2008 Woodie Awards
Get a clue: A look at the career paths of Kirkwood staff
Mr. Peterson
Erin Lambert
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Feature
- Page 1 of 1
Students have a chance to travel worldwide and receive credit through Kirkwood Community College with Professor Jed Peterson.
Taking students out of the classroom and overseas has become a passion of Peterson's. He has taken students on trips to England, Scotland, Italy and France where they receive credit. Trips are taken about once a year to various countries around the world and classes are complimentary to the countries they visit. Peterson sets it up so while in another country students do not have to spend all their time in a classroom. Instead, work is given prior to the trip to prepare and then a project is due when they get back.
Peterson said, "There is a certain something you can't get out of a book; you get to experience history. With the United States being such a young country we don't experience buildings over 1,000 years old here." He said many students he has taken overseas have not been out of the Midwest. "The awe they experience is incredible to see," Peterson added.
Many students have gone on several trips with Peterson. After several asked to visit Australia and New Zealand, Peterson began planning his next trip. Peterson and KCC administrators agreed it would be difficult to put a curriculum together for this trip. The trip will still be taken, although, there will be no credit given. Peterson notes that he travels with EF tours because they are easy to work with and provide an all-inclusive trip to students at a reasonable price. The trip is open to all students; more information can be found at www.eftours.com.
Trips to see historic countries around the world are extremely beneficial to students; they have the experience of sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. Peterson encourages all students to look into credit classes which allow you to travel around the world.
Peterson began teaching at KCC in 2000 as an adjunct instructor. He became a fulltime professor at KCC in 2003 as a history teacher in the Distance Learning department. He teaches Internet classes and KTS classes in subjects ranging from United States History to European History.
Peterson is a graduate of Iowa State University and earned a master's degree at the University of Northern Iowa. He currently is working on his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Early American History. The process of completing his Ph.D. has slowed due to his hectic schedule. He is a fulltime teacher, frequently travels to KCC outreach centers and is a father of five children all under the age of eight.
Peterson said he enjoys teaching in the distance program but notes he would like to be in a normal classroom with the ability to interact with students on a more regular basis. He said, " The Distance Learning department is important for students who are not quite ready to leave home or their communities for fulltime jobs that do not allow them to make the commute to Cedar Rapids or Iowa City."
Taking students out of the classroom and overseas has become a passion of Peterson's. He has taken students on trips to England, Scotland, Italy and France where they receive credit. Trips are taken about once a year to various countries around the world and classes are complimentary to the countries they visit. Peterson sets it up so while in another country students do not have to spend all their time in a classroom. Instead, work is given prior to the trip to prepare and then a project is due when they get back.
Peterson said, "There is a certain something you can't get out of a book; you get to experience history. With the United States being such a young country we don't experience buildings over 1,000 years old here." He said many students he has taken overseas have not been out of the Midwest. "The awe they experience is incredible to see," Peterson added.
Many students have gone on several trips with Peterson. After several asked to visit Australia and New Zealand, Peterson began planning his next trip. Peterson and KCC administrators agreed it would be difficult to put a curriculum together for this trip. The trip will still be taken, although, there will be no credit given. Peterson notes that he travels with EF tours because they are easy to work with and provide an all-inclusive trip to students at a reasonable price. The trip is open to all students; more information can be found at www.eftours.com.
Trips to see historic countries around the world are extremely beneficial to students; they have the experience of sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. Peterson encourages all students to look into credit classes which allow you to travel around the world.
Peterson began teaching at KCC in 2000 as an adjunct instructor. He became a fulltime professor at KCC in 2003 as a history teacher in the Distance Learning department. He teaches Internet classes and KTS classes in subjects ranging from United States History to European History.
Peterson is a graduate of Iowa State University and earned a master's degree at the University of Northern Iowa. He currently is working on his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Early American History. The process of completing his Ph.D. has slowed due to his hectic schedule. He is a fulltime teacher, frequently travels to KCC outreach centers and is a father of five children all under the age of eight.
Peterson said he enjoys teaching in the distance program but notes he would like to be in a normal classroom with the ability to interact with students on a more regular basis. He said, " The Distance Learning department is important for students who are not quite ready to leave home or their communities for fulltime jobs that do not allow them to make the commute to Cedar Rapids or Iowa City."
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