Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 8.09 Education
Presentation #1 Title
“I did not know I was Appalachian!” Teaching Appalachia through the voice of women.
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
“I did not know I was Appalachian: Teaching Appalachia through the voice of women” describes how the college course entitled “Women of Appalachia” allowed a new way to learn about Appalachia for both the female and the male students enrolled in the course. To my initial surprise most students did not identify with being Appalachian even though most were from rural West Virginia. In order to meet the requirement for this course to qualify as “artistic expression” the development of this course needed to be interdisciplinary. Through story, song, poetry, oral histories, and sociology each student learned to express their understanding of what it means to be Appalachian. With the beauty of mountain laurel blooming in the spring, the students began to find their voice and readily understand their unique identities that are all in some “bigger way” Appalachian.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
.Dr. Janis Rezek an associate professor of sociology at WVU Tech in Montgomery WV where she is also chair of the social sciences department. Her main interests are in sociology of women and Appalachian Studies.
“I did not know I was Appalachian!” Teaching Appalachia through the voice of women.
“I did not know I was Appalachian: Teaching Appalachia through the voice of women” describes how the college course entitled “Women of Appalachia” allowed a new way to learn about Appalachia for both the female and the male students enrolled in the course. To my initial surprise most students did not identify with being Appalachian even though most were from rural West Virginia. In order to meet the requirement for this course to qualify as “artistic expression” the development of this course needed to be interdisciplinary. Through story, song, poetry, oral histories, and sociology each student learned to express their understanding of what it means to be Appalachian. With the beauty of mountain laurel blooming in the spring, the students began to find their voice and readily understand their unique identities that are all in some “bigger way” Appalachian.
