Artifact of Out-of Class Learning

Fall 2013
Danny Oliveira
San Diego State University

FALL 2013 OUT-OF-CLASS REFLECTION

In October 2013 I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture at University of San
Diego given by Dr. Shaun R. Harper from the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate
School of Education. Succeeding in the City: A Report from the New York City Black
and Latino Male High School Achievement Study was a brilliant perspective on the
factors that lead to the successful navigation of high school and into college for young
men of color in urban high schools in New York. What stood out the most was his ability
to hone in on the success of Black and Latino males in a negative environment who take
responsibility for themselves to overcome their challenges. Although the statistics are
overwhelmingly stacked against these young mens success, Harpers approach to his
study was best described by Viewing these young men through deficit-colored lenses
sustains a depressing, one-sided narrative about their social and educational outlook.
They deserve to be seen differently, hence the purpose of this study.
I selected this artifact because I was inspired with his ability to focus on the antideficit achievement perspective instead of focusing on the negative labels, stereotypes,
preconceived notions, and inadequacies that society tends to view these young men.
Harper takes a positive outlook on their environmental factors that supported their
success, rather than focus on the negative aspects of the environment. His studys
approach is the inversion of simple questions like Why do so many Black/Latinos drop
out of college? into What helps them graduate and succeed? Gaining an
understanding of how they resist pressures to join gangs, use/sell drugs, skip school, etc.
is the story that needs to be told and celebrated.
The Program Learning Outcomes demonstrated in this artifact include the
preparation and learning tendencies with which these students enter into college and

FALL 2013 OUT-OF-CLASS REFLECTION

strategies that facilitate their development and success (PLO 3), and the principles of
access, equity, and learner success (PLO 8). Dr. Harpers research and how it can be
applied to programs such as EOP & Ethnic Affairs at SDSU in order to promote the
strategies and factors that led these young men to success against the odds is of particular
interest to me (PLO 9).
I found it interesting that there was a pattern of the male students staying away
from their home environment by staying on campus as long as possible in order to a
achieve their academic goals. It was important to note that the predominant component of
the influences in their lives wasnt always negative but that they had much support from
their communities, churches, families and even those very few that didn't have this kind
of support, still made it work somehow. As a first-generation son of

immigrants, I found it inspiring that more than 2/3 of the students

participating in the study were sons of immigrants as well.
This artifact demonstrates my professional goal of attending as many professional
development opportunities as possible to further expand my knowledge base and
professional network. I was fortunate to be able to attend such an impactful dialogue
without a registration fee for a conference or something of that nature. I hope that there
might be other opportunities like this in San Diego while I am in this masters program.
This artifact also demonstrates my personal goal of being committed and fully
engaged in my education and personal growth. In my previous time in the program it
would have been unlikely that I would have attended an event such as this one. I was
working an excess amount of hours in those days and anything beyond attending class
would have been unlikely for me which hindered my growth opportunities for new

FALL 2013 OUT-OF-CLASS REFLECTION

perspectives such as the one presented in this lecture.