using shared readings to involve community in community colleges seán henne and michael nagle

Using Shared Readings to Involve Community in Community Colleges

Seán Henne

And

Michael Nagle

West Shore Community College(Scottville, MI)

Seán Henne

Professor of English & Education swhenne@westshore.edu

Michael Nagle

Professor of History & Political Science mwnagle@westshore.edu

West Shore Community College(Scottville, MI)

• Located in western Michigan; very near Lake Michigan

• Small, rural community• Head count: 2,200 for

each academic year• 25 f/t faculty

Types of Programing

• The Big Read– Budget: $20,000

• The Big Question– Budget: $5,000

• Book of the Semester– Budget: 0 to $2,500

Types of Programming

• Rationale• Community• Campus-wide• Individual Classroom

They’re ALL Inter-related

The Big Read• Rationale

– NEH Program: creating a nation of readers

The Big Read

Their Eyes Were

Watching God, by Zora

Neal Hurston

The Big Read• Rationale

– NEH Program: creating a nation of readers• Community

– Big George, read-a-thon, one-woman show & musical performances

• Campus-wide– Keynote speaker, faculty panel, movie

• Individual Classroom– Common reading = Their Eyes Were Watching

God, Literature circle vs. book club

The Big Read

The Big Question

• Rationale– Develop series of events around a question

The Big Question

• 2008: Without Civil Discourse…..Can Democracy Survive?

• 2011: How Can You Make A Difference?

The Big Question

• Rationale– Develop series of events around a question

• Community– Tim Skubik, art exhibits, theatrical productions,

guest speakers, community panel• Campus-wide

– “Race Machine,” faculty panel, guest speakers

The Big Question 2008

The Big Question 2011

The Big Question

• Rationale– Develop series of events around a question

• Community– Tim Skubik, art exhibits, theatrical productions,

guest speakers, community panel• Campus-wide

– “Race Machine,” faculty panel, guest speakers• Individual Classroom

– Suggested reading list; common readings = The Help, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Big Question 2011

Book of the Semester• Rationale

– Promote reading, critical thinking, writing

Book of the Semester

• To Kill A Mockingbird (1999)

• Silent Spring (2000)• Seven Habits of

Highly Effective People (2001)

• The Grapes of Wrath (2002)

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2003)

• Iacocca (2004)• All Quiet on the

Western Front (2006)• Girl With A Pearl

Earring (2007)• Maus (2008)• A Thousand Splendid

Suns (2009)

Book of the Semester• Rationale

– Promote reading, critical thinking, writing• Community

– Book clubs, theatrical productions, environmental forum/debate

• Campus-wide– Guest speakers, faculty panel, movie,

simulations• Individual Classroom

• Common readings, class discussion, paper topics

Using Shared Readings to Involve Community in Community Colleges

Seán Henne

And

Michael Nagle