The First Year Seminar Exploring Instruction Outside of Library Science Kellie Tilton – Alaska Library Association – Valdez, Alaska March 22, 2013

“I VOLUNTEER!”

The Application -Purpose of the program -Faculty members -Help students navigate the University -Studies have been done that FYE programs keep students enrolled -Give them vegetables with their chicken nuggets

But why The Hunger Games ?

“Our tributes: Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen” The course proposal, to my surprise, was accepted The course proposal, to my surprise, was accepted There was feedback, including the following suggestions: There was feedback, including the following suggestions: Perhaps have the students read the entire trilogy Perhaps have the students read the entire trilogy If only reading the first book, maybe have them read Battle Royale as a comparison novel If only reading the first book, maybe have them read Battle Royale as a comparison novel

The Training Center

Over the summer, accepted faculty members had to: -Develop the course in full -Promote the course to incoming freshmen

“Here's some advice. Stay alive.”

Success! Course was approved with 10 students, picked up 2 more when the courses they signed up for didn’t go Course was approved with 10 students, picked up 2 more when the courses they signed up for didn’t go 2 males, 10 females 2 males, 10 females 2 students hadn’t read a single page of the books/seen the movie 2 students hadn’t read a single page of the books/seen the movie 2 additional students had not read other books in the trilogy 2 additional students had not read other books in the trilogy

The Syllabus: -Read The Hunger Games -Read articles relevant to The Hunger Games -Watch the movie -Read “The Lottery” -Pick another dystopian novel and read that -Hunger Games Trivia! -Presentation comparing and contrasting the two books -LOTS OF DISCUSSION -Shadow Curriculum

“Peeta Mellark just saved my life.” Shadow Curriculum, not that Shadow-y Shadow Curriculum, not that Shadow-y Surviving on campus Surviving on campus Talk. Think. Talk some more. Talk. Think. Talk some more. Reading! Reading! It’s really, really hard to wait 15 weeks to talk about all three books. It’s really, really hard to wait 15 weeks to talk about all three books.

The Aftermath Advertise, advertise, advertise Advertise, advertise, advertise Talk about more campus events and services Talk about more campus events and services Bring in guest speakers Bring in guest speakers Go for an 1 ½ hour, instead of 1 hour Go for an 1 ½ hour, instead of 1 hour More interactive activities (like trivia) to encourage discussion and thinking out of the box More interactive activities (like trivia) to encourage discussion and thinking out of the box

How can this help? Get out of the same old, same old Get out of the same old, same old Better understanding of the freshman mindset Better understanding of the freshman mindset Created new ideas for classes Created new ideas for classes Students like to see we’re INTERESTED in SOMETHING Students like to see we’re INTERESTED in SOMETHING

“May the odds be ever in your favor.” Questions? Comments? Book Recs?