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