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Interdisciplinary and ways of knowing communities
Learning communities descriptions, spring 2007
open to all students

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Speech in American History

Courses:

Credits: 7

Instructors: David Ghere and Heather Dorsey

Counts for: Requirements in Historical Perspective, Citizenship and Public Ethics

Oral communication and American history are essential preparation for student success in college and life. These classes have coordinated assignments and complimentary content addressing six themes: Native American speeches, revolutionary rhetoric, speeches about slavery and women’s rights, reactions to Indian removal, civil rights speeches and Cold War rhetoric.

“Learning the stuff that I have learned in my first semester gave me such confidence. My writing style has changed, the things that I write about, my perception, and the depths of my speech—it’s just 10 times better. I can sit and be able to debate you on a topic and be OK with what you know.”

The Ways of Knowing in Social Science

Courses:

Credits: 9

Instructors: Dan Detzner, Jerry Shannon, and TBA

Counts for: Requirements in Freshman Writing, Social Sciences, International Perspective, Citizenship and Public Ethics

Students will be exposed to the major social science disciplines—economics, political science, history, sociology, anthropology, and geography—by examining the local/global dimensions of immigration. Students study major ideas, theories, and perspectives from each discipline while building an interdisciplinary understanding of this issue. Topics for writing will range from students’ own immigration histories to current immigration trends or policies. Students gain skills to conduct research and write within and across the social science disciplines, and those interested in the social sciences gain useful information for choosing a major. With a focus on career planning, students in this community better understand themselves, the act of immigration, and the social sciences.

Nature’s Deviants? It’s About Time!

Courses:

Credits: 7

Instructors: Annia Fayon and Irene Duranczyk

Counts for: Requirements in Physical Science with Lab, Environment

Patterns in nature can be described through observation. These qualitative descriptions give us an understanding of nature’s processes on the human time-scale. Through mathematical reasoning, we can begin to understand these processes on the larger time-scales. It is only by combining the qualitative (observations) with the quantitative (mathematical reasoning) that we can begin to fully appreciate the concept of geologic time and the rates of geologic processes. Through the combination of geology and math, the goal of this learning community is to help students develop scientific reasoning and college-level mathematical skills, preparing students for success in science and/or mathematics-based degree programs.

Creative Arts Journal

Courses:

Credits: 6

Instructors: Jeffrey Chapman and Maureen Aitken

Counts for: Requirements in Freshman Writing, Other Humanities, International Perspective

Students will create and interpret visual arts, stories, music, and spoken word in class assignments and for potential inclusion in an online arts journal. Study of contemporary creative writing (memoir, short stories, short-shorts) and essays by writers will be studied for form and style as an inspirational means to enhance student creative prose. Art study and practice (music and visual arts) will foster student interaction and application of drawing, painting, and music. Collaborative work between classes will allow students to combine language and visuals arts as a way to develop both mediums. Students will also consider audience and presentation of the arts journal.

Assert Yourself: The Power of Performance

Courses:

Credits: 7

Instructors: Tina Frederickson and Jill Trites

Counts for: Requirements in Other Humanities, Cultural Diversity Citizenship and Public Ethics

These courses stress the oral tradition: the verbal and nonverbal presentation of self. Through speeches and scene work, students become more comfortable articulating and vocalizing their thoughts and feelings, increasing their communication competence in public speaking and theatrical performance, interpersonal and small group interactions. Students will realize the power of language and the spoken word in achieving their rhetorical goals.

Just Words: Law, Literature, and Power

Courses:

Credits: 8

Instructors: Rashne Jehangir and Karen Miksch

Counts for: Requirements in Literature, Social Sciences, International Perspectives, Citizenship and Public Ethics, Writing Intensive

This learning community invites students to delve into themes of identity, language, power, opportunity, and individual versus societal rights. We will explore these themes in the context of U.S. society and global perspectives. Novels, plays, and legal cases will set the stage for an in-depth examination of the ways law and literature act as a lens to view power in society. Both classes will require students to engage in active learning, and include mock trials, book club presentations, and other collaborative projects. Students will also have the opportunity to hone their written work.

Real Justice: Reading and Writing the Law

Courses:

Credits: 7

Instructors: Gary Peter and Karen Miksch

Counts for: Requirements in Freshman Writing, Social Sciences, Citizenship and Public Ethics, Writing Intensive

The “law” affects nearly every aspect of our daily lives. But when we talk about the “law,” what exactly do we mean? This learning community explores the history and philosophy of the law and our legal system through critical reading, thinking, and writing. Students will have the chance to explore film and television representations of the U.S. legal system and compare those with a jury trial that students will perform. Students will grapple with issues related to legal ethics, the right of privacy, and other law-related subjects, developing skills in research and analysis as well as oral presentation.

Communicating with Words, Numbers, and Computers

Courses:

Credits: 11

Instructors: Patricia Fillipi, Suzanne Loch, and Doug Robertson

Counts for: Requirements in Freshman Writing, Mathematical Thinking

Students in this learning community will explore the methods researchers use in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to answer questions of interest to them. Through the structured development of their writing, statistics, and computing skills students will learn and practice techniques that can be used to inform and persuade others. Students will learn how to effectively use various writing styles, statistical methods, and computer technology to improve their communication and leadership capabilities for fields such as psychology, sociology, journalism, and business.

June 2006