On January 20, Gloria Eslinger and Dr. Kathleen Hubbard attended the 15^th Annual Faculty Development Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  There was a total of five University of Wisconsin staff that attended the conference but only Gloria Eslinger and Dr. Kathleen Hubbard presented.  Eslinger and Hubbard presented about how they each collaborated with their students in their classrooms through the Center for Academic Service Learning here on campus. 

"It was very invigorating on how people are using Service Learning with community partners," said Eslinger regarding the conference in Green Bay.

While Hubbard had attended this conference in the past, this was Eslinger's first time.

"Our presentation was very well attended and we had a number of great questions at the end! It was a great success.  Academic Service Learning was honored front and center and several comments were made about how wonderful to have this center for the university," said Hubbard.

"I think it was an awesome experience," Eslinger said.

            In Eslinger's Cooperative Mural Creation class during the fall of 2010, students had hands on experience not only in the classroom setting but also out in the community.  Freshman students had practical experience while creating a mural that is hanging in the career development center in the Yellowjacket Union.  The students meet with Dean of Students Vicki Hajewski and a panel including personnel from the Career Development office and explored the relationship between independent voice and collaborative creativity.  Once the ideas were presented, students took the ideas to their two groups and decided on which ones fit them best.  The students then reported back to Hajewski and the Career Development office on their ideas; Hajewski and Career personnel made the final decision on the murals to be created.

            "We went out in the community and learned what murals mean," said Eslinger.

            The students also had to figure out how to collaborate their work with one another.  Many had to figure out who was a leader and who fit into other roles that involve group work.

            The community gets long time remembrance of the work, as the murals represent a social aspect of working together.

            In Hubbard's class, Art for Special Education, six students explored art concepts, media, and processes with adaptation for the mainstreamed student with special educational needs.  Hubbard's students collaborated with special education teachers to develop and teach art lessons that enhanced the existing curriculum to become another contribution to the educational experience for the students with Autism and other disabilities.  At the end of the spring 2010 semester, an art exhibit was held to show the works of the collaborations.