Summer Session I: Urban Education 321 & Urban Education C060

For the third successive summer, we will be introducing students and other interested participants to a rural (non-tourist) area in Jamaica.  The course is a combined undergraduate (upper level) and graduate course in education, and will take place during Temple University's first summer session (May 16 - June 28, 2005).  

Students register for 6 course credits (graduate or undergraduate): Urban Education 321, Special topics - International service learning; and Urban Education C060 (Schooling and Development in Third World Societies). With special permission, students may register for 3 credits instead of 6. Graduate students who enroll in these courses will do additional work and receive graduate credit.

This learning experience takes place during a one-month stay in Jamaica (arriving on site on May 15 and ending on June 14). The program is based in the Parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica, with lectures and discussions conducted by Dr. Nelson Keith (West Chester University, distinguished faculty, retired), Dr. Novella Keith (Temple University), Dr. Mike Dorn (Temple University) and Jamaican university lecturers and professionals. This course combines academic learning and learning in the field. Students will spend two days a week at a variety of sites (transportation provided), where they will engage in service learning and community education in one of the following areas: technology in the schools, alternative schooling for pregnant teens, early intervention and therapeutic recreation for children with disabilities, eco- and maroon-heritage tourism, and public health/sanitation. During the first week, students will be introduced to service learning partners and sites, Jamaican history and culture, and socio-educational and development issues. They will also undertake background reading and research on one of the service learning projects with which they will be associated during their stay. During the second or third week, students will also spend time in university housing and attend lectures in Kingston (University of the West Indies/University of Technology). During the last week of the course, students will write an integrated research paper, combining class insights and field observations and will make presentations and offer their insights and suggestions to participating community stakeholders. For students enrolled in 6 credits, it will be possible to combine course requirements and produce one comprehensive final paper.

Fridays and weekends will be devoted to educational travel/excursions. Field trips will include visits to agricultural cooperatives and banana plantations to learn about sustainable development strategies; sugar plantations to interview local workers and examine the legacies of colonialism; urban and rural schools and universities to examine issues including the digital divide and women’s empowerment; and alternative tourism development sites (beaches, marshes, biodiversity reserves, forest hiking). Collectively, these experiences deepen students’ understanding of and commitment to addressing global problems. Students seem to come out of the experience transformed, and it is quite common to hear them say that it has changed their lives.

Costs

The Jamaica fee for this summer abroad experience is $2000 per person (assuming a group of at least 10 students) and includes lodging, breakfasts, all local transportation, and educational activities. Air travel and tuition are not included. Some activities, such as an optional overnight stay in the Blue Mountains, involve additional costs. Air fare is approximately $500 - $600. Food and incidentals are estimated at an additional $400-500 each. Tuition for 6 credits ranges from $2124 (undergraduate PA resident) to $4124 (graduate non-PA resident). Students are also expected to obtain an international student card and international health insurance (approximately $25). Non-Temple University students enroll through the university's Office of Continuing Education.

Sponsors and Location

This summer abroad experience is sponsored by the Urban Education Program, in the College of Education, Temple University, in partnership with Edu-Tourism St.Thomas, Inc., a non-government organization (NGO) that creates opportunities for learning, community service, and travel by connecting people from overseas to the people of Jamaica. The NGO, which is incorporated as a non-profit in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, partners with community-based organizations in Jamaica and links them with students and others in ways that provide human and financial resources to support these organizations’ community development projects. The course and related experiences are coordinated by Dr. Novella Keith, a longstanding faculty member in the Urban Education Program; Dr. Michael Dorn, who holds a joint appointment in the Institute on Disability and Urban Education; and Dr. Nelson Keith, who is President of Edu-Tourism.

For the majority of their stay, students are housed in double and triple rooms at the Center for Global Understanding, a beachfront, residential educational facility located in Yallahs. This town of 12,000 is the second largest in St. Thomas Parish and is approximately 30 kilometers East of Kingston, the Jamaican capital. Although St. Thomas has its share of natural beauty, it is not a Jamaican tourist destination; it thus offers the opportunity to experience Jamaica as a country and not only as a beach resort. The Parish has many natural resources: the high mountains from which Blue Mountain coffee originates; rivers, fertile plains and hillsides that are still cultivated in bananas, sugar, and ginger; and, of course, beaches. It is also rich in local history and culture. Two of the national heroes of Jamaica, Paul Bogle and George William Gordon, are from St. Thomas. Both were leaders in the Morant Bay rebellion of 1865, which led to the beginning of constitutional government in Jamaica. St. Thomas Parish has kept close to its indigenous roots, which include local cultural celebrations such as kumina and crop-over festivals. Start exploring: for more information on these topics, go to http://www.moec.gov.jm/heroes and http://www.jamaicans.com/culture.

Application Deadline: The deadline for completed application and supporting materials when taking our Summer Session 1 education courses in conjunction with a Temple University degree program is March 1, 2006. Inquires about our program and our trip can be made year round.

To be considered for the 2006 trip (SS1), applicants should submit: