Spring 2010 Learning Communities
Learning Communities are linked classes that enable students to create greater coherence in their studies and enhance intellectual interaction with faculty and fellow students. The courses are designed to fulfill liberal education requirements and prerequisites for the majors in CEHD. In Spring 2010 PsTL will offer ten Learning Communities (LC). Descriptions for the LCs are below.
“Putting It All Together:” Questions, Problems, and Solutions in Algebra and History
PsTL 1006 taught by Janet Stottlemyer and PsTL 1231 taught by Bob Poch
In this learning community, US history and Algebra come together to generate questions, solutions, and new ways of thinking about problems. History involves active exploration and questioning. It creates questions that are explored from multiple perspectives and sources to form a more complete and inclusive understanding of the past. Algebra asks questions and seeks patterns to answer them and to develop models for the future. Both disciplines ask questions that require you to take apart the problem, and look at its components in order to develop your understanding and view the problem in new ways. This will lead to new ideas and methods for looking at future problems in the real world.
Questioning the American Dream
PsTL 1004 taught by Suzanne Loch and PsTL 1231 taught by David Ghere
Is it true that anyone who has ambition and works hard can succeed in America? That is a story we have all heard, but what do the numbers tell us? In this learning community, students will explore the idea of the American Dream using information from History and Statistics. Both disciplines encourage us to ask questions and to look for explanations. We will ask questions about immigration and employment and look for patterns in data related to immigration and employment. History and statistics will help us better understand whether the American Dream is a reality, a myth, or a little of both!
Talking About a rEvolution
PsTL 1131 taught by Jay Hatch and PsTL 1461 taught by Jill Trites
How do beliefs help us shape our concerns and responses to critical issues? How do we know that something is ‘true’? In biology you will learn about many issues that shape our understanding of life and how we fit into the natural world. Students will explore questions such as “Can understanding evolution help prevent AIDS?”. In speech, you will develop your presentation and public speaking skills by presenting a speech about beliefs, an informative speech, and a persuasive speech. The speech topics will be based on topics introduced in the biology class.
Facing Your Foes: Statistics and Public Speaking!
PsTL 1004 taught by Irene Duranczyk and PsTL 1461 taught by Tina Frederickson
We all know the statistic: people fear public speaking more than death. As "true" as that may be, so is the thought that most people would rather have a root canal than take a math class. However, in this Learning Community we will dispute these beliefs and empower you with the tools to understand, interpret, and effectively utilize signs and symbols, numbers and words, statistics and public speaking. Through individual and group activities, you will actively learn by carrying out the planning, collecting, and analysis of a beginning statistician while practicing to be a more confident, competent, and engaging communicator. Linked course activities and assignments on contemporary issues of personal and public relevance will culminate in a combined group presentation at the end of the semester. We invite you to join us in defeating your foes by engaging in statistics and public speaking using an entertaining, community building and fun-filled approach!
The Human Story: Psychological and Literary Perspectives
PsTL 1281 taught by Tabitha Grier-Reed and PsTL 1366 taught by Renata Fitzpatrick
What can literature and psychology tell us about the human condition? This learning community will explore the mystery of the human psyche by utilizing literary and psychological approaches to understand what it means to be human. In the literature of the American immigrant experience you will encounter a variety of characters and consider their motivations, turning points, and the forces that shape them. In psychology, you will begin to untangle the internal workings of the individual in order to gain insight into the complexities of human behavior. These contrasting perspectives complement each other, and the connections you make will help you appreciate how both psychology and literature can deepen our understanding of human nature.
Moments of Transition
PsTL 1211 taught by Margaret Delehanty-Kelly and PSTL 1368 taught by Kris Cory
Our lives are full of transitions: our identities evolve as we take on new roles – transitioning from child to adult, from observer to participant, from learner to teacher – and enter new surroundings– transitioning from high school to college, from country to city, from familiar to new. In this learning community, we will consider various forces that are at work on individuals in moments of transition. Using both a sociological lens and an international literary lens, we will critically examine the ways that race, class, gender, and history shape individual choices and interactions between people.
Connections: Human Performance and Human Behavior
PsTL 1281 taught by Cathy Wambach and KIN 1871 taught by Robert Serfass
Are you interested in a career in fitness, sports or recreation? Can you see yourself as a coach, trainer, manager of a fitness club, or a director of a recreation program? If the answer is yes, then Introduction to Kinesiology will help you decide if this career is right for you. Kinesiology is the study of the biological, developmental, social, and behavioral bases of physical activity, recreation, sport and human performance. It is closely related to the field of Psychology, the study of human behavior and mental processes. In this learning community you will find connections between Kinesiology and Psychology while you get to know students who share your interest in the Kinesiology major.
The Visions and Voices of American Civil Rights
PsTL 1246 taught by Gary Peter and PsTL 1366 taught by Ezra Hyland
In this learning community you will explore cultural, political, racial, and gender dynamics through the study of both literature and the law. Along with a particular focus on African American literary texts from the nineteenth century to the present, students will read important court decisions to analyze key legal questions in our constitutional history related to the development of equal protection and other civil rights topics. In addition to the required assignments in each course, students will complete a group project focusing on the disciplines and concepts considered throughout the semester.
Sharing Identities – A Kaleidoscope of the Arts and Social Sciences
PsTL 1204 taught by Mike Stebleton and PsTL 1312 taught by Heather Dorsey
In this learning community, the social sciences and the performing arts come together in an expressive and innovative collaboration. Through international and multi-cultural lenses, students will discover how our collective past and present experiences shape our identities. By combining theatrical texts, music, visual art, and an exploration of the social sciences, this community will examine the concepts such as “place, self, and identity” and how this new-found knowledge enables us the opportunity to shape our future, both locally and globally. The social sciences will focus on globalization issues as viewed from multiple disciplines including psychology, sociology, economics, history, political science, anthropology, and geography. This learning community will examine our collective stories and shared experiences by attending live performances, museums, tours, and other experiential activities. No previous theatre arts or performance experience is required for this learning community.
Mirrors of Self and Culture: Exploring Identity Through Art and Literature
PsTL 1366 taught by Gary Peter and PsTL 1312 taught by Linda Buturian
How does culture impact perceptions of self? How can the creative arts shape and impact our understanding of our identities? Students will explore these questions through reading poetry, short stories, a novel (Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake), and a memoir (Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy) in PsTL 1366. In 1312, they will integrate these ideas through analyzing and creating art. Students will choose creative mediums to explore, including digital media, spoken word, painting, and three-dimensional designs. In this learning community, students will complete one shared project incorporating their understanding of both literature and art.