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Educator's Voice

Volume 3, Issue 1
January 23, 2002

Linking Locally

The other day I was told about a European cathedral and its organ, both designed and built by master craftsmen several centuries ago. When certain works are played, the organ elicits complementary reverberations and echoes from the building. The result is that the cathedral structure itself is an integral part of the music. How wonderful! The story reminded me that the most gratifying results are achieved when designers plan for a specific environment. We see this reflected in education through instructional approaches that recognize the characteristics of different settings. Just as the medieval architect/craftsman discovered that the musical experience would be better because of the unique properties of the instrument and building, so do we realize that educational outcomes will be better when special attributes of location and audience are acknowledged.

A seventh grade student in Pointe Coupée Parish (County), Louisiana, studies the rich and colorful history of the state. Spanish, French, British and American political and social legacies are present today. So are major cultural influences from Africa, the Caribbean and Native Americans. Music, food, festivals and lifestyle attitudes are unique in comparison to other areas of the U.S. Not so very unique are the challenges of modern-day American life faced by Pointe Coupéeans.

A thoughtful group of educators and interested citizens believe that the young people of this rural parish can better meet these challenges through gaining an understanding of their local history--why they are who they are. To facilitate this, a Pointe Coupée history curriculum is being established to supplement the Louisiana history being taught in the seventh grade. eCollege^SM is aiding this effort by making it possible to incorporate the power of the Internet in the curriculum.

The planners are designing a course supplement that will be interactive and engaging. It will teach Pointe Coupée history alongside that of Louisiana, from the earliest time to the present. The goal of the program is to give students a sense of pride through knowledge of their local history, thereby motivating them to contribute positively to the future of the area. The role of local individuals on the area's impact upon the state and region will be stressed through various course projects. During the year, these projects may include:

• "You Don't Have to be Famous to be Important" - selecting an individual from family or parish history to profile. The report will present the influence of that person on peers and events. Learning about primary and secondary sources, oral histories, interviewing and documentation methods will enable students to experience researching, compiling and presenting their findings.
  
  
• "Pointe Coupée's Mrs. Rosa Parks: Josephine Dubuclet DeCuir" - learning about the life and impact of Mrs. DeCuir, an early civil rights advocate. This will complement the study of early civil laws of Louisiana and how they have transcended to current statutes. Threaded discussions with local and state officials will be utilized.
  
  
• "Family History in Pointe Coupée" - students will select a family (their own, if applicable) to explore connections to ancestors. Interviewing parents, grandparents and other relatives will be required. Getting the entire family involved in preparing as comprehensive a history as possible is one of the goals of the project.
  
  
• "Roads, Bayous, and Other Byways" - students will choose the name of a street, road, bayou, chenal (channel), river, or lake to research. Who named it, why was it named that, and what significance has it had on the area and its people will be some of the questions answered by the project.
  
  
• "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" - a semester-long project will be the reading of this book by Ernest J. Gaines, acclaimed author and Pointe Coupée native. Through this and other books set within the parish (e.g., A Gathering of Old Men, A Time to Die), Mr. Gaines is a living link to its history. His early life in Pointe Coupée inspired his novels. He remains vitally interested in the area and its people and has taken an active role in preserving some meaningful landmarks. Writer-in-Residence at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette, Mr. Gaines will interact with students through threaded discussions and/or chats to explain and expound upon the book's themes and relevance.
  
  
• Guest Presenters - several parish residents have agreed to share their particular knowledge and expertise with students:
  
  
  
  • Architect/Artist/Historian - will discuss history of local building styles.
    
    
  • Cultural Historian - will present the history of Pointe Coupée Mardi Gras.
    
    
  • Les Creoles de Pointe Coupée - members will present local foods. An interactive sampling activity will be included.
    
    
  • Tulane University professor - will present the history of the unique Pointe Coupée dialect (patois) and take part in threaded discussions.
    
    
  • President, Louisiana Historical Society and Archivist, New Orleans Notarial Archives - threaded discussions regarding conducting historical research for Pointe Coupée parish.
    
    
  • Parish Librarian - presentation regarding locating historical resources at the library.
    
    
  • Parish Clerk of Court - activity concerning using courthouse records in historical research.
    
    
  • Sugar Cane Producer - activity involving visit to a cane farm and mill. Assessment of the impact of the crop on the parish historically and today.

eCollege is pleased to provide the Internet component for this course supplement. The eCollege platform will allow students to access synchronous and asynchronous discussion opportunities, links to additional resources via the Webliography^SM, and distribution of course materials through the Document Sharing feature. These are examples of how the technology of today can support the story of the past to create results that might not be possible without such a symbiotic meld.

       --Hendon Blaylock, MS

 

TIP

Using Online Sources in Online Courses

Many online instructors enter the course design and building process with big visions and high hopes. However, due to a multitude of causes, most related to restraints of available time and technology, few online courses actually live up to the dreams in which they were conceived.

Grandiose visions tend to require a lot of time to develop the content, and often someone else's technical expertise to make it come alive, which can involve considerable expense. Unfortunately, these constraints cause visions to fade, and too often, our courses suffer as a result.

However, there might be a way to incorporate excellent content and technological flash into your course without devoting a lot of time or expense.

Just find it on the Web.

Far too few instructors take the time to find the resources available to them online. Rather, they spend time trying to reinvent the wheel, and then, more often than not, end up getting frustrated or bogged down and never finish. Yet if they would just spend some time digging, they can find countless excellent resources that are just a link away.

It is easy to find interactive math and science lessons (e.g., the IN-VSEE Visualization Gallery), primary texts (e.g., The Declaration of Independence), virtual tours (e.g., The Virtual Sun), online handbooks (e.g., Hacker Handbook Resources) extensive lesson plans (e.g., Hamlet Hook), online language labs (e.g., Purdue University's OWL), articles from leading periodicals and newspapers (e.g., from The Atlantic Unbound), and an increasing number of scholarly journals (e.g., Romantic Circles). In addition, most college libraries have online resources available for registered students, and many states have virtual libraries with even more resources (e.g., Alabama Virtual Library).

So before you spend hours developing something yourself, or worse yet, decide you don't have time to do anything, spend a few minutes at Google or Dogpile and see what you can find. You'll be amazed at what's out there.

       -- Robert Gray, M.A.