Winter Class (7)

Hello class!

Please write this weeks' post on what you are most excited about concerning your upcoming trip, and what you hope to learn from this experience. Also, feel free to write part of your blog about the video we showed at the beginning of class.

Have a good trip!

Winter Class (6)

Hello!

For this week's blog post, please reflect on either the Environmental panel or the Stigma panel. You may discuss the advice they gave you or any of the issues they discussed.

Winter Class (5)

Hi breakers!

Please do not forget that if you are taking the class for one credit hour, you need 4 blog posts, and if you are taking it for 2, you need 6.

For this week you may write a response to either John Franklin Stephen's letter to Ann Coulter, or the panel at the end of class.

Winter Class (4)

For this week, please reflect on your own identity, and how you think it effects your life and the way you relate to others. Feel free to reference the Joel Madden video or anything your group discussed.

Winter Class (3)

For this week's blog post, please briefly describe one of the articles your group discussed in class and then write a response to that article, including what you took away from it.

As always, let us know if you have any questions.

Winter Class (2)

Please reflect either on the information you learned today about the non-profit sector and our speaker Dr. Kala Stroup or the Ivan Illich article.

Posts should be 200-400 words in length and should be completed by the next class period. Please place your response under the comments section of this post. Be aware that you must have one of the accounts listed in the drop down menu next to the words "comment as" to post a comment. If you do not have any of these accounts, please create a google account and use that.

Please e-mail us at kualbreaks@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Last Day of Spring Class

Let us know what you liked about today's class.

Also, please tell us how you or your perspective has changed since you went on your trip.

Thanks for a great season! And remember to fill out your Class Evaluations!

Thanks,
Julia and Stephanie (and Katie and Natalie)

Difficult Discussions

Here's their website http://www.diversity.ku.edu/events/dialogues.shtml. We participated in their session titled "The N-Word." 


I thought that the activity was thoroughly thought-provoking. Let's process today's class together. Can't wait to read your reflections!

Group Dynamics!

Hi Breakers,

For this week's blog post, reflect on our discussion (and skits!) about group dynamics. What are some behaviors that ruin positive group dynamics, and what can you do on your trip to stop negative behaviors?

We highly recommend the beginning of a particular This American Life episode that discusses how bad behaviors from just one person can ruin an entire group's experience. The link is below.

This American Life: Ruining It for the Rest of Us

Panels, Day 2

Hello, friends!

Please write about the panel from this week that touched on the issues you'll be working with. Let us all know what the panelists said, what questions they answered for you, what questions they left for you, etc.

Can't wait to hear what you thought!
Stephanie and Julia

Reflecting on the Stigma Panel

Hi Spring Breakers,

Please reflect on this week's panel which discussed the nature of stigma and working with stigmatized populations. What did you learn about working with the populations that you will be encountering on your Alternative Break trip? How will working with these stigmatized populations be challenging, and what can you do to overcome or to understand these challenges?

Remember, blog entries should be 200-400 words in length. 


Can't wait to hear your thoughts! 


Stephanie & Julia 

Diversity Training with Cody Charles

Can't wait to hear what you thought of Cody's presentation. In your post, please try to connect the presentation with your own break and the issues you'll encounter.

The Non-Profit Sector and Ivan Illich

Today, Dr. Kala Stroup visited class and gave us a general introduction to the non-profit sector. Dr. Stroup gave a brief history about the sector and discussed how your volunteer experience can help you learn about and find a job in the non-profit sector. 

We also discussed the article "To Hell with Good Intentions" by Ivan Illich and used the article to guide a discussion about the value and intentions of volunteering. We discussed how Alternative Breaks uses education to inform our volunteer trips. 

Please reflect on Dr. Stroup's presentation or the discussion about the Illich article. We encourage you to refer to specific facts/ideas that Dr. Stroup discussed or specific quotes from the Illich. 

- Stephanie, Julia, Natalie and Katie 

Welcome to the Spring AB Blog!

Hello, Breakers!

This week we would like you to create an account and post with your name, year, hometown, major, and site. Can't wait to discuss these issues with you this semester.

Stephanie, Julia, Katie, and Natalie

Final Class Reflections

Tonight's blog is just meant to reflect upon your class experience as a whole. Please let us know what you thought of the course and what you thought of the presentations tonight!

Thanks for your hard work this season!

Julia, Stephanie, Max and Hannah