Integrity: A Value of Community
by Dr. Charles Dassance, President

First College-Wide Theme to be Launched Next Year

The college wide theme idea has inspired a lot of positive response and creative ideas among the faculty and staff at CFCC. The Learning Theme Task Force continues to meet and is planning to initiate the theme idea in the next academic year.

As you probably remember, the concept of a learning theme or yearly study question at CFCC had its origins in discussions of Institutional Outcomes during the academic year 2000-01. Part of the purpose is to promote connections among segments of the CFCC learning community-students, faculty, staff, administration-by focusing on a theme that transcends disciplines and encourages
dialogue. In exploring this annual theme, students and staff would become involved in the holistic nature of learning. Developing an awareness of "learning across the curriculum" experiencing first-hand that knowledge and insight cross departmental barriers (and buildings) and connect in essential ways. Involving students in the learning theme also has the benefit of implementing many of the Institutional Learning Outcomes we have identified, including Communications, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Interpersonal Skills, and Self-Direction.

The selection of "Integrity: A Value of Community" allows us to discuss what we mean by that value, one of the four values celebrated in the college Vision Statement, which all employees of CFCC helped create about six years ago.

Participation on the learning theme topic is voluntary, of course. But involvement from the many "learning communities" within the larger college community will generate contagious enthusiasm and interest, and contribute greatly to the success of the dialogue. Our college enjoys a richness of these learning communities, who share a particular identity and purpose-the Drama Department, Brain Bowl, PTK, Endowed Chairs, CPEC to name just a few. Each of these groups might create some kind of activity or event that would contribute to exploration of the theme.

At the most recent meeting, the group provided many ideas that would enhance exploration of the learning theme. Here are just a few of them:

• The theme should have a logo to identify it visually, to be used on posters, tee-shirts, etc.
  
  
• Beverly and Dr. Joel Lasky (president of Senior Institute) mentioned that the Diversity Week of Dialogue, the third week in October, could include the "Integrity" theme.
• Senior Institute contributions: members have selected Ethics and Morality as one of the courses they would like to have offered. The Sr. Institute also has a play reading group which meets monthly and could consider the learning theme in their choices.
• Ira Holmes mentioned that the Film Series will show a film or two that will tie in with the theme.
• The theme could also be illustrated in exhibits at the Webber, Brick City, and perhaps the
• Appleton. The Student-Faculty show might feature theme aspects if Jack & Co. were prepared ahead of time.
  
• Margaret Spontak mentioned that Corporate Training tries to bring in good speakers for their series who could address integrity in different fields (e.g. economics, sports, medicine)
• Kathy Kilcrease mentioned that the science endowed chair hoped to have a guest speaker on scientific research and the integrity issue.
• Plagiarism will be the topic of the August Faculty Colloquium.
• The Student-Faculty Forum this year will consider aspects of classroom integrity, including plagiarism, cheating, grading standards, etc.
• Student Activities also does a speaker series for students and could bring in interesting speakers on
  integrity and community. Clubs could also put together appropriate activities.
• The graduation speaker could address integrity as a value of community.
• Instructors of English Comp 1 and 2 could agree on an essay, poem or story that they will use in class.
  Perhaps the Comp 1 Final Exam could have an essay question concerning the theme.
• Articles in publications such as Directions and The Patriot Press could address the issue.
  

These are just a few of the many wonderful ideas proposed by various members of our learning communities. Now it's time to put some of these ideas into action. As you begin to plan your classes and events for next year, I would like to encourage everyone to participate in this important dialogue.

"When I hired Dr. Diana Kanoy years ago, I thought she would be a good instructor based on her credentials.
Little did I know that she would actually become a "great" educator. Her awards are countless but what has always impressed me about Diana is the love of teaching and, most of all, the love for her students. Not only will her presence on campus be missed by all her colleagues, but she will be dearly missed by those students who won't be affected by her. I, personally, will miss her attitude and positive demeanor."
-Dr. Orlando Moreno

"Diana's class motto was "Look for the good and praise it!" I think that was actually Diana's outlook on life. She always has a positive attitude. Diana has given me many words of encouragement over the years and I appreciate her for that! I will truly miss her encouraging words and wish her the best in her retirement."
-Diann Stowers

"Dr. Diana Kanoy has accrued more than a few honors as CFCC primary speech instructor for so many years. Here are three of the following:
1. State of Florida Communications Professor of the Year
2. Best Practices for Speech Final Exam awarded by FACC.
3. Early advocate for Forensics Program, instrumental in bringing Dr Tony Clark to CFCC
Diana was a dual advocate: she was totally student
centered but also demanded and expected high standards from her students. She also exemplified a willingness to experiment with class scheduling which had the result of offering her professionalism to students throughout a wide range of classes and locations, including classes located at the Appleton Museum. "
-John Simpson

