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| Trinity University President Danny Anderson welcomes participants of the Great Trinity Experiment on Thursday Photo by Dana McLaughlin |
The entire Trinity University campus was buzzed with excitement as students, faculty and alumni participated in the Great Trinity Experiment on Thursday, as a significant part of the celebratory events leading up to the inauguration of Dr. Danny J. Anderson as the 19th president of Trinity University.
This experiment put students, staff and alumni at the front of the classroom, reversing the traditional teaching role for one day.
There were 23 mini-courses selected out of 40 proposals submitted by students, staff and alumni, on topics ranging from the evolving face of homelessness, coding basics, Japanese anime, to drumming. About 200 people signed up to attend these 50-minute courses.
Before people headed to various classrooms, Anderson welcomed all participants in the Laurie Auditorium and encouraged them to consider the four questions that sparked the idea of the Great Experiment: With whom did you learn today? What did you learn about? How did you learn? Why are you learning this?
Sharon Schweitzer, Trinity’s assistant vice president, said that in the past, the inaugurations have often held academic symposiums featuring scholarly experts. Anderson told the Inauguration Committee that he wanted to do something different.
He charged the committee to brainstorm, plan, and create a buzz-worthy, original, and refreshing event that would capture the essence of learning and teaching within the Trinity community.
After months of deliberation and planning, the committee decided to carry out the Great Trinity Experiment in order to “challenge the Trinity community and to showcase how individuals are engaged and invested in this process of experiential and inspiring learning,” said Schweitzer.
“This is a true experiment,” said Lisa Jasinski, a member of the Inauguration Committee. “For me this is both visionary and exciting.”
Anderson hailed this event as an ideal opportunity to “celebrate who we are now and to stretch us to think about Trinity in the future.”
Having an event like this is also in accordance with Anderson’s intention of putting the emphasis of the inauguration on Trinity the community, rather than him as an individual.
“We wanted to focus on the unique aspects of Trinity” and celebrate “the atmosphere of learning that surrounds our campus,” Anderson said.
He added that he will continue to put emphasis on stimulating deep, influential relationships between students, faculty, and staff, while encouraging students to become inspired learners and teachers in their own lives as they move on from Trinity community to shape the world.
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