The Capital Community College (CCC) Student Learning Assessment Team (SLAT) proudly presented Global Pavilion Day to students, faculty, administrators and guests on Thursday, March 10, 2005 in the Centinel Hall. Based on their design and planning Workshop on Tuesday, May 19, 2004, the SLAT achieved the goal of providing a global perspective based on “a spirited and wide-ranging discussion” about cultural awareness within the CCC environment.
In addition to the Global Pavilion Day activity, a second activity in the form of a student survey was initiated late January. The Global Perspective Survey was distributed to CCC students in classes across the curriculum. The Survey questions were designed to explore knowledge, skills, and attitudes (based on a rubric model adapted by the members) regarding interactions with people from diverse backgrounds. More than 315 students completed the Global Perspective Survey. Responses will be tallied and assessed by SLAT members during the Week of March 28. Outcomes from the Global Perspectives assessment project activities may include teaching models for new curriculum topics, celebrations to show appreciation of different perspectives and cultures, and the design of new programs to develop students’ intercultural competencies during their course of study across curriculums.
The Global Pavilion Day offered a lively and informal invitation to all in the CCC community. Students were encouraged to participate in the day’s multicultural celebration. With a focus on global thinking, the audience volunteered to discuss cultural richness of classroom learning activities, socialization among a broad ethnicity and shared awareness among students and faculty. More than 200 faculty and staff participated in the successful event.
Centinel Hall was visited throughout the day. In each of the three sessions, students viewed a movie, enjoyed ethnic food from popular local caterers, and shared their thoughts about the meaning of appreciating others’ differences. Based on popular demand, Whalerider, Tortilla Soup and Bend It Like Beckam movies were viewed by students, faculty and staff. A buffet of various Spanish, Jamaican and Chinese food complemented the movie selections. A few members of the faculty actually conducted class in each of the sessions.
The highlight of the day was the student participation and response to the event. In each session, students were asked to think about class activities, specific lessons, projects or topics in a course or major. They continued by describing how their experiences at CCC increases their knowledge and understanding of world cultures. With the full support of the CCC Academic Media Technology Department, students were videotaped as they energetically described their meaningful experiences with others in the academic community.
The SLAT Co-chairs, Hector Postigo and Mary Jean Thornton, expressed sincere appreciation to faculty, administrators, and students on behalf of the team’s members. They announced that the Global Perspective Survey Results Report and the Global Pavilion Day video will be released in June 2005. In combination, these two valuable project resources will provide the Capital Community College leadership with the opportunity to determine ongoing activities which will continue to enhance students’ global perspective.