This session is about the preliminary work of a project involving student research, active learning, digital engagement, and the civil rights era in northern Maryland entitled "Active Learning and Student Engagement in the Humanities: Understanding the Civil Rights Movement in Harford County, Maryland." The project is funded by a National Endowment for Humanities grant.
This session will describe the preliminary work of a project involving student research, active learning and the civil rights era in the upper Chesapeake region of Maryland. This is a project funded with a grant from the National Endowment for Humanities entitled: "Active Learning and Student Engagement in the Humanities: Understanding the Civil Rights Movement in Harford County, MD." The grant project is taking place from 2019 to 2021. The session will focus on the various projects and activities that project-involved students participated in while taking History and English classes and as participants in student success programs. The session will also include preliminary information on the extent to which the project spurred greater student interest in the Humanities.
Session participants will learn about the project and its preliminary outcomes. These outcomes include the direct engagement of over 150 students conducting research, oral history and developing literary projects for introductory General Education History and English classes. The session will reflect on the extent to which students successfully completed key activities and projects through the leadership of English and History faculty, and student success leaders. The session will also include special emphasis on the participation of online students in the project. It will also present and offer an interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data regarding student immersion in the project and interest in the Humanities fields as major and career options.
An important part of the project involves students in academic support programs at Harford Community College, including the My College Success Network and Soar2Success programs. Students in these programs are also participants in the grant project by way of participation in oral history and events, such as guest speaker discussions.
The project’s outcomes will eventually include a digital exhibition and mobile application allowing visitors to learn about the civil rights movement as it took place in locations around the College’s region. The session will also include insights on the preliminary development of these digital products, including the use of GPS technology and integrated use of text, video and images for a broad public audience. The project will also include material on the connections established between the College and community partners such as local historical organizations, the public library and a county tourism agency.
The sessions will actively engage the audience in discussions of the role of the Humanities at higher education in an era dominated by other fields and vocational training, particularly at community colleges. The presenter will lead a conversation surrounding questions such as:
- “How can colleges generate and sustain student interest in the Humanities?”
- “Why do the Humanities still matter?”
- “Why do employers cite skills emphasized in Humanities as most desirable for 21st century employees?”
- How can colleges generate on the positive career and financial benefits of Humanities education?”