07-28-2024 EDU - Flipbook - Page 2
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The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, July 28, 2024
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Tackling tough issues
Innovative liberal arts programs explore
media literacy, gay rights and more
By Alex Keown, Contributing Writer
T
hree Maryland universities are providing innovative pathways that allow
voices of disparate backgrounds to be
heard. Programs at Salisbury University,
University of Maryland, Baltimore County and
Community College of Baltimore County are
aimed at teaching students ways to highlight
and elevate these voices that shape the communities around them.
In today’s world where disinformation can
be difficult to distinguish from factual reporting, Community College of Baltimore County’s
school of writing, literacy and languages is
leading an initiative centered around the topic
of media literacy and integrating news literacy
into existing general education curriculum. The
coursework primarily focuses on local news in
Baltimore with a goal to heighten awareness
of reliable news reporting to enable people to
discern fact from fiction.
Jacqueline V. Scott, associate professor of
English at Community College of Baltimore
County, says the impetus for the program was
rooted with the rise of “fake news” posts on
various social media platforms over the past
decade, as well as a misunderstanding of the
difference between opinion and news.
“There was an onslaught of disinformation,
a deficit of local news. All of this in combination was alarming,” Scott says.
The goal of Scott’s class is not only to
heighten awareness of reliable sources, but
also to encourage responsible citizenry among
students as well as civic awareness, specifically
of the first amendment and role of the press in
our democracy.
Angel Marie, a former student of Scott’s,
says the media literacy class “opened her eyes”
and pushed her to “critically assess the origins
of information and to appreciate the importance of reliable news, regardless of the source's
typical viewpoint.” Scott’s class had such an
impact on Marie that she pursued a career in
media. She joined the podcast “Girl School”
as its social media manager. The podcast is an
investigative series exploring the complexities
of higher education, from the perspective of
community college students.
“Media literacy is more important than ever,
especially now that we’re in what I like to call
the ‘age of misinformation.’ Sometimes, finding
reliable information feels like jumping through
hoops, especially with the rise of AI. That
course taught me how to sift through all the
noise and find the truth, which is a skill that’s
invaluable today,” Marie says.
University of Maryland, Baltimore’s
County’s CoLab, is a four-week paid summer
narrative-based research internship for students
that provides them with opportunities to conduct humanities research, tell solid stories and
amplify community voices.
CoLab began in 2018. Since its launch, students have completed 18 different projects with
seven more going on this summer
Students work on multiple types of projects. Over the years, some of the projects have
included the development of marketing materials for Baltimore Immigration Museum, a script
for a traveling educational play about gardening,
a digital tour of Tola's Room, a Puerto Rican
home museum and cultural space in Baltimore
and information for a special collections exhibit
about paranormal and parapsychology publications in the UMBC library. Other projects have
included the collection of stories about African
American heritage in Baltimore and support
for a documentary project highlighting youth
groups in East Baltimore.
Students are also working on a podcast
highlighting Baltimore’s LGBTQ+ history by
working with oral histories, interviews and
archival resources. The student researchers are
producing multiple podcast episodes about
these histories for the nonprofit organization
Baltimore Heritage, which has “always been
interested in amplifying the different histories
of Baltimore,” Kate Drabinski, principal lecturer
of gender and women's studies at UMBC says.
“It’s amazing to watch what young people
can do if you give them the support and time to
do it. I’m always surprised by what they accomplish… they really bring their energy here,”
Drabinski says. “It’s not just producing something for us (UMBC); it’s making something
for everybody. We want to make sure we have
as many different voices represented as we can.”
Sage Zoz, a UMBC junior, is one of the
students working on the podcast. She says the
podcast has “opened up the multitude of experiences that have happened and the integral
ways in which queer life has shaped the history
of Baltimore.” Podcast episodes will cover a
number of different topics important to the
LGBTQ+ community, including the impact
of HIV and AIDS on Baltimore, as well as an
exploration of black and queer performance art
in the city in the 1970s and 80s, which includes
drag, ballroom dance and the theater, Zoz says.
“It’s been exciting to work on this project.
There’s so many stories to tell but we can’t tell
every story – it’s just not possible. You have to
make an active decision on what to include and
what not to include,” Zoz says.
Art is taking center stage at Salisbury
University. Gallery 128, formerly known as
Electronic Gallery, is a more expanded, largely
student-led, collaborative and experimental
space, says Jayme McLellan, the new acting
director of the gallery. For the past 25 years,
McLellan has been working with artists and
galleries across the Baltimore and Washington,
D.C. region, focusing on experimental and collaborative exhibitions, projects and classes.
The current exhibition, created by New
Media Art Professor David Gladden and students Jeremy Boyden, Sarah Bylan, Bryleigh
Foreman and Isabel Wells, is “Conversations:
Stop Motion Animation.” Gladden learned stop
motion animation and made the short film
"Swamp Creatures" during his sabbatical last
year. He then taught the stop motion technique, and software, to his New Media students,
McLellan says.
McLellan is excited about the evolution of
Gallery 128. When it was known as Electronic
Gallery, she says it was experimental, geared
toward showing electronic artwork like film,
video and experimental media.
“Now it’s geared toward students and faculty working in the space. We’re still working out
all of the components to it, but it’s an exciting
time for our art community,” McLellan says.
“This is a very meaningful approach to creative
display. It opens possibilities and creative sparks
in our students and supports that in an experiential way.”
