Welcome to the ELC Blog

Doc Z here.

I'd like to welcome you to our Education Learning Community blog.... A place where you can interact with other members of our learning community.

I know that this might seem silly because once school starts, you can just go down the hall and talk directly to them OR if you're like most everyone else, you'll call them on your cell phone even if they're in the room next door.

But this blog is special.... you can "talk" to everyone at the same time and "listen" to everything everyone is "saying" to everyone else. You can ask questions and anyone can answer. Even better.... there will be members of the ELC from previous years who will become part of our group and you can get answers from students who have been through their freshman and sophomore years and are still participating in the ELC. They will be available to you as peer mentors in the fall.

Now something you need to know about me...... I am not your parent! I will be very frank and honest with you. Possibly brutally honest.

Although I am a faculty member in the College of Education, Health and Human Services and am as old as dirt, I have lived in a residence hall for eight(8) years with undergraduates (viz., I know about sleeping late, roommate difficulties, and desire for privacy... 'nuf said) , I am a chapter and faculty advisor to a fraternity for over 15 years and often work the door at parties til 2 o'clock in the morning (viz., I am aware of underage drinking and every drinking game played in Kent), and I know that more often than not you will only work as hard as you need to in order to get the grade you will be satisfied with (viz., not read anything that you will not be tested on or do anything beyond the minimal requirement). I have worked with new students almost my entire career (32 years at Kent) and as best as I can figure, I have had close to 6,500 students in my classes.

I know that at this point in time during your first year, all the talk about studying and how to succeed as a student, the majority of the "Welcome Week" programs, and even the typical "orientation" class is a waste of your time because of priorities. You may be tempted to blow off parts of many of the programs and available activities based on the fact that other students may have told you that they are worthless.

THE THING YOU HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU HERE IS UP TO YOUR CHOICE. That can really put a strain on the time that you have available.

You choose your program, you choose when you take your courses within some limitations, you choose whether to do the minimum, and only you know whether you have played the prof or not. [ For those of you that are interested.... this is called "impression management" and it is employed to establish how others view you. Particularly useful for employees to get the most from their bosees or for students to get the best out of their instructors and faculty advisors. Check out Erving Goffman.]

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? Here are a few, in the typical order of importance....

Finding your way around this place so you can feel comfortable and not look like a fool.
Finding a circle of friends to have a social life.
Finding a significant friend for support and need as a confidante.
Finding out about parties, bars, eateries, entertainment, favorite activities for stress release or diversion.
By your senior year 88% of you will have gotten part time employment to help difray the cost of school OR to have money to pay for things you want to do or have.

Please note that in the above list there is no mention of classes or education or even studying. With those priorities where would you fit in the time for taking classes and studying?

As time passes every one of you will make choices that will be to enhance your ability to succeed in a particular career. Since you are members of the Education Learning Community, my guess is that you intend to become teachers. So you will need to make choices each semester and each year that will help you get your first teaching position. BUT THIS IS YOUR FIRST SEMESTER OF YOUR FIRST YEAR AND GETTING THAT JOB IS FOUR YEARS AWAY!!!!!!!!

Let me share an observation with you..... when you have no destination, you never know when you get there.

And another.... every student, every faculty member you meet was once a freshman!

So what are your thoughts? What do you want to know? What did you think of the latest Harry Potter movie or Michael Moore's Sicko?
Who do you plan to call in case of melt down? How can we help each other?