Editor's Note: This is the syllabus for an online course taught by Guy Bensusan incorporating the Hexadigm, Ladder, Bias, Source Evaluation, and Schools of Thought. These models are intrinsic to the development and implementation of communities of learners.

Anatomy of Learning

Guy Bensusan

Southwest Arts and Culture:

Humanities 303 American Ethnic Arts & Ideas

Our course brings learners together from many places as we examine the arts and culture in the US Southwest --- an exciting and dramