June 5, 2018
K-State faculty serves on panel at annual Cavalier Conference on Literature and Writing
Smoky Kelly, faculty member in the Office of International Programs' English Language Program, presented with John Franklin, professor at Pittsburg State University, at the fourth annual Cavalier Conference on Literature and Writing at Johnson County Community College this past April.
The conference committee described this year's content focus as "Research is foundational for everything we do: teaching research, doing research, and sharing our research is what grounds us in our profession. Research is a bedrock component of critical thinking and drives both personal and institutional change."
While Franklin's presentation, "How my life as an English professor improved when I accepted my freshman composition students as informed consumers rather than as an informed electorate," was on a change in topics from social issues to personal consumption, Kelly's presentation, "A perfect alternative research assignment: Making learning applicable for students' lives," focused on providing students with an alternative research assignment.
Later Franklin shared words of encouragement regarding Kelly's presentation and working with international students. Franklin wrote, "Your topic was of immense value to those of us who work with international students. The practicality and the community-building aspect of your pedagogy speak to your willingness to engage with your students as you create avenues of expression and interpretation that are both substantial and profound. Certainly, your students' responses justify your empirical research."
"This is a great example of why professors, instructors and researchers should continue to present and share their research locally, nationally and internationally when given the opportunity," Kelly said. "This conference was a great opportunity to share as well as learn what others are doing in classroom research. I'm glad I got the opportunity to be part of a great panel as well as listen to other research and writing presentations.
"Not sharing research could be even considered a disservice to our professional colleagues as we never know when and where our research will have positive and lasting implications on other professional colleagues of other universities and colleges," Kelly said.
The conference attracted more than 100 attendees, with presenters from Emporia State University, Washburn University, Johnson County Community College, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Fort Hays State University, Metropolitan Community College, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Pittsburg State University and Kansas State University, and a keynote speaker from the University of Denver.