Sunday, September 20, 2015

Schedule, Weeks 3 and 4

WEEK THREE
September 14 & 16


September 14
Food justice, farm/nature therapy, and nature deficit disorder. In-class close reading from Spell of the Sensuous.

Due today: Use a device with a screen to learn about our topics for today, then summarize what you have found out… What is food justice? What factors drive food injustice? In what ways can nature be therapeutic? Who coined the term “nature deficit disorder”? Is this a real disorder? In what ways have your own interactions with the natural world had a positive impact on your life? Be specific. Post your responses to your blog before class begins today.


September 16
Potrero Nuevo Farm and Table of Plenty. Living the Hallmarks when interacting with low income people. Sister Jeannette Braun will join us for part of our session today. Pia on e-books.
[Jeannette coming Monday instead. Today do in-class writing: What does it mean to me to be connected to the world, to others and to myself? In what ways do direct relationships enhance or hinder my connectedness to the world, others and myself? In what ways do mediated relationships enhance or hinder my connectedness to the world, others and myself? What are my hopes for my four years at college in terms of increasing my connectedness to world, others and self? Use specific examples from your personal experiences to elaborate your discussion.

Due today: Make sure you have your Hallmarks booklet from the bookstore. Complete the California State Training



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Some quotes from the Catholic Social Tradition on the topic of private property… what insight do these provide into our topic of food justice?


Social function of property
“In the right of private property there is rooted a social responsibility. Indeed, in the wisdom of God the Creator, the overall supply of goods is assigned, first of all, that all men may lead a decent life.” (Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, 1961, para 119, page 103)

“private property does not constitute for anyone an absolute and unconditional right. No one is justified in keeping for his exclusive use what he does not need, when others lack necessities.” (Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio, 1967, para 23, page 245)




A note from Sister Jeanette at Table of Plenty

Things are a bit different this year in that the CA State Health Dept requires that all servers take a food handler course and test and receive a food handler certificate.  Our 8th grade students have passed this requirement without any problem. I need to make sure that all those in the kitchen and  dining room understand the food safety regulations and are certified. Some of our high school students readily got summer jobs as a result of having this certificate!

Also, it looks like we'll have a few regular Bonner students coming from NDNU and they can drive carpools.

About Good Grooming:
Unfortunately,  some of our students are coming looking pretty scruffy- hair not combed or pulled back in a ponytail, chipped fingernail polish and not coming with the required white top/t-shirt-polo shirt. Some look like they grabbed their shirt out the the dirty clothes bin!  Coming well groomed is a health dept. requirement and TABLE of PLENTY'S too!

I'm sure that your students will do very well with the SafeWay
certification! It should take only about an hour or so and they
have 3 chances to pass this test and 75% is passing.  

Go to CAFoodHandler.com for the food handler course & test
and print your 3 year certificate.

The fee is $15, but use the promo code "beach" and get $5 off.
Please request that a copy of your certificate is forwarded to

We are willing to reimburse the $10 to any student who has their
certificate sent to me at tableofplenty.olp@gmail.com!

Thanks for your support, Patti! - Jeanette


WEEK FOUR
September 21 & 23


September 21
Jeanette Braun TOP. Exploring connectedness with world, others & self. Mediated & unmediated relationships. Close reading.

Due today: Do a close reading of the handout from Spell of the Sensuous. Write notes in the margins so that you remember any questions, observations or personal connections that come up for you as you read. Highlight any words you don’t know the meaning of, then look those words up. Then read the passage a second time. Make margin notes in a different color. At least one day later, read the passage a third time, making margin notes in a third color.

Also due today: Obtain your e-copy of Journey of the Universe


September 23
Journey of the Universe as a new mode of human connection to the larger world.

Due today: Read Journey of the Universe, chapters 1-7. Pull out at least one key idea from each chapter and summarize that key idea in a blog post.



Monday, September 7, 2015

Schedule, 1st two weeks...

Freshman Seminar / Andrews – Fall 2015                              Schedule of Activities & Assignments

Please note that this schedule may change due to the need to coordinate our activities with other people and organizations.


