussion of:– Role of race relations in American history and societyRole of race relations in American history and society– History of students’ own local communities, livesHistory of students’ own local communities, lives– Ideal of citizenship, right of Americans to equal Ideal of citizenship, right of Americans to equal

opportunity and active participation in all aspects of opportunity and active participation in all aspects of political, economic and educational life. political, economic and educational life.

Development of Development of B v. BB v. B

Grassroots effort initiated by Grassroots effort initiated by multidisciplinary group of faculty (Apr 03)multidisciplinary group of faculty (Apr 03)Debated vision of effort (May-Jun 03)Debated vision of effort (May-Jun 03)– Positive focus on overthrow of segregationPositive focus on overthrow of segregation– Critical focus on failure to end racismCritical focus on failure to end racism

40+ Faculty commit to courses (Sep 03)40+ Faculty commit to courses (Sep 03)Plans developed for lectures, films and Plans developed for lectures, films and other events (fall 03)other events (fall 03)Regional publicity, kickoff (Dec 03-Jan 04)Regional publicity, kickoff (Dec 03-Jan 04)

Learning ExperiencesLearning Experiences

43 linked classes43 linked classesLecture, Film seriesLecture, Film seriesArt inc. poetry jam, Art inc. poetry jam, student filmsstudent filmsStudent trip to Selma Student trip to Selma and Birminghamand Birmingham CivicCivic DiscoveriesDiscoveries (student book)(student book)Closing Student Fair, Closing Student Fair, speaker from SCspeaker from SC

Evolution Learning CommunityEvolution Learning Community

Evolution: The Changing Shape of LifeEvolution: The Changing Shape of Life

Patricia H. KelleyPatricia H. Kelley

Development of ELCDevelopment of ELC

Grassroots effort initiated by Grassroots effort initiated by multidisciplinary group of faculty (2004)multidisciplinary group of faculty (2004)Organized subcommittees (2004-2005)Organized subcommittees (2004-2005)– curriculum, educational outreach, curriculum, educational outreach,

events/programs events/programs – brainstormed activities, programs, eventsbrainstormed activities, programs, events

Elected 3-person Executive Council (2005)Elected 3-person Executive Council (2005)Initial meetings with university Initial meetings with university administrators (2005-2006)administrators (2005-2006)

Relationship to ADPRelationship to ADP

““The nation’s economic The nation’s economic competitiveness, security, competitiveness, security, and prosperity depend in and prosperity depend in large measure on its scientific large measure on its scientific and technological and technological innovationinnovation.” (ADP website).” (ADP website)

Anti-science = profound Anti-science = profound political issuepolitical issue

Preservation of integrity of Preservation of integrity of science necessary for science necessary for democracy to survivedemocracy to survive

Policy issue: evolution Policy issue: evolution educationeducation

Evolution fundamental to Evolution fundamental to sciencescienceAttacks on evolution Attacks on evolution education widespread at education widespread at national, state, and local national, state, and local levellevel– Santorum amendmentSantorum amendment– ““warning labels” in textbookswarning labels” in textbooks– Intelligent design mandatesIntelligent design mandates– Deletion of evolution from Deletion of evolution from

curriculumcurriculum

Purpose of ELCPurpose of ELC

Community Dialogue on scientific, social, Community Dialogue on scientific, social, and moral significance of evolution in all of and moral significance of evolution in all of its multidimensional aspectsits multidimensional aspects

Increase awareness and critical discussion Increase awareness and critical discussion of:of:– Role of evolutionary principles in natural and Role of evolutionary principles in natural and

social sciencessocial sciences– Relationship to philosophical, historical, Relationship to philosophical, historical,

artistic, and literary modes of reflection on lifeartistic, and literary modes of reflection on life

Administrative support to dateAdministrative support to date

Chancellor

Provost

Deans Council Centers

Arts & Sciences

Business

Education

Nursing

Graduate & Research

Sponsored Programs

Library

Faculty Leadership

Public Service

University College

Teaching Excellence

Honors Scholars

Marine Science

Resources allocated to ELC to dateResources allocated to ELC to date

5 faculty research grants 5 faculty research grants

2 CTE teaching initiative awards 2 CTE teaching initiative awards

Speaker supportSpeaker support– Paul Ewald, “Evolution of Infectious Diseases”Paul Ewald, “Evolution of Infectious Diseases”– E.O. Wilson, “The Future of Life”E.O. Wilson, “The Future of Life”– Mary Schweitzer, “Mary Schweitzer, “T. rex T. rex Under the Microscope”Under the Microscope”

Program administrator summer support and Program administrator summer support and release timerelease time

PhD student stipendPhD student stipend

Support for continuing education eventsSupport for continuing education events

Future activitiesFuture activities

K-12 Teacher outreachK-12 Teacher outreach

Faculty workshopsFaculty workshops

Galapagos Honors tripGalapagos Honors trip

Cultural events Cultural events

Course developmentCourse development

Public outreach eventsPublic outreach events

Visiting Darwin ScholarsVisiting Darwin Scholars

Inter-institutional collaborationInter-institutional collaboration

ChallengesChallenges

ResourcesResources

Faculty time Faculty time demandsdemands

Fear of controversyFear of controversy