In January of 2007, Academic Technology Services offered the following two non-credit courses to students:
Destructive Species and the Quabbin Reservoir: Balancing Ecological Diversity and Recreational Needs
Spend Interterm making a difference in the community while mastering technology skills that you may well need for graduate school or jobs in the future. Academic Technology Services in conjunction Jan Dizard (Sociology & American Studies, Amherst College), Anna Martini (Geology, Amherst College), and Annie Paradis (Entomology, UMass), will offer a special topic Interterm course. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams, supported by technology experts, professors, and local community service and governmental agencies.
As a part of this course, you will spend 2 ½ weeks investigating the complex array of ecological, public access, and management issues confronting the Quabbin reservoir. Students will learn to collect and analyze data using Geographic Information Systems software. In order to communicate and share research findings with the community, students will learn to use digital cameras and video editing software to create a short documentary film to highlight findings, as well as create a website to showcase their results.
Meeting the Health Care Needs of Under-Privileged Populations in the Holyoke Region
Spend Interterm making a difference in the community while mastering technology skills that you may well need for graduate school or jobs in the future. Academic Technology Services in conjunction with Carleen Basler (American Studies & Sociology, Amherst College), Jessica Reyes (Economics, Amherst College), and Myrna Breitbart (Geography & Urban Studies, Hampshire College), will offer a special topic Interterm course. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams, supported by technology experts, professors, and local community service and governmental agencies.
As a part of this course, you will spend 2 ½ weeks investigating the challenges a community health center faces in effectively meeting the health care needs of children and adults from low-income groups who frequently have limited English proficiency.
Students will learn to collect and analyze data using Geographic Information Systems software. In order to communicate and share research findings with the community, students will learn to use digital photo and video editing software to create a short documentary film to highlight findings, as well as create a website to showcase their results. Some fluency in Spanish is an advantage, but not a requirement.
Results
Almost 30 students expressed interest in these courses. The final enrollment was 5 students in the Quabbin course and 19 students in the Holyoke Health Center course. Teams were formed, one team for the Quabbin group and five teams for the Holyoke Health Center group. The groups produced websites describing their activities and conclusions:
- Quabbin Group
- HHC: Promotoras Program
- HHC: Chicopee Health Center
- HHC: The Need for a Diabetic Shop
- HHC: Diabetes Issues
- HHC: Community Resources
Some of the teams are continuing to work on their sites.