Suzette Baker
World Languages, Cultures and Communications
Composition, Service Learning and Genocide
Featured Teaching and Learning Practice
Fall 2006
Suzette Baker not only teaches students writing skills but also critical thinking and world awareness.
Through a Service Learning project on genocide awareness in her English Composition class, Suzette's featured teaching and learning practice has students focus all of their major writings on their personal struggles, the observation of other's struggles, and genocide/mass murder. During class, Suzette's students watch films and read materials about genocide and analyze and evaluate the material's effectiveness in communication while gaining more information on the topic. The students also work in small groups outside of class to create a presentation about a specific genocide or specific aspects of genocide. Each group gathers information from non-profit agencies that focus on genocide and/or world issues.
Students are given free reign on how they present their information to the Richland College community. Some students set up booths and hand out flyers and brochures, while some bring in guest speakers or show films.
After the presentations, students are given an opportunity to reflect on the project, and provide positive and negative feedback.
Through this featured teaching and learning practice, students gain awareness and become lifelong proponents of building sustainable local and global community.