Project Title: Educational Travel through Peru and Bolivia
Project Author: John Ellis (Scottsdale)
Abstract: Write a concise summary with descriptive information about your project, location, time span, your relationship to it, etc. Include specific information-- since you have completed your project, your knowledge is valuable and can be shared with your colleagues.
I spent three weeks traveling in Peru and Bolivia visiting significant cultural, natural, archaeological and historical sites. It was important to visit them first hand, particularly the unique areas of Nazca and Cuzco in Peru and Potosi and Sucre in Bolivia, as these are regions that feature prominently in the cultural components of the Spanish 101-202 courses I teach. I was also able to practice my Spanish intensively.
Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read.
The time frame worked very well, providing just enough rest amidst a very busy schedule. I accomplished what I had set out to do almost in its entirety, although there were a few, albeit important, places around lake Titicaca that I was unable to visit as planned because of sudden political turmoil in those areas (Puno and Tiwanaku).
Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you?
It was productive to spend time immersed in the language I teach with a variety of people and a wide range of contexts. I visited sites that I teach about such as Nazca, Machu Picchu, La Paz and Uyuni. It was informative to gain first hand knowledge of these placed and acquire useful educational materials. The experience has left an indelible mark.
Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or college?
I will share my experiences, photographs and some artifacts with my students. I will also be able to incorporate realia from the trip into class activities. I have made myself available to my department for a presentation during one of our department meetings and I will publish on my SCC Faculty Web site a timeline of the trip accompanied by pictures and brief narratives.
For more information about this project, check out the "package" in the Maricopa Learning eXchange:
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/slip.php?item=01390