As Gallery 128 continues to evolve, McLellan
is working on a new exhibition for the fall that
will showcase the work of an artist from El
Salvador. The exhibit will focus on identity and
collective processing of trauma, she says.
“This is an exciting time to be at Salisbury
University,” she says.
Preparing students for future employment is a win-win
College graduates, their prospective employers, and Maryland’s economy all benefit
cyber field.”
The program features include training, mentoring, placement and certifications. Students are
prepared for professional roles as IT Auditors,
evaluating DoD (Department of Defense)
contractor compliance with new CMMC
(Cybersecurity Maturity Model) Certification.
There are 25 open slots in AACC’s program. The
application deadline is rolling until all scholarships have been awarded.
Joseph Copenhaver (left), MATRIX lab manager, and Trevon Jefferson (right), “Tech Jobs Rule” apprentice
By Carol Sorgen, Contributing Writer
U
niversity of Maryland Eastern Shore’s
career and technology education program, located at the Baltimore Museum
of Industry, recently received approval
from the State of Maryland to offer certificate
programs in work-based learning and career
counseling.
“The program will be the first in the state and
is tied to the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future”
initiative passed by the Maryland legislature,”
says Tyler S. Love, Ph.D., D.T.E., professor in the
department of the built environment, director of
graduate studies in career and technology education, and coordinator of undergraduate technology and engineering education.
Love explains that the program will help train
career counselors to meet the needs of students
in grades K-12 in exploring their strengths and
finding career paths that fit their skills and interests, particularly including careers in the fields
of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the
arts, and mathematics), which are projected to
be in high demand in the future. UMES is the
only program in the state with this particular
certificate program that leads to teaching licensure from the Maryland State Department of
Education.
“Every school-age child should have access
Photo: Lauren Bacon, Communications Coordinator, University of Maryland
to career counseling,” says Love. “Educators who
earn this certificate will be able to help students
explore their interests and skills, and as they
progress through school, learn about opportunities such as apprenticeships, internships,
and in-person visits to statewide businesses and
industries.”
Most of the more than 130 students in the
certificate program are currently full-time educators.
“This certificate will not only open doors for
those already in the field of education but can, in
turn, change the lives of their students in helping
them explore their career choices for the future,”
says Love.
AACC Trains Students for Cybersecurity
Careers
Anne Arundel Community College (AACC)
is one of seven colleges nationwide – and the only
community college – chosen to be part of a coalition led by Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT) to address the current and projected cybersecurity talent shortage.
The program seeks to support former military service members and first responders with
transitioning into high-demand civilian cybersecurity careers. Qualifying and selected students
receive funding for tuition and fees up to $5,000
and are paired with mentors to help prepare them
for cybersecurity careers.
Along with RIT and AACC, the other coalition institutions chosen include University at
Albany, Louisiana State University, Polytechnic
University of Puerto Rico, Iowa State University,
Norfolk State University and University of North
Florida.
According to RIT, The Cybersecurity
Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) will soon
require 30,000 Department of Defense contractors to receive audits of their cybersecurity to
ensure supply chain security, which will add to
the growing need for cybersecurity professionals. The National Security Agency has awarded
RIT’s coalition $2.5 million to help fill critical
roles with professionals well-suited to work in
security services and support at least 250 new
certifications that help place transitioning veterans and first responders in desirable professional
cybersecurity roles.
“This is a great opportunity for veterans and
first responders to put their previously acquired
skills to work in the field of governance, risk and
compliance, and learn cybersecurity foundational and technical skills,” says Mary Wallingsford,
associate professor in the cybersecurity, networking and digital forensics department at AACC.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity this
will bring these students, allowing them to pivot
to a rewarding and challenging new career in the
University of Maryland’s MATRIX Lab
Graduates First Apprentice
Trevon Jefferson is one of the more than
40 graduating high school seniors throughout
St. Mary's County who is going on to college,
thanks in part to the state’s “Apprenticeship
Maryland” program. Jefferson, who is 17 and a
recent graduate of Leonardtown High School and
the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology
Center, will be attending the College of Southern
Maryland for two years, with plans to then transfer to the University of Maryland to major in
mechanical engineering. The Dr. James A. Forrest
Career and Technology Center works with companies including the Patuxent Partnership (TPP)
and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
(NAWCAD) on the “Tech Jobs Rule” apprenticeship program, which helps connect students like
Jefferson with facilities such as the MATRIX Lab.
This past year Jefferson worked at the
University of Maryland’s MATRIX (Maryland
Autonomous Technologies Research and eXploration) Lab through “Apprenticeship Maryland’s”
local unit, “Tech Jobs Rule,” which connects
talented St. Mary's County high school students
with opportunities in STEM fields. Jefferson
put his engineering skills to the test, working with Joseph Copenhaver, Research Lab
Manager for the University of Maryland Clark
School of Engineering at the University System
of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) to
build an autonomous 3D-printed aircraft.
Working at the lab gave Jefferson the opportunity to learn how to use the computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine and the water
jet cutter, as well as on skills related to mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering.
“Hands-on practice is a valuable part of the
education the students receive,” says Copenhaver.
The apprenticeships are open to rising high
school seniors who spend four hours a day during the school week receiving at their on-the-job
placements.
In addition to expanding his engineering
skills, Jefferson had the opportunity to meet such
notables as Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore, as
well as Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro,
and other members of the U.S. Cabinet. “It’s been
a very valuable experience,” Jefferson says.
