SE 101 instructors try new and fun teaching methods to get students engaged. Instructors take students outside of the classroom to create bonds with fellow students and campus organizations during Calm, Cool and Collected.
Sarah Hess/ The Lion's Roar
“Calm, Cool, Connected” is a four-part seminar facilitated by Southeastern 101 instructors to help students connect with each other and the organizations on campus.
This semester is the first time that SE 101 classes will be implementing these seminars into their curriculum to aid students in learning with a new setting outside of the classroom. The first seminar “Connect with Campus” seminar that took place Aug. 31 in the Student Union Ballroom. The event was originally planned for the previous day but was pushed back due to the campus being closed on Aug. 30 because of weather conditions. The “Connect with Campus” seminar was comprised of icebreakers and an organizational browse with 50 organizations that included campus offices and services, academic and professional organizations, fraternities and sororities, special interest groups and religious groups.
Kandace Formaggio a Center for Southeastern Excellence advisors and SE 101 instructor was one of three instructors in charge of “Calm, Cool, Connected” and talks about the new changes happening in the SE 101 program.
“We’ve made a lot of changes in our SE 101 curriculum,” said Formaggio. “We have a brand new textbook, and we’re just trying to look for new ways to get students connected. We found that just teaching in the classroom isn’t always as effective.”
In place of the scheduled SE 101 classes of the day students attend this seminar for participation points. Students took part in icebreakers such as ‘Find Your Family’ where students had to make a group of eight people that would be their family for the day. They also played name memorization games and ultimate Rock Paper Scissors.
Ryan Moore a university freshman that graduated from Lakeshore High School talks about his favorite parts of the seminar.
“My favorite part was getting to know everybody and getting to see what’s all around,” said Moore. “It’s cool to connect with everybody just to actually get to talk to people, not just have a lecture.”
Alyssa Guillory a freshman who was home-schooled in Baton Rouge explains how she finds these seminars more beneficial than just learning in a classroom.
“I think that these help me get more information about stuff whereas in the classroom it’s much more focused on books and textbooks and talking about one specific thing,” said Guillory. “This will give me more things to do outside of that, getting more friends, that kind of thing.
Formaggio explains the main purpose behind these seminars.
“The main thing is for them to get connected to an organization,” said Formaggio. “Either an organization, campus office or service. You know maybe they had no idea that we had the student support service office here. Maybe they had no idea they could create their own club, club sports. They had no idea they could get a part-time job. The main idea is there.”
Another key takeaway from this seminar instructors wish for students to learn is making connections on campus.
“Have them connect with each other meet people outside of their own circle and get out their comfort zone and just kind of realize this college thing is bigger than just them,” said Formaggio.