This school year, we’re excited to introduce a new initiative: Lightening Talks! These are 30-minute prerecorded book discussions centered around our One Book, One Campus (OBOC) selection, American Like Me. We invite you to schedule a time with us at your earliest convenience to participate.
What is OBOC?
One Book, One Campus, or OBOC, is an exciting community reading program that brings together students, faculty, and staff from all corners of our campus. A committee of faculty and staff carefully select a single book that they believe holds the power to inspire, inform, and ignite meaningful discussions.
Through OBOC, we aim to promote a shared reading experience that transcends departmental boundaries, creating a common thread that unites our diverse academic community. The selected book becomes a focal point for conversations, events, and activities, encouraging a sense of unity and intellectual exploration. We invite everyone to join us on this literary journey as we engage with thought-provoking themes and ideas, all while fostering a deeper connection within our campus community.
How It Works:
- Opening - Strong Opinion About a Weak Thing: Start your talk with a bold statement or a strong opinion on something seemingly minor but thought-provoking.
- Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and your role on campus.
- Main Topic: Dive into your chosen essay or theme from American Like Me.
- What Are You Reading?: Share what you’re currently reading, whether it’s related to the OBOC book or something else.
- Next Event: Conclude by mentioning any upcoming campus events or initiatives you’re excited about.
Pick an Essay or Theme: Choose an essay or theme from American Like Me that resonates with you.
Invite Student Participation: Consider inviting your students to participate. You might even offer extra credit to encourage engagement.
Prepare for the Conversation: Explore our OBOC guide to find valuable information about the book, contributor profiles, and instructional materials. This will help you develop thoughtful questions and talking points.
What We Need from You:
- Choose Your Focus: Select an essay or theme to discuss.
- Invite Participation: Think about how you can involve your students.
- Come Up with Questions: Let us know if you have specific questions or topics you’d like us to cover during the recording.
- Date Range: Dates you will be available to record the discussion.
We look forward to hearing your unique insights and making these Lightning Talks a vibrant part of our campus community!
