Warrior Magazine December 2018

Common reader fosters shared experiences, exchange of ideas

ECCC to offer new 16-week program in Electrical Utility Lineman The East Central Community College Work force Development Center will offer a new 16-week program in Electrical Utility Lineman beginning Feb. 4, 2019, on the Decatur campus. The new program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in the field of utility power transmission and distribution construction, troubleshooting, and repair. It is a non-credit program. Over the duration of the class, successful stu dents will earn certifications including a Class A Commercial Driver’s License, First Aid CPR and OSHA 10-Hour. Also, as part of the prelimi nary screening of applicants, an individual will obtain a National Career Readiness Credential. According to Chris Clark, ECCC workforce development coordinator, the program will incorporate hands-on learning activities in cluding making connections of meter loops, transformers, and other equipment on de energized poles; assisting with the framing and installation of utility poles and apparatus on the ground; assisting in the burying of cable and other related work; operating vehicles and equipment safely, including bucket trucks, digger derrick trucks and forklifts; differenti ating between an energized and de-energized structure and recognize hazards; making basic connections and disconnections; and checking voltage/amperes. Participants will also learn all aspects of the American Public Power Association Safety Man ual and read and understand general informa tion in the Rural Electric Association spec book. During the semester students will also drive commercial vehicles with automatic and stan dard shift transmission and maneuver, back up, and park a trailer, which will require a CDL Class A Learner’s Permit with Air Brakes. A Mis sissippi CDL Learner’s Permit requires passage of the General Knowledge, Combination, and Air Brakes tests, along with a D.O.T. Physical and D.O.T. Drug Screen. Prospective students must obtain a CDL Class A Learner’s Permit with Air Brakes and the National Career Readiness Credential re quirement prior to January 2, 2019. Classes will meet Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to Noon for 16 weeks. The cost is $1,500 per student. Financial assistance may be available. For more information, contact Clark at 601 635-6245 or email cclark@eccc.edu.

promoted interdis ciplinary teaching and learning.” “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a short novella that has made such an impact it is now part of our lan guage. Cliburn said, “Even those who have never read the book have heard the phrase ‘Jekyll and Hyde,’ which is used many times

East Central Community College offered students an opportunity to experience learning beyond the tradi tional classroom environment when it introduced Rob ert Louis Steven son’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” as the common reader

for the 2018-19 academic year. Sherri Cliburn, chair of the college’s Literacy Committee and Career and Tech nical Support Services instructor, said, “East Central has never had a common reader, but we believe this will provide our student body with a shared experience, which will foster the exchange of ideas, perspectives and reactions to a common topic.” All students, faculty and administration were encour aged to read the novella, which was available in various formats through the college’s Canvas module, including HTML, Kindle, PDF, and Word. A small number of hard copies were also kept in the bookstore for those who pre ferred a printed copy. Then the reading was incorporated into numerous college courses. Misty Smith, who serves as Director of the Success Center, Testing and Continuing Educa tion and also chairs the Success Center Advisory Committee, was also involved in the process of selecting the common reader and said, “By incorporating the reading into the various classes, students were not only more likely to read the text, but also more concepts and projects regarding the material could be explored, which made for a more collaborative and community based project, which in turn

by people to describe someone’s unpredictable nature, which can range from very good to shock ingly evil.” While the trend at many institutions tends to lean toward contemporary, non-fiction texts of the self-help variety, Smith noted that “recent studies have shown that a more effective choice is the use of a classic text such as ‘Jekyll and Hyde,’ which has shown to elevate intellec tual engagement and challenge students to form their own opinions.” In its initial proposal, the ECCC Literacy Committee was especially interested in Ste venson’s novella as they said, “It can be connected to every course taught at ECCC, including courses as eclectic as commer cial wiring, web and program ming concepts, chemistry and advanced concepts of nursing, in addition to the more obvious connections to courses such as English, psychology and criminal justice.” In addition to incorporat ing the book into course work, the committee also integrated fun activities such as a book club, movie night, a Jekyll/Hyde haunted house, and surprise appearances by Jekyll and Hyde throughout the year.

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