Students take to study groups to assist learning

Photo By Sgt. Jason Mikeworth | Staff Sgt. Shana Tinsley, from the 1-90th Postal Company, takes notes during a study group lead by 1st Lt. Lashonda White at Logistical Support Area Anaconda.  

03.16.2006

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers serving at Logistical Support Area Anaconda have many options available to continue their education while deployed, and one program spearheaded by Lt. Col. Kevin Kensinger is showing results.

Kensinger has organized several independent study groups that operate similar to traditional lecture-style courses, and has wrapped up its first five-week session.

"We've had really tremendous attendance. The last count was 67 Soldiers in the four study groups," said Kensinger, the commander of the 376th Personnel Services Battalion. "It's been much higher than I originally hoped for."

Kensinger said there are at least another 32 people working independently on the same courses.

"It depends on the style of the students. A lot of students like the style and discipline of regular classes," Kensinger said. "But others can do independent studies just as well."

Kensinger, who works part-time as a professor for a Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech), sought out volunteers to help teach the classes. Some groups are hosted in his battalion's conference room and others are held at the Blackjack Education Center.

"The education center has been tremendous," Kensinger said. "We'll end up with several students getting their associates and bachelors degrees, and even better is a lot of students have gotten started on their first year."

Described as "passionate for education" by other instructors, Kensinger has labored hard to organize the groups.

"It's a lot of work getting started," Kensinger said. "But it's certainly enjoyable to see everyone getting started and seeing the accomplishment on their faces when they're done."

Spc. Matthew Philp, a communications representative with the 220th Transportation Company, said the groups have assisted him with his studies.

"I think it's very nice that we have some program like this to do," Philp said. "It helps me prepare for my future while I'm over here."

Philp has previously attended Southern Connecticut State University, and hopes to use the classes he attends while in Iraq to work towards an accounting degree.

"I'm looking forward to going for my CPA," Philp said. "But I'm working on a computer science degree as well."

Philp said he likes the organization of the study groups and the way they work like classes.

"It's a lot smaller than college courses, so there's a lot more personal interaction," said Philp.

While some of the students are just beginning their college careers, 1st Lt. Lashonda White, a postal and finance officer and platoon leader with the 1-90th Postal Company, is getting her first taste of instructing at the college level.

"This is my first teaching experience as a professor, but being in the military you are often put on the spot to enhance your communication skills by teaching various skills to your Soldiers," White said. "It's not a new role with teaching, but a new role teaching as a professor."

White said the experience has been fun.

"I'm enjoying it greatly," White said. "I'm loving the interaction with the students that I have."

She said she felt a small case of nerves after first volunteering.

"I was nervous at the very beginning, but after my first class I calmed down," said White. "I was anxious and worried about how my students would receive me."

White said she was well received by her students and thinks the class interaction has benefited the Soldiers.

"A lot of it is based on them giving me their points of view," White said. "Especially being principles of management, it expounds on various techniques of management and communication skills."

She said the courses provided to deployed personnel are great.

"I think it's a great opportunity for any civilian, Soldier, sailor, or airman to have the opportunity to take college courses away from their home station," said White. "This allows them to focus their attention on some of their personal goals and get their education taken care of."

The students aren't the only ones learning new things in the class, White said.

"This class for me has brought back some of the things I learned, originally, taking management courses," White said. "It allows me to become a little bit closer to the students, and to see and perceive things as they do."

Pfc. Jaime Martinez, from C Detachment, 502nd Personnel Services Battalion, said the course work is a great way to fill spare time while working to achieve his personal goals.

"Out here, it's pretty much nothing but free time when you're not on the job," Martinez said. "It fills up the free time and cuts back on the boredom. You can't let your morale get that low when you're too busy to think about it."

Martinez, who is taking two classes now, said he wants to get a business management degree.

"I'm getting the prerequisites out of the way and setting myself up for more classes when I get back," said Martinez. "It's a time crunch, so its pretty much goal setting and doing what you got to do to get it done."

Spc. Almando Garcia, also from C Detachment, 502nd PSB, agreed that good time management skills are essential for the course load.

"I try to read whenever I can," Garcia said. "Sometimes at work, if it's a down day, I can study or look at the homework."

Garcia, who is taking courses on information business systems as well as business management principles, said he likes the class structure of the study groups.

"It's good to be able to come in and discuss the course material and go over it hands on," said Garcia. "Any questions you have you can ask right there."

Garcia acknowledged that the motivation to do well in class is up to the individual students.

"With independent studies, you make or break yourself," Garcia said. "What you put into it is what you'll get back. You set the pace and you have to be able to handle it."

He also had some advice to offer for future students that sign up for the study groups.

"Make sure you do your homework on time and you study the course material during the week, and be ready to go on the night of the class," said Garcia. "You got to put in as much work here as you would in a regular college environment."

• Date Taken: 03.16.2006
• Date Posted: 03.16.2006 09:43
• Story ID: 5749