"I remember meeting Diana Kanoy when she first arrived at CFCC. She was obviously passionate about the art and virtues of public speaking and that was infectious to her students... so infectious, that I signed up my husband, Mike, to take her class. Mike was head of a
volunteer board at the time and wanted to brush up on his public speaking skills. He thoroughly enjoyed Diana's class and said many of the skills she provided him he continues to use in his business today! Diana was also a personal inspiration to me with her annual "Dream Poster" parties, which encouraged her friends to put their dreams upon a poster in order to make them come true.
I admire Diana for all that she is regardless of what has come her way throughout life. She remains a true friend for whom I wish only good, good wishes her way."
-Amy Mangan

"Thanks for inviting our department out to your house for retreats, Diana; you are a wonderful hostess. Having experienced the natural beauty of your place, I can easily understand why you are retiring. Your credo "Look for the good and praise it" is one we instructors always need to keep working on. Good luck in your future projects."
-Joe Zimmerman

"Although this rings of cliché, Diana has truly been an inspiration to me as a mentor. With direction and advice toward specific schools, contacts, she was most helpful to me as I worked on required courses to enable me to teach public speaking here. And, most graciously, she enthusiastically welcomed my attending her public speaking classes for an entire term. AND she generously shared all supplemental materials that she had so
skillfully developed over the years. The real treat was watching Diana in action-she is truly an exceptional teacher, and observing her leads to understanding of how she consistently shapes and produces skilled public speakers in her classes. We'll need to keep in close
contact with Diana-she shaped an important program here; she is a valuable resource; we must invite her back to continue sharing her skills and knowledge. (We hope to again visit her lovely, peaceful home, as we did in our recent department retreat.) Most importantly, we want to maintain the friendship she so generously shares."
-Kay Wilcox

What are We Reading Now?
by Sandy Pell, Teaching/Learning Center

"As usual, I find myself dealing with too many books and too little time, so plan to dedicate most of summer to some serious 'catch-up' reading. Here are my choices for reading this summer":
Edmund Morris' Theodore Rex - "the biography of Teddy Roosevelt."
Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals - "a historical look at the Civil War leaders. I read it a few years ago, but want to pick it up again."
Stephen L. Carter's Integrity - "a treatise on the importance of integrity in life by a leading Yale scholar."
Annie Lamott's Bird by Bird - "the writer's book on writing. I love Lamott and want to read her take on the virtues and challenges of writing."
-Amy Mangan

"If you like suspense and mystery, High Crimes is a good book (the movie will be coming out soon)."
-Bob DuMond

"I'm reading The Lord of the Rings to my wife in the evenings just before bed. Also, I'm reading the Robert Shaw biography Dear People... by Joseph A. Mussulman. Shaw, who died in January of '99, was the conductor who, more than
anyone else with the possible exceptions of F. Melius Christiansen and John Finley Williamson, created American choral music as we know it. I was privileged to sing under his direction on one occasion."
-Cory Alexander

"I highly recommend A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar. It is the book that the movie is based on-a really
amazing story."
-Liz Minnerly

"The success of the Lord of the Rings movie stirred my memories of Middle Earth, rekindling in me a desire to return there after far too many years' absence, visit my old haunts, and renew my cherished friendships with Frodo, Gandalf, Strider, and the other companions of the ring. If you want a pleasant diversion for the summer, try The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Tolkien's imaginative genius makes bedtime reading, or in my case re-reading, a true delight and ranks him as one of the great storytellers of all time. Have I seen the movie? OF COURSE NOT!
If mischievous jinn, women of the harem, carousing and all-night drinking parties are more to your liking, consider Husain Haddawy's new translation of The Arabian Nights. This particular rendering of traditional Indian, Persian, and Arabic tales, based on Muhsin Mahdi's definitive edition reconstructed from a 14th-century manuscript in the Bibléothèque Nationale, offers a refreshing look at the time-honored tales of Shahrazad in all of their bawdy, fleshy, and earthy exuberance.
Haddawy gives us these stories the way they were meant to be experienced-in their unexpurgated glory. After I finished this new translation this past semester, I thought about burning in effigy my old Penguin Classics edition!
Finally, for the sober minded among us, I recommend Philip K. Hitti's The Arabs:A Short History. One of the great Arabists of the past century and formerly professor of Semitic Literature at Princeton, Hitti captures the sights and sounds of medieval Mecca, Cordova, and Baghdad in this splendid historical and cultural survey
of the Arabic-speaking peoples. I consider this a must read if you want to even begin to understand the Arab psyche."
-John Mathews