WEEK ONE
August 31 & September 2


August 31
9:00 – 12:30
Meet at Taube
Orientation Engagement Experience
Theme is Care for the Earth


September 2
Introduction to course. Syllabus review and reflection activity. Course theme and format. Hallmarks. Recap/discussion of OEE. Preview of off-site options for this section. Assign homework activity for September 9.








WEEK TWO
September 7 & 9


September 7
No class - Labor Day Holiday


September 9
Class Activities: Lawrence poem. Trek to top of Toso Hill. Learning styles. Amy Jobin to introduce IDEALS survey.

Due Today: Explore some of the natural areas of our campus. Evaluate some of the trees you find and choose one that particularly speaks to you. Sit with it in silence for a while as you seek insight into the meaning of Lawrence’s poem (copied below). See if you can learn something from your tree, and express what you learn in a reflection, an analysis, a poem of your own, or a drawing. Bring that with you to class on September 9.

Please also wear or bring your hiking shoes to class on September 9… whatever shoes you plan to use for our hike to Black Mountain.


Syllabus

IDS 1200-02, The Freshman Seminar: Screen Time / Green Time (3 units)
Fall 2015 – MW, 3:25-4:40 pm, in Cuvilly 7                                  Patricia Andrews
http://FSFall2015.blogspot.com                                                  pandrews@ndnu.edu
                                                                                             office hours by arrangement



Philosophy of The Freshman Seminar
The instructors of The Freshman Seminar believe that great scholarship, academic success and leadership skills require a strong academic foundation that transcends disciplinary boundaries. This course is taught with this premise in mind. This interdisciplinary course is intended to establish a solid foundation for academic excellence in a mission-driven university setting. The course is designed to be an intensive, transitional experience expanding the intellectual vision, interests and capabilities of the incoming student. In addition to academic success, it is hoped that the effects of this intellectual transformation shall be carried to all other aspects of the student’s being, at college and beyond, now and throughout life. We hope and trust that this integrated learning experience will encourage students to develop themselves as whole persons, members of collaborative communities and co-creators of a more just society. We are dedicated to helping every student succeed in these goals.


Screen Time / Green Time: Exploring our Connectedness with the Natural & Manmade World
Screens. They’re everywhere. In what ways do they enhance our lives and increase our opportunities – for communication, for connectedness, for access? And in what ways do they serve to alienate us from one another and from the natural world in which we evolved and within which our most fundamental instincts as humans are grounded? This course will explore these and related questions in a round-the-table seminar format. In addition, the service component of this course will examine the relationship between social justice and earth justice. Over the course of the semester, students will engage in multiple off-site activities at which they will set their own screened devices aside and explore their own connectivity within the natural world. This will include at least one overnight trip. If you own backpacking gear, please bring it!




Learning Outcomes
Students will…
·      examine, analyze, and become fully engaged in the Mission of the University, the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community;
·      develop skills in critical thinking, reading, listening, seeing and sensing using a variety of traditional and non-traditional texts;
·      learn practical skills relating to community engagement with the human and natural world;
·      learn oral communication skills in small group and public speaking settings;
·      learn to create thesis-driven communications derived from a variety of sources;
·      learn basic library and IT research methods, and apply these methods to a formal presentation;
·      explore their identities as members of local, national, global, natural and earth communities through critical reflection and experiential learning activities;
·      distinguish between Community Engagement as conducted at NDNU and traditional forms of community service;
·      demonstrate inter-personal skills in defining and working with Community Partners.
·      begin to develop lifelong habits of learning and leadership.


Course Format
The Freshman Seminar is a participatory course. Assignments provide the basis for informed class participation and must be completed before each class session. Additionally, this section will involve off-campus activites outside of normal class time, including at least one overnight trip – students should be prepared to approach these activities with helpfulness and maturity.


