Letter from the editor

Learning by doing ...

At the very core of an Augsburg education is the belief that learning takes many forms and happens in many places outside of the classroom. Learning through experience teaches us that there is transformative power in walking the path of a person in another culture or in trying out a job instead of ìbook learningî how to do it.

In this issue, we feature three courses that take students out of the classroom. Two are travel courses held during January Interim; the third is an education course, funded by a national grant, that trains future teachers to incorporate new technology in their studentsí learning. All three classes involved both day and Weekend College students, whose jobs and family commitments often prevent them from taking part in travel or experiential learning.

Whether these students are in Cuba, France, or Minneapolis, their stories describe the learning that engages them and pushes them beyond their cultural and educational comfort levels to new insights.

The Auggie Thoughts page also crosses cultural boundaries. President Frame reflects on discussions he and other Minnesota private college presidents had with Chinese higher education officials when the Minnesota delegation traveled to China last fall.

We hope you enjoy these glimpses into Augsburg learning. As always, we welcome and encourage your comments.

—Betsey Norgard
Editor