Reflections from a Professor

International Service Learning at Geddes Estate

by Manuel Litalien

At Bamboo Primary School in St. Ann, the walls are covered with murals of the National Heroes and other symbols of Jamaican pride.

Geddes Estate in St. Ann, Jamaica is the base for an international experiential learning opportunity for students - iLEAD Jamaica. Three professors, including myself, are conducting fieldwork on two projects that the students have been working on throughout the semester. The Estate, established in 1792, is roughly 2,000 feet above sea level. After leaving a frigid Toronto, which had been blanketed by a fresh layer of snow, the team was warmly welcomed to Jamaica by Mrs. Sarah Lucas (the owner/manager), her amazing staff and her 5 dogs. Whether it is the design of the great house, the rumoured mysterious alignment with the stars, moon, and the North pole, or the advantageous positioning of the great house - situated on a hill surrounded by lush fields and verdant green hills - this place has a sense of magic about it.

Dr. Ivor Conolley explores a cave with Social Welfare and Social Development student Olivia Todd

The next morning, Dr. Ivor Conolley, Executive Director of the Archeologist Institute of Jamaica, and a retired professor from the University of West Indies, arrived and was persuaded to join us on an exploration of some caves located on the extensive grounds of the estate. This was another opportunity to network and discuss collaborative research possibilities that iLEAD has provided for me over the years. The tour of the caves to gather information for potential development into a Geddes Great House tourist attraction also exposed us to a darker side of the Estate which included slaves from neighbouring estates being sent for punishment here and the history of the caves being used in inhumane ways. Hence, the name of Dungeon, or punishment hole, being given to one of the caves. Students and professors found themselves reflecting on the social inequalities of the past and how remnants still exist in the current society. Knowing our interest regarding indigenous communities, Dr. Conolley happily explained how the Taino (one of the indigenous people of the Caribbean) barely escaped extermination. They integrated with the slave population, particularly the Maroons. Learning by doing in Jamaica demonstrated to professors the importance of further sharing our areas of research with students, and the possibilities of expanding on this kind of learning to other locations - an idea that is strongly supported by our Deans, Dr. John Nadeau and Dr. Pavlina Radia.

Dr. Natalya Brown supervises students as they discuss organic farming and social marketing with Mr. Sheldon Scott and his colleague from RADA. 

From the perspective of a professor, I witnessed how the students could have fun but also take their tasks and projects very seriously. The iLEAD projects have facilitated team building, awakened a sense of leadership in some students, and have brought forth new initiatives. I see how the students are applying theories to real life challenges. Today, after meeting with Sheldon Scott and his colleague from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the students stayed behind after the meeting to interact with the representatives and also initiated a debriefing session in order to properly prepare for their report that will be due after they return to Canada. These are examples of the forces behind experiential learning; it brings education to a whole new level in terms of the integration of knowledge. Here education comes alive and connects with many areas of the student’s persona; as they adapt to the world unfolding in front of them, make a concrete transaction with the environment, personal knowledge and social knowledge are acquired.  

Dr. Manuel Litalien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Welfare and Social Development at Nipissing University. This is Manuel’s second iLEAD expedition to Jamaica.