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About

Website Creators

Contents

  1. 1 Website Creators
  2. 2 Natasha Carnali
  3. 3 Editorial Coordinator
  4. 4 Kassandra Wenaas
  5. 5 Maryanne Kissinger
  6. 6 Chanakya Mukherjee
  7. 7 Amy Jackson
  8. 8 Our Instructional Team
    1. 8.1 Dr. Tania Smith
    2. 8.2 Carmen Groza

 

 

Natasha Carnali

Editorial Coordinator

I am a fifth year student at the University of Calgary with a Communication Studies Major and minor in Italian Studies. I enrolled in Coms 463 with Dr. Tania Smith because it was a required course for my degree and because it was a CSL course. In my past experiences, I have found CSL courses to be very useful in the work world. Applying theory to real-life work situations can expand your knowledge and learning in a way that regular classes can't do. The last CSL course I had greatly helped me in my two Co-op work terms and it was because of the experiences that I had with my group in that CSL course that I did well in the work world. I was better prepared for what I would face out there and so I was very greatful that I had taken that class.
 
CSL should be a requirement for every degree because it hits home all the theory we have learned and lets us apply it to our lives. Isocrates, the famous Ancient Greek rhetorician stated it perfectly by saying,
"When teaching rhetor, the student should be required to combine in practice the particular things which they have learned, in order that they may grasp them more firmly and bring their theories into closer touch with occassions for applying them." (Socrates, Antidosis 184-85).
 
  

Kassandra Wenaas

I am currently in my third year of undergraduate studies within the Faculty of Communication and Culture, majoring in Communication Studies at the University of Calgary.  I entered into this class, Communications 463 (Advanced Professional & Technical Communications) taught by Dr. Tania Smith, because it was an option and fit into my schedule.  I had no prior understanding of what Community Service Learning (CSL) was and what it entailed.  However, throughout the semester CSL has become important to me because it has given me a voice.  I am able to bring what I have learned thus far in my degree, and apply it to 'real world' situations within my community.  By feeling that my academic education has some merit, I am more inclined to become active in my educational experiences.  CSL is more than just a course, it has changed my attitude about the value of my undergraduate degree.  It has increased my confidence in my ability to apply the concepts I have been learning in my academic career to my future professional career.
 
 
 

Maryanne Kissinger

I am a third year undergraduate business student at the University of Calgary. I am currently taking an undergraduate degree in Business Process Management (BPMA).  I also work part time during the year in the bakery at Safeway, however my real passion is to travel. In order to expand my knowledge with different aspects other than a purely analytical business view, while still taking classes that will help me in the business world, I have embarked on a new type of journey...a CSL class. I have never had any experience or knowledge about this type of class before I joined COMS 463. 
 
 
 

Chanakya Mukherjee

I am a third year Economics major with a minor in Communications at the University of Calgary. It was for this minor that I enrolled in COMS 463: Advanced Professional and Technical Communication. My original expectation from this course was just to learn advanced rhetorical theories about professional and technical Communication. And that I did. I also got to learn about Wordpress blogs and Google Sites.

However, I have also learned something that I never would have expected to when I enrolled in this course. I learned how we could use our rhetorical skills to give back to the society we live in. It was the Community Service Learning (CSL) component in this course that taught me the true potential of our rhetorical knowledge. How we can effectively communicate the issues in our society and then make productive dialogue about how to resolve these issues. And through this course I got to be part of a project that would help promote knowledge about such service learning endeavours that have taken place in the University, highlighting the wonderful experience that is CSL.

 

Amy Jackson

I am a fifth year student at the University of Calgary, with a double major in Communication studies and Canadian studies.  As a requirement for my Communications degree, I enrolled in COMS 463 thinking that it would be like most classes I`ve taken at the university, a traditionally taught class.  I was surprised to find out that that the class would involve creating blogs and websites, and despite the challenges of the class I am happy with the new experience.  The class revolves around CSL, and as a student I have had two different classes that deal with CSL and they were both very interesting experiences.

Our Instructional Team

Dr. Tania Smith

Instructor and Project Manager

Assistant professor at the University of Calgary, and the instructor of this course.
Professional website

Dr. Smith has been involved in Community Service Learning leadership, fund raising, course development, and research since 2003. She currently serves on the steering committee for the Canadian Alliance for Community Service Learning.
 
 
 

Carmen Groza

Technology and CSL Coach
 
 
Carmen is an U of C alumni with undergraduate service-learning and mentoring training experience. She has a passion for coaching and learning. Her role is to assist with making the most of your non-traditional learning in the class. She is currently working towards Masters in Educational Technology at UBC.



 
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