Project 3/ Visual Literacy, Leads to Social Learning.

Cristian Moralez
May 10, 2016
7 min read

Cristian Moralez

900362621

Dr, Dimmick

English 1302

Visual literacy develops students service learning literacy.

Within the University of Houston Downtown (UHD), you do not only find eager college students walking through hallways, talking in groups, and making the atmosphere of competitiveness high, you also find the use of visual literacy extending to develop students service learning. Like any other university, literacy practices in college are important because they are the necessary tools that connect and communicate, students to their goals in their career. From what I observe, UHD does a terrific job by the act of involving visual literacy practices to attract students to follow the vision of community engagement. This is important because throughout over 40 years of providing college students with high- quality education, small classes, flexible scheduling and an affordable tuition; the University of Houston - Downtown does not only exceed the needs of a student, it also continues to excel in giving back to the Houston community; which can be referred as service learning. In connection to service learning, the Mission and Vision section of their website tells the audience that the campus “Is an inclusive community dedicated to integrating teaching, service and scholarly research to develop students’ talent and prepare them for success in a dynamic global society” (About CCESL,1) This implies that the university of Houston Downtown as well wants students to also contribute in service learning. With that being said, my following paper would be talking about how UHD visual literacy practices, develop students service learning literacy.

In campus, literacy practices are the tools needed of a successful student in and out of UHD. A common practice is Visual literacy. Visual literacy within UHD, students interest on images that critically challenge a person's ideas and can either work as persuasion or neglect. For example, in its mission towards community engagement, in campus is we most often have several clubs that give community service outside of campus. UHD offers many clubs and organizations that by the effect of visual literacy, can either engage a student's attention or neglect a student's interest in giving back to the community. In the implementation of visual literacy, the color aspect in publicity and the mission statement can grab the attention of those for whom the image catches their attention. With Visual literacy, it's only up to an individual's interest to commit or reject the offers. For example, once you enter either the O’shea, Commerce, or the Academic building the first thing you spot near the doors or on the first wall you see is some sort of posters announcing either a campus or off campus event. In most occasions, posters are the first way of publicity organizations on campus use to reach students to their events. A great example of this demonstration would be a recent event that was held on April 15, 2016, from “The Center for Community Engagement and service learning organization. “The Buffalo Bayou Service Project”, was promoted with colorful flyers in the walls within campus. Within those posters mission statement, it wanted UHD students and staff to participate in the Global Youth Service Day, which was held to engage students to lead in their community campuses by doing a generous service that would make the Buffalo Bayou beautiful, through the act of cleaning and recycling trash. This event of course, wouldn’t have been in possible interest if posters weren’t posted a month earlier. Ultimately those students who attended developed student service learning by emphasizing the aspect of team work, leadership and awareness to work for a greater cause that would leave an astonishing image.

A third example of Visual literacy I saw on campus that tied to service learning, was posters, wallpapers, and mousepad affiliated to the center for Community engagement and Service Learning (CCESL). In CCESL, “The Purpose of the Center Community for Engagement and Service learning was to prepare educated, engaged citizens, to strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; to address critical societal issues: and resources with the public and private sectors to enrich and enhance curriculum , teaching, and learning , thus providing students with high impact practices that enhance their academic careers at UHD”("About CCESL | Major Opportunities At The University Of Houston-Downtown") But what is so important of The Center for Community Service? You might ask. Well first off its that thru CCESL, UHD has gained different community partners that help UHD become a service leading institute.

For instance, threw CCESL, UHD has partnered with Chambers Elementary school (Alief ISD), Eliot Elementary school (Houston ISD), Hicks Elementary School (Alief ISD), Jack Field Elementary (Humble ISD), and Stephens Elementary school (Aldine ISD) to help teach elementary students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program. In these partnerships, UHD students are sent to these elementary schools to help students develop an interest in STEM. But first thing is first, and in order to do that, UHD had to recruit students for the job. Within these recruitments, posters were usually posted trying to engage anyone interested in the job. To a junior in the University of Houston Downtowns perspective, seeing the many posters throughout the walls and reading about the aspect of working with kids made her decide to take the job. To her, working at an elementary school touched her heart by seeing the fascinated expressions on a kids face. Shockingly, she had mentioned that the success of this program was because she applied herself to service learning. To my friend her love for kids lead her to read lesson plans related to nothing of her interest. These lesson plan made her know what was needed to be taught within the biology textbook she had to translate to an elementary perspective. At first, she was unfamiliar with some context, but later found out how to get students engaged in most of her activities; which consisted in group work and as you can tell, her service learning skills where being developed.

