Spring Break
LU professors and student attend conference on service-learning
By Desmond Nugent
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Three Langston University English professors and one student attended the 7th Annual International Conference on Service-Learning Research from Oct. 6-9 in Tampa, Fla.
The professors, Dr. Wah See Ho, Dr. Orlenthea McGowan, Dr. Ernest Barnett, and student Graigory Colbert, a senior psychology major, went to the conference to increase their knowledge on service-learning. Service-learning is a hands-on form of community service that benefits the people being helped.
The conference promotes the development and dissemination of research on service-learning and community engagement internationally and across all levels of the education systems. Approximately 250 research scholars from across the world attended the conference.
This conference was a learning experience for the professors that attended.
"I learned that it is virtually important that we lobby our legislators for funding service-learning projects for college projects," McGowan said.
Ho thinks more students should take advantage of service-learning.
"Service-learning provides more opportunities for college students to be more involved in the community as part of their learning experience and development. It also helps them become more informed citizens," Ho said.
Although this conference is designated for only educators and graduate students looking to become educators, Colbert was allowed to come because his presentation on study-abroad gave a different outlook on service-learning from a student's point of view. He was the only African-American student present.
Colbert was excited to hear that his presentation on study abroad was selected for this conference.
"The professors paid for me to go with them, and thought it would be a great idea to bring my presentation about the study-abroad program with me," Colbert said.
During his presentation, Colbert discussed how his study-abroad trips through the Langston Center for International Development was a form of service-learning. He has participated in LU's study-abroad program for the past four years, traveling to China, Malaysia, India, and other countries. Colbert focused on how the social interaction between two different cultures can change the scheme of how each perceives the other.
"Study-abroad has humbled my life in opening my eyes by witnessing how other countries interact and survive," Colbert said.
The professors, Dr. Wah See Ho, Dr. Orlenthea McGowan, Dr. Ernest Barnett, and student Graigory Colbert, a senior psychology major, went to the conference to increase their knowledge on service-learning. Service-learning is a hands-on form of community service that benefits the people being helped.
The conference promotes the development and dissemination of research on service-learning and community engagement internationally and across all levels of the education systems. Approximately 250 research scholars from across the world attended the conference.
This conference was a learning experience for the professors that attended.
"I learned that it is virtually important that we lobby our legislators for funding service-learning projects for college projects," McGowan said.
Ho thinks more students should take advantage of service-learning.
"Service-learning provides more opportunities for college students to be more involved in the community as part of their learning experience and development. It also helps them become more informed citizens," Ho said.
Although this conference is designated for only educators and graduate students looking to become educators, Colbert was allowed to come because his presentation on study-abroad gave a different outlook on service-learning from a student's point of view. He was the only African-American student present.
Colbert was excited to hear that his presentation on study abroad was selected for this conference.
"The professors paid for me to go with them, and thought it would be a great idea to bring my presentation about the study-abroad program with me," Colbert said.
During his presentation, Colbert discussed how his study-abroad trips through the Langston Center for International Development was a form of service-learning. He has participated in LU's study-abroad program for the past four years, traveling to China, Malaysia, India, and other countries. Colbert focused on how the social interaction between two different cultures can change the scheme of how each perceives the other.
"Study-abroad has humbled my life in opening my eyes by witnessing how other countries interact and survive," Colbert said.
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