Spring Break
First Year Experience classes more than just the basics
Lidia Ryan
Issue date: 10/31/08 Section: News
Another unusual FYE class is "Dancing with Jane Austen." Thomas Roby, a mathematics professor, teaches the course, which has been offered since 2006.
Roby said he decided to teach the class because dance is something he has always been interested in.
"Learning traditional dances from many parts of the world has been a major addiction of mine since I was an undergraduate," he said.
The class does not focus solely on dances during Jane Austen's time. Roby said he used that name to grab students' attention. It focuses mostly on teaching students English country dances from 1651 to the present day. This semester, students are interested in learning the waltz, Roby said.
"I'm passionate about passing on dance traditions, and the FYE students have been fantastic," Roby said. "They learn quickly and are game for anything."
According to Roby, about 38 students usually sign up for the class every semester. It is usually taught in the Hawley Armory, but since it is undergoing renovations this semester, it is being taught in the parish hall of the Storrs Congregational Church.
While both "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Dancing with Jane Austen" were the instructors' ideas, Ouimette said that sometimes students help come up with FYE courses. One example is the class "UCan Cook at UConn."
Ouimette said that a student came to him looking to go into the culinary arts. Since there were no cooking classes at UConn, Ouimette and the student worked with dining services to create the class.
Ouimette said that most freshmen take a basic FYE class their first semester and get into the topical classes later. He said that both types of FYE classes are beneficial.
"It provides a support place for students to bonds and share cool things they're doing," Ouimette said. "It builds a sense of camaraderie between other students and the instructor."
Park also believes that the basic FYE class is a valuable tool for freshmen, but that the topical classes are also useful.
"What I like about [the topical] classes is that it engages freshmen into intellectual life," Park said. "It's a place where the professor actually knows your name."
Roby said he decided to teach the class because dance is something he has always been interested in.
"Learning traditional dances from many parts of the world has been a major addiction of mine since I was an undergraduate," he said.
The class does not focus solely on dances during Jane Austen's time. Roby said he used that name to grab students' attention. It focuses mostly on teaching students English country dances from 1651 to the present day. This semester, students are interested in learning the waltz, Roby said.
"I'm passionate about passing on dance traditions, and the FYE students have been fantastic," Roby said. "They learn quickly and are game for anything."
According to Roby, about 38 students usually sign up for the class every semester. It is usually taught in the Hawley Armory, but since it is undergoing renovations this semester, it is being taught in the parish hall of the Storrs Congregational Church.
While both "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Dancing with Jane Austen" were the instructors' ideas, Ouimette said that sometimes students help come up with FYE courses. One example is the class "UCan Cook at UConn."
Ouimette said that a student came to him looking to go into the culinary arts. Since there were no cooking classes at UConn, Ouimette and the student worked with dining services to create the class.
Ouimette said that most freshmen take a basic FYE class their first semester and get into the topical classes later. He said that both types of FYE classes are beneficial.
"It provides a support place for students to bonds and share cool things they're doing," Ouimette said. "It builds a sense of camaraderie between other students and the instructor."
Park also believes that the basic FYE class is a valuable tool for freshmen, but that the topical classes are also useful.
"What I like about [the topical] classes is that it engages freshmen into intellectual life," Park said. "It's a place where the professor actually knows your name."
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Caribbean Cruises
posted 2/11/09 @ 6:14 AM EST
We could also create a website with today's pirates. Yes, you have read well. There are modern pirates in some parts of the world that use AKMs and Uzzi automatic weapons in order to rob some cargo ships or a ship that is worth robbing. (Continued…)
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