Creatively Interacting with Nature at Oakton Community College

Fall 2014 Orientation Week Session
Thursday, August 21 (12:30-2:00 p.m.)

This workshop session responds to the question, “Remembering that Oakton's campus is home to many non-human species, how do we sustain these relationships?” I will share several examples of how I have integrated aspects of the natural environment into class curriculum I have used. Participants will share examples of nature-related curriculum that they have used in classes they have taught, and we will brainstorm other examples. Here are several examples I will share with the participants: 1) soundwalks as engaging awareness-building and writing activities; 2) environmental-themed projects as part of a service learning-integrated class; 3) Poetry reading and writing activities that resonate with the natural environment at Oakton’s Des Plaines and Skokie campuses.

A few questions to get us started:

• Do you integrate aspects of the environment and/or Oakton Community College's natural surroundings into any courses you teach? If so, how?
• What are some aspects of OCC's natural environment that you can identify? (e.g. buckthorn, frog choruses, etc.)
• What are some good books, movies, websites, and other resources that can be used -- to integrate aspects of OCC's campus and natural environment into a class you teach?