A fourth way in which I have seen literacy manifest within UHD community engagement, is by allowing UHD students, the ability to work for a non-profit agency. Volunteer Houston for example, was one of UHD community partners brought in from The center for Community Engagement. Volunteer is a non-profit agency with a 41year legacy that holds the main purpose to connect volunteers with all the Non-profit agencies and have them work on community affiliated causes. In this partnership, UHD students go to the Volunteer Houston offices, and help them assist the agencies in whatever is needed to be done within the Houston Community. From my personal experience, working at Volunteer Houston; manifested UHD mission of community engagement on a regular basis. For example, within the recent floods that occurred in our Houston Area, my Volunteer Houston team and I, were in charge of answering phone calls of local citizens affected by the horrible rains. Among the phone calls, my role in this organization was to provide our citizens with the information needed so they can have some sort of references to what could be in great use for the Houstonian effected by the severe thunderstorms; which had killed seven people, flooded 1000 homes and caused over $5 billion in damage. As a result, I believe there was much service literacy practiced by the way I had to present all the natural disaster resources to my community. I was receiving at least 30 calls an hour, with many of my Houstonians asking questions like, “I need roadside assistance, can you help me?”, or the, I need help finding my car?” In reference to my citizen’s needs, I also redirected them with shelters nearby their locations, that in most occasions, they didn’t even know about. At the end of the day, I was not only thanked by my boss, but I was also saw how my social literacy skills became made a productive member to my society.

Furthermore, the actions of such strong passion for community engagement, has lead the University of Houston Downtown to receive National recognition. The University of Houston – Downtown, in January 2009 received, “The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Award”. This award recognized UHD, high action in Community Engagement and for its Outreach and Partnerships. As said by the Houston Chronicle, this award, “Is given to one of six institutions in the country that pursue and receive the voluntary classification. (2009, Jan 29)”. Surprisingly, these awards are only awarded to institutions that “provide descriptions and examples of practices of community engagement that showed alignment among mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices.”( NewsBank. Web. 25 Apr. 2016). A second recognition that has also been awarded to the University of Houston –Downtown, is “The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)”. This recognition was named to our University President for its recognizable outreach efforts and thousands of hours held by our UHD students.

Overall, The University of Houston Downtown, should be proud of their service learning accomplishments. Why? It’s because through acts of community engagement, UHD is accomplishing more than just a bachelor degree. What UHD is giving students like me are opportunities in a life to leave a legacy for the future. As a matter of fact, not only can I see the importance, but as well a book published by Vanderbilt University researchers Janet Eyler and Dwight Giles, Jr agree that, “Service-Learning can help students develop the habit of critical reflection, deepen their understanding of course content, enable them to integrate with practice, sharpen their abilities to solve problems creatively, enhance their skills in working collaboratively and learn about human difference and commonality.” (Ender, M. G. 28.) Further on with this idea, another interesting aspect that researchers Janet Eyler and Dwight Giles, Jr describe is the recognition that like UHD has obtain; makes campus recognizable. “Service-learning can help universities increase their responsiveness to society's needs. Often, this enhances the public image of the universities and can positively impact the curriculum, student recruitment, alumni relations, the sense of community on campus and the success of fund-raising efforts.” (Ender, M. G. 28.)

In conclusion, UHD is what their missions says they are. A leading institution that dedicates considerable hours to community engagement that also use visual literacy practices, to develop students service learning literacy with the sole purpose to collaborate with the Houston community.

Work Cited

Ender, M. G. "Where's The Learning In Service Learning? By Janet Eyler And Dwight E. Giles, Jr." Teaching Sociology 28.(2000): 169. British Library Document Supply Centre Inside Serials & Conference Proceedings. Web. 9 May 2016.

University of, Houston-Downtown. "University of Houston-Downtown Receives National Recognition for Community Service." Business Wire (English) 3: Regional Business News. Web. 9 May 2016.

"UH-Downtown nets classification." Houston Chronicle (TX) 29 Jan. 2009: 3. NewsBank. Web. 9 May 2016.

"About CCESL | Major Opportunities at the University of Houston-Downtown." About CCESL | Major Opportunities at the University of Houston-Downtown. Web. 09 May 2016. <https://www.uhd.edu/community-engagement/Pages/about.aspx>.