Maintaining a Virtual Community
Dr. Anne Leen
Furman University
For Sunoikisis, the success of its innovation with technology depends in a large part on the existence of a thriving virtual community. From the beginning, Sunoikisis faculty have met face to face to learn and plan how to use technology for teaching, learning and research. Such meetings set the stage for creating a community of practice built around Classics pedagogy at small liberal arts colleges. This presentation will explore how Sunoikisis has sustained its virtual community through face to face meetings and virtual communication.
ACS Classics faculty first met in Memphis at Rhodes College in 1996. The aim of that workshop was to introduce ACS faculty to tools and skills that would enable them to use the web and information technology in their courses. The next year they met to develop a variety of web-based course materials, for example, a workbook to accompany the widely-used 2nd year Latin text, “The Millionaire’s Dinner Party,” and began planning for closer collaboration and a joint curriculum. These early workshops paved the way for the development of the Sunoikisis Summer Seminar.
In Fall 2000 Sunoikisis began offering a five-year cycle of upper level Greek and Latin Language Courses that are team-taught between participating campuses. In order to plan these courses, Sunoikisis faculty meet in summer seminars that have the twin goals of curriculum and professional development. Each seminar consists of intense discussion of primary and secondary texts relevant to the seminar topic led by an invited expert, usually from a large research university. Faculty derive many benefits from participating in this seminar. First of all, team members plan curriculum, learn technology, and build relationships with each other to prepare for the Fall course. Secondly, faculty take part in intense study of the seminar topic which in turn benefits both their teaching and research. Faculty at liberal arts colleges get the opportunity to interact both with their colleagues at research universities and with other liberal arts faculty. This interaction is especially important for faculty from small programs. Finally, these seminars have served as orientations to liberal arts pedagogy for faculty new to such institutions. These new faculty join a community of practice and meet potential mentors for teaching Classics at small liberal arts colleges.
Although face to face meetings are important, Sunoikisis thrives by acting as a community despite geographic distance. Electronic communication such as email and mailing lists, as well as web sites that serve as an information clearinghouse and a course delivery system are all important tools for maintaining the community. In turn, Sunoikisis pursues several other collaborative efforts beyond its inter-campus courses. For example, an undergraduate research symposium provides an opportunity for students to meet face to face and experience a professional conference in Classics. This symposium encourages student research in the humanities and offers a chance for classics majors at different institutions to meet face to face. Students learn about professional and scholarly interaction in the field of classics, and participating faculty build a scholarly community. Sunoikisis has also coordinated a three-year rotating sabbatical replacement position between three of its institutions. The Sunoikisis Speakers Bureaus maintains information on available speakers and upcoming talks on various campuses. Finally, one of our newest programs is the Virtual Latin Tutor which offers online Latin tutoring through AOL instant messenger and is staffed by Latin students on Sunoikisis campuses. All of these activities help sustain the Sunoikisis Virtual Department.
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