I'll do the traditional first day things. I'll introduce myself and the course, start to familiarize myself with your names (I apologize in advance if I pronounce them badly--it will take awhile before I get them right). I have old ears, and the air circulation system in the building is mighty loud, so if you speak up, that will help. I'm e-mailing the link to this weeks work so you can get a head start reading the material on the HOME PAGE
You'll notice, from the top of this page, that I have two very special sections. Section one is a LCC section--standing for living-learning. Section 11, which follows right afterwards is an ELI section--standing for English Language Institute. Both are in the same room, and not because I'm lazy. It is my hope to bring my two sections to know each other. How lucky that makes us. It means we'll have the opportunity to learn more about more places, customs, and people than students in other sections will have. I'll be talking more about that later.
Above are two views of the Disney song, "It's a Small World After All". At the left is the version from the 1964 World's Fair.. At the right a more recent version, from half way around the world, though still Walt Disney. Note the stereotypes in 1964. In 1964, most visitor to the fair probably wouldn't have thought about the problem of stereotyping people from different places. Hopefully, we're becoming better at looking beyond the stereotypes and really trying to get to know each other, As Julie Andrews sang in the musical "The King and I" a half century and more ago.
Besides getting to know each other, I hope to spend some time getting to help you know one of our important electronic tools: Bridges. I'm hoping that those of you who have used it before will be tutors for those who have less familiarity with it. You'll be using Bridges to turn in your written work. You'll also have a journal or blog on bridges in which you can record your reactions to the readings and to the class in general. What we don't get done today we'll carry over to Friday.
For Friday, August 29
Download, Put in your Notebook, Read, and Reflect upon,
Part of my "getting to know you" involves getting a sense of what you can do--what come easy to you, what you find difficult, how you analyze things, what kind of questions arise in your mind, how you resolve issues of agreement or disagreement, and all that sort of thing. We're going to work on that this week and a little into next, as well. What is Enlightenment?is four pages long, single spaced. I would like to have you read it two times.
The first time I want you to just read it, and not "study" it. I want you to time yourself, and mark down the time at the end of the reading. This is NOT a race, and there is no prize. Read this at a speed which is comfortable for you.
The second time, I want you to study it, but in some special ways.
I want you to identify the parts you are certain you understand, the parts you think you probably understand, the parts you have doubts you understand, and the parts you need help and discussion to better your understanding. Use whatever marking system is easiest for you. Do it in the margins of the pages. Use a bracket to show what the section is.
I want you to also indicate where you agree with his ideas, where you disagree with his ideas, and where you have not yet made up your mind.
Then I want you to indicate which TWO ideas are the most important according to your judgment and understanding. Paraphrase each of those ideas in your own words at the end of the document. Also write them in your blog on Bridges.
Make sure you have your notebook with you on Friday. We're going to use your notes as the basis of the class.
You may have noticed that I like to hide things behind pictures. Run your cursor over a picture and if it turns into a hand something is hidden behind the picture. Why am I telling you this? Run your cursor over the picture immediately above, and you'll see why.
