| Spring 2011, No. 53 |
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ContentsCampus Makes Progress on Diversity Initiatives Students Share Online Chemistry Community Success with Faculty Audiences Summer Kids@Carroll Features New Classes for 2011 Mother and Daughter Complete Carroll Degrees Together Spanish in Surround Sound: Improving Language Skills in Immersion Study
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| Students Share Online Chemistry Community Success with Faculty Audiences | ||
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Faculty who attend professional development sessions typically anticipate they will hear speakers who are colleagues or noted professionals in their fields. Recently, faculty from Carroll and other community colleges had the opportunity to hear from student presenters who shared their contributions, both as students and tutors, in a collaborative effort of the Department of Sciences and the offices of Distance Learning and Academic Services to provide online tutorial support for chemistry students taking on-campus courses. Irfan Manzoor, a graduate of Carroll and a current student at UMBC, and Ian Eppig, a Carroll student, were co-presenters for a presentation titled "Chemistry Community" at a faculty development session for Carroll faculty at the beginning of the fall 2010 semester. Carroll students David Jaeger and Jessica Heiland were co-presenters for a presentation titled "Relax! How Linking All Levels of Chemistry Students in an Online Community Improved Academic Performance". The presentation was made at the Maryland Consortium for Adjunct Faculty Professional Development (MCAPD) at Anne Arundel Community College in October 2010. Faculty attending the fall 2010 events indicated that they were grateful to the students for sharing their ideas for improving student success at college. Manzoor is a junior at UMBC with a pre-med major in biology. He said, "Speaking at such a conference was a new and interesting experience because usually teachers speak to us. This time we were presenting our ideas to the teachers. Attending a conference leads to enrichment outside the classroom. It signifies that we can go beyond the typical classroom setting as students." Eppig is a second-year science student at Carroll. He said, "Given the opportunity to speak at this conference had unexpected results. I left the conference feeling like a credible source for an amazing invention. With this, I almost felt as if I was teaching the teachers, and above all I was honored to be involved. One recommendation to students is to take advantage of these opportunities, for they are not offered frequently." Heiland began attending Carroll Community College in 2007. Her major at Carroll is General Studies. She plans to transfer to UMBC to major in Biochemistry. She said, "Talking about the chemistry community, its profound effect on me and other students, was easy, even with the unfamiliar audience. This type of public speaking is unusual for me so it helped me to dig deep within myself. Whether it is for other classes or in my chosen profession, I know that in the future, I will have to speak publicly and give presentations to large audiences. This experience has boosted my confidence. I would advise students to take any opportunity that is offered that provides a chance to remove themselves from their comfort zone. Not only will it prepare them for life, or a future job, but will also show a four-year university that they are willing to go above and beyond. It sets students apart from the pack and makes them stand out from other students who may have a better GPA, but are not as well-rounded in other experiences." Jaeger, a second year student with a major in secondary math education, said, "The presentation at the conference was a great experience. The conference allowed me to speak about something that I am passionate about, our chemistry and math communities. I put a lot of hard work into the communities and I believe that these online communities are a great resource for students. If you want to make a difference in young people's lives, then get involved; Carroll can provide that opportunity for you."
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