Article by
Nora Bourke
Recent
events have caused Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan to say that having a
‘Group’ on Facebook is a faster way of communication between her and her
students in a way that is far better than Blackboard and e-mails. She says she
would love to do it with all her other classes one day.
McLauchlan
is using the Facebook ‘Group’ to share pictures and articles about Moldova with
her students.The reason why this class is communicating together in this social
media form is because this small class is much more personal considering the
experience they just had. Over spring break McLauchlan and her students from
Comparative Government & Politics: Moldova, CPO 4930, embarked on a trip to
the European country of Moldova.
McLauchlan
says that her love for Moldova, besides its landscape and culture, is the
kindness of its people who are always excited to see visitors.
“They don’t have a lot of tourism there in
general, even though they’ve got these amazing wineries, fortresses, and
monasteries and beautiful scenery, and waterfalls,” says McLauchlan.
In their itinerary, the select number of students and McLauchlan would attend a seminar at ULIM, Universitatea Libera Internationala din Moldova, every other day in a joint course with Moldovan students. McLauchlan had it arranged so that the students could make friends and develop relationships in the experience.
Patricia
Jaschke, one of McLauchlan’s students, said on their last night in Moldova they
spent it taking awhile to say goodbye to their new ULIM friends by reminiscing
over the week all together.
McLauchlan
wanted the students to partake in actual civic engagement. Part of their
itinerary included civic handout assignments, which were service projects to
help the Moldovan community. Such as donating books and toiletries to the Titus
Center, a place for underprivileged children. According to the students’ online
blogs they got to spend some personal time with the children, playing outside
with them.
“It is
truly a wonderful feeling to know that we made a difference in a small way,”
said USFSP student Lauren Shumate.
The
course will officially wrap up at a symposium video conference, which is going
to occur Tuesday, April 23 at 9 a.m. This is to further publicize the trip,
while also acknowledging the support of academic affairs.
McLauchlan
says the success of this trip is a good stepping stone for USFSP to
internalizing the curriculum.
“It’s nice
to know that this is the direction that the University would like to head. And
I will continue to do everything I can to give students in my classes the
opportunity to connect around the world,” McLauchlan said.
Sources
Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan,
Ph.D., (727) 873-4956, jsm2@mail.usf.edu
Lauren Shumate, http://cpo5934moldova.blogspot.com/?view=classic
Patricia Jaschke,
http://www.patriciacalvoj.blogspot.com/
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