Morgan Students Take Experiential Learning Excursion to NMAAHC

Undergraduate students enrolled in the “Foundations in Communication, Composition, and Learning” course stepped out of the classroom recently to learn and explore writing, composition, and research in a different setting. Approximately 50 students from various majors, led by School of Global Journalism and Communication faculty members Dr. Laura Dorsey-Elson and Dr. Baruti Kopano and College of Liberal Artsprofessor A.J. Verdelle, visited the National Museum of African-American History and Culture (NMHAAC) in Washington, D.C. The museum visit was a component of the course’s experiential learning offerings.

The “Foundations” course, taught from an Afrocentric perspective, places emphasis on exposing students to cultural experiences to broaden their awareness of the social and intellectual context in which they live. In addition to experiential education, students enrolled in the yearlong pilot course are also introduced to composing and communicating ideas using writing, oral communications, and digital tools. MSU faculty works closely with students to help them strengthen communications skills and develop effective research strategies and competencies. Students are challenged to become refined readers through a variety of texts including books, film, digital presentations, and visual works.

Opened in 2016, the NMAAHC is the only national museum dedicated to highlighting life, history, and culture from the African American perspective. With more than 36,000 artifacts, the museum aims to celebrate the contributions of African-Americans.