Contact: Margaret Kovar
Photo by: Russ Houston
A Mississippi State faculty member's method for teaching creative writing involves an innovative--some might even say, soaring--style to help students to learn the material.
Jack Blendinger, an educational leadership professor at the university, teaches a graduate-level course in school administration. During the spring semester, he also leads "Writing for Thinking," a creative writing course for undergraduate majors.
A 22-year College of Education faculty member, Blendinger is an advocate of the Montessori approach to learning. All of his classes are very hands-on, he explained.
"Students learn best when they can get involved and find meaning in what they see in their textbooks," Blendinger said. "It's one thing to accrue knowledge, but it's another thing to put it to practice."
To provide both memorable and applicable learning experiences for both of his spring classes, Blendinger created "The Great Bullyland Paper Airplane Competition."
Blendinger said his inspiration for the non-traditional teaching tool evolved from the story of a paper airplane competition told in a book his granddaughter gave him five years ago. Since then, the hand-made creations have served as props in all of his classes, the University of Northern Colorado doctoral graduate explained.
The project put school administration graduate students in charge of planning the event, with the undergraduates responsible for building--and successfully flying--their paper projectiles. In addition to an academic grade, the class effort also featured a trophy and gift cards for the winners.
"I am a hands-on learner, so to be able to get an assignment where I can apply what I've learned is great," said senior Sonya McLaughlin, a kinesiology major from Ecru.
"The event is really beneficial to those of us on the administration side," agreed graduate student R.J. Morgan, an award-winning Starkville High School teacher. "It's a very involved undertaking, and we will be doing all of this and more as school administrators."
While paper airplanes serve as the basis for class activities in research and essay writing, they were designed by Blendinger do more than help students absorb curriculum subject matter. They also help demonstrate how to approach teaching from different angles, a valuable skill that will help the future teachers excel in their professional careers.
"Being a teacher involves thinking outside of the box to better help students learn," Morgan said. "This class gives undergraduate students a great example of how to do that."
With final examinations under way at MSU, Blendinger's students soon will be getting their class grades.
For senior Charles Roberson, of Brandon, and junior Amy M. Wilson, of Grenada, however, one class achievement already has been realized.
They are the competition's top winners, along with junior Lauren M. Seal, of Bay St. Louis, who finished in second place but won the best in show award for her creative design. All are kinesiology majors.