Texts
Murphy, Sr. Roseanne, Martyr of the Amazon: The Life of Sr. Dorothy Stang
SND, The Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community
Tucker, Mary Evelyn and Brian Swimme. Journey of the Universe (e-version)
Massaro, Thomas. “Nine Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching,” from Living Justice.
Harding, Stephan. Animate Earth
Additional readings as assigned in class




Requirements
1)    Formal papers and writings to equal 16 to 20 typewritten pages. All papers are due in hard copy at the beginning of the class period for which they are assigned.
2)    Four enrichment activities with informal written reflections on each activity. These include such things as campus life events (personal, residential, interpersonal development), critical thinking events (guest speaker, author event), and creative arts presentations (theater, concert). THE TALK BY RICHARD RODRIGUEZ ON OCTOBER 27 MUST BE ONE OF THESE FOUR.
3)    Note-taking is an essential academic skill. Students are expected to keep appropriate and effective records of what happens during each class session. Following an absence, students must obtain copies of notes from a peer, then follow up with professor regarding any items that are unclear.
4)    All students will participate in community based learning experiences. These will take place outside of normally scheduled class times and will involve overnight field experiences.
5)    Participation in an end-of-the-semester Research Conference.
6)    Oral Communication opportunities develop confidence and skill in public speaking.  These will include informal communication in discussions, impromptu speaking and formal presentations.
7)    Attendance and participation are required. Each student may have up to 3 absences to deal with unexpected illness or emergency. Every absence greater than 3 will adversely affect your grade.


Evaluation
A total of 1,000 points is possible, broken down into the categories below. Students are encouraged to keep track of their progress on a regular basis throughout the semester.

               Midterm & Final Exams                                              2 exams @ 100 points = 200
               Thesis-Driven Paper / Project                                              1 @ 100 points = 100
               Out Of Class Activities & Journal                                       1 @ 200 points = 200
               Research Project & Presentation                                         1 @ 100 points = 100
               Attendance (28 total class sessions)         25 class sessions @ 8 points = 200
               Participation (28 total class sessions)        25 class sessions @ 8 points = 200




Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a violation of NDNU’s code of student ethics and will not be tolerated. It is a form of intellectual dishonesty that involves the theft of another person’s ideas, language and/or written thought processes. One violation will result in a failing grade for the assignment; repeated or flagrant plagiarism may result in failure of the course or dismissal from the University. See Student Handbook.


Note to Students with Disabilities
NDNU complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Students who have a disability that might affect academic performance in this class are encouraged to confer with the instructor at the beginning of the semester and to contact Dr. Peggy Koshland Crane in the Program for Academic Support and Services (PASS) (650-508-3670; mcrane@ndnu.edu). In order to receive accommodations, students must register with the PASS office.


Course Learning Outcomes Mapped to Institutional Learning Outcomes

Students will…
·      examine, analyze, and become fully engaged in the Mission of the University, the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community; (Mission, Values & Engagement)
·      develop skills in critical thinking, reading, listening, seeing and sensing using a variety of traditional and non-traditional texts; (Written Communication & Critical Thinking)
·      learn practical skills relating to community engagement with the human and natural world ; (Mission, Values & Engagement)
·      learn oral communication skills in small group and public speaking settings; (Oral Communication)
·      learn to create thesis-driven communications derived from a variety of sources; (Written Communication & Information Literacy)
·      learn basic library and IT research methods, and apply these methods to a formal presentation; (Oral Communication & Information Literacy)
·      explore their identities as members of local, national, global, natural and earth communities through critical reflection and experiential learning activities; (Critical Thinking & Mission, Values & Engagement)
·      distinguish between Community Engagement as conducted at NDNU and traditional forms of community service; (Mission, Values & Engagement)
·      demonstrate inter-personal skills in defining and working with Community Partners; (Mission, Values & Engagement)
·      begin to develop lifelong habits of learning and leadership. (Critical Thinking)


Average Student Workload Expectations:  Class time consists of 45 hours and students are expected to attend. Students are expected to engage in approximately 90 hours of out-of-class homework over the fifteen weeks, or approximately six hours per week. Course assignments are made in accordance with this expectation.

Workload Distribution:       Hours in Class / Experiential Activity Equivalent           45
            Reading:                    40                                            Co-Curricular:                         8

            Writing:                     35                                            Exam Preparation                    7