Marie Fero wants one thing to be understood.

She wants students to know that her presentation for the Booth Library exhibit titled “Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families and Their Neighbors,” will not be a lecture.

“People don’t come to lectures,” said Fero, an assistant professor of early childhood, elementary and middle level education. “It’s an interactive discussion about migrant children’s education during the Dust Bowl, but it has to have audience participation.”

Fero’s discussion on migrant children’s education during the Dust Bowl will be held today at 4 p.m. in Booth Library Room 4440.

Fero plans to use a PowerPoint presentation complete with pictures of migrant children and families during the Dust Bowl.

“When you use a primary source as a part of your presentation, you ask open-ended questions,” Fero said. “(The pictures) basically brings the audience in and keeps them interested.”

The Dust Bowl started in 1934 because of severe drought and winds that circulated topsoil into the air, which destroyed farmer’s livestock and crops all across the South and Southwest.

As for Fero, she volunteered to discuss the Dust Bowl.

“Since (the theme) is about farm life, the first thing that came to mind was talking about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s,” she said.

Fero said that students should come see the presentation because the Great Depression was a crucial time in America’s history, and the Dust Bowl was one of the reasons why.

“My parents grew up during the Depression, which makes it a particularly interesting time for me. And your grandparents may have grown up during it too,” Fero said. “I just think it connects students with their families.”