It makes a lot of sense for students studying ancient Roman architecture to augment their studies by touring the archeological sites themselves. The same is true for students studying British theater, micro-economies in developing nations, or tropical biological ecosystems.
Art professor Doug Calisch has put his own spin on immersion learning. For the second time in the last three years he has embarked on a wild adventure with his photography class. The students arrived on campus to begin preparations on Wednesday, and left last Saturday to begin a three-week journey through the American West.
They'll share the common experience of nomadic travels, collecting photographic images as they move from Columbia, Missouri through Wichita, Kansas, and on into Colorado. They will sleep in tents, visit national parks, interact with locals, and get a sense of the wildness that was the American West. Not only will they experience the amazing natural vistas of the Rocky Mountains, but will capture - artistically - their visions.
They will learn the ins and outs of photography, including black and white, color, and digital. They will also learn how cameras work, how to create and manipulate images in the darkroom, and how to use computers to digitally enhance their images.
"And so it begins—ten students, an alum and his wife, and a professor and his son—coming together to learn about photography, art, the American West and how to travel as a group," said Calisch on the eve of the trip. "Lectures about shutter speeds, apertures, the relationship between art and science, and the history of photography…all pieces of a puzzle that will begin to fit together as the group hits the road."
They'll also enjoy immersion in cultures far different from their own, which is the point of the College's commitment to such initiatives.
"We'll be camping, hiking, and climbing, so the students will need an adventurous spirit," adds Calisch, who will serve as the instructor, tour guide, artistic critic, mentor, and campfire cook.
Once they return on August 9, they will prepare for the fall semester portion of the course. That's when they'll take the images they collected on the trip and begin to edit and prepare them for a public exhibition.
Calisch hopes the community will take part in the travels of his class. He has created a special series of web pages on the College's web site devoted to the trip. From the main page (www.wabash.edu) you can click on the icon describing the trip and follow the day-to-day adventures of the class. Students will upload digital images they collect as they travel, as well as take turns posting journal entries on their experiences.
It's fascinating to me that a college as old and traditional as Wabash continues to reinvent itself to enhance teaching and learning and to further engage its students. And I hope you'll join me in monitoring the photography students' trip through the college's web site.