"When I went to the International Book Fair in Mexico, I was introduced to the work of the Mexican author Silvia Molina. Ms. Molina was the recipient of the 1999 literary award for a work of fiction by a woman writer in the Spanish language as well as other prestigious awards. I read her book The Love You Promised Me translated by David Unger. This novel traces a quest for identity for a mature, well-established woman after her intense extramarital affair with an older man. Whether or not the reader has had an affair, has ever thought about having an affair, or has led a complete and virtuous life, it is easy to relate to the deep emotions experienced by the heroine as she explores her family's history and truths about her life. The author skillfully interwove this story with Mexican history and culture and is an enjoyable read. This book is in the CFCC library."
-Judy Haisten

"To reinvigorate your perspective on diversity and community, I would recommend two books: Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and Chang-Rae Lee's Native Speaker. The first book, as many of you know, is written from the perspective of an African-American man; the second from that of a Korean-American. If you have to choose just one, pick Native Speaker."
-Pat Fleming

Adjunct Junction

Tales and Tips for Staying on Track
Written by and for our Adjunct Faculty Members

by Barb Deisch, Science

The end of the Spring semester can be a frustrating time-everyone is tired from the long haul since August and yet anticipating a summer break (possibly). We have also been dealing with frustrations inherent in the current "state" of student affairs. It is a time that can seem to move at an endless creep. It sometimes reminds me of the drive to an
anticipated destination; it always seems to take longer to get there than it does to return. I recently had a boost, though, and thought that I might be able to share some of the residual energy with you.

We have all had those students that we can't forget, yet didn't need to have met in the first place. The stories we share about them turn into a "can you top this" discussion. Two of my own favorites include:
the student who brought their parents in for a conference because they were unhappy with the grade given (not earned of course, because we give grades as we see fit); andthe student who was unable to attend a Saturday meeting for their online course due to a late evening. It seems that a Friday night function unexpectedly ran until 4 am and when the alarm went off at 8 am it just didn't seem safe to drive the 45 minutes with such little sleep. I am still amazed that a student thought "I partied too much last night" was a valid excuse and that I did not have their safety in mind if I expected them to still attend.

Yes, the list could go on and on. Recounting the tales allows us to experience them with humor rather than the frustration initially associated with them. A lesson here is that we have all had "student experiences" and will have more. Though they sometimes come in clumps, try not to let them taint your semester. Ah, sounds nice but it isn't so easily done when students are constantly e-mailing or calling you and never seem to go away. How then do we not let the squeaky wheel drive us mad? Perspective.

My students deal with perspective often when they encounter a novel and difficult concept. My goal is to get them to take a different approach and see the concept for what it is, not what they thought it was or what it isn't. It often means that you need to approach the idea from an area that they do understand and/or are familiar with from their own life experiences. I always receive positive comments on how my examples and demonstrations have helped my students get over the initial barriers to understanding unfamiliar concepts. So where is the instructor side to this comparison? It is the students you can't forget because of the impact they had on you. The student who performs and gives 100% while having multiple jobs, a family, and school. The student who says they weren't interested in your course initially but now thinks that ___________ is really pretty cool. The student who tells you he/she went home to share a spouse, child, or friend what he/she learned. The student who tells you they are thinking of changing their major because of this course and would like more guidance. The student who later determines that you were one of the most influential teachers in their school career.

I had been thinking of the subject of this article before my Saturday online class met. The discussion I had with some of the students reminded me why teaching is so important to me. Our discussion started with a specific question on some homework, but then built into a wonderful discussion of how the material they were working on was relevant to their daily lives. At the time, we were studying soil, water, and air. The students had some homework and activities that highlighted the vulnerability and resilience of these physical components. They shared their experiences with the assignments, discussions they had with friends or family, issues they were recognizing in their community, and even a parallel event from another class. Experiences as those I have described should be the ones that shape our semesters.

As adjuncts, we often instruct the non-major courses to students who may be significantly ignorant of the material. You may not mold the next oceanographer, but you can provide a student who has no science background with an understanding of some very important fundamental concepts-the ocean contains over 97% of the water on earth-that is an important feature even if you have never seen the ocean. Even a student who does not continue his/her education beyond CFCC will need to read, write, and solve basic math problems. Yes, they should already have these skills but many do not. This enhances the experience when students finally do get "serious" and things start to connect. This is why you experience some of the comments I described earlier. No, these students are not the majority but they do exist and we all had a few in our classrooms this semester. Let their accomplishments and progress remind you of what can happen when instructor and student works together toward understanding. Don't let the squeaky wheels overshadow the reason you chose this profession. Perspective may tell you time has slowed, but time is ticking and I hope that this semester ended on a positive note for each of you.

• using Hershey's kisses, lima beans, robots, and lasers in activity-based math/statistics courses to teach problem-solving skills;
• a demonstration of how to use simple and
  inexpensive solutions to create digital movies for classroom use; and
• an introduction to low-cost and no-cost tools available on the WWW for supporting activities
  associated with teaching and learning. Attendees were given access to the entire collection of
  websites.