Making Connections: Incorporating College Archival Materials into a Women's History First Year Seminar
Speaker Bio
Amy Ensley is the Director of the Hankey Center for the Education and Advancement of Women at Wilson College, where she is also the Coordinator of the Institute for Women in Science, Mathematics and Technology. Amy teaches a First Year Seminar on women's history and contemporary women's issues. She presents regularly on the history of women's education and the history of Wilson College, and she develops programs and outreach initiatives to encourage girls in math and science. Amy has a B.S. in Applied Statistics and Industrial Management from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.S. in Organizational Development and Leadership from Shippensburg University.
Abstract
In this presentation we will discuss our First Year Seminar course that makes extensive use of materials from the Wilson College Archives to explore common FYS themes in historical and cultural context. In this course we incorporate personal letters, meeting minutes, and other college records, to study movements such as women entering the workforce, civil rights, women's rights, wartime, and the progressive era, and we compare the lives of today's students to alumnae from different eras.
We have found that by integrating our alumnae and history into the study of major themes and events, the subject material becomes more meaningful, and we maintain an intentional focus on women's issues. We ask, "What will we say about you a hundred years from now?" The student comes to realize they will be remembered and what they do matters. They are now part of a community with an incredibly rich history.
Future plans for the course include expanding the use of digital exhibits, webpages, and blogs, and incorporating the use of multimedia presentations into the curriculum with the goal of improving communication and technology skills.
Making Connections: Incorporating College Archival Materials into a Women's History First Year Seminar
In this presentation we will discuss our First Year Seminar course that makes extensive use of materials from the Wilson College Archives to explore common FYS themes in historical and cultural context. In this course we incorporate personal letters, meeting minutes, and other college records, to study movements such as women entering the workforce, civil rights, women's rights, wartime, and the progressive era, and we compare the lives of today's students to alumnae from different eras.
We have found that by integrating our alumnae and history into the study of major themes and events, the subject material becomes more meaningful, and we maintain an intentional focus on women's issues. We ask, "What will we say about you a hundred years from now?" The student comes to realize they will be remembered and what they do matters. They are now part of a community with an incredibly rich history.
Future plans for the course include expanding the use of digital exhibits, webpages, and blogs, and incorporating the use of multimedia presentations into the curriculum with the goal of improving communication and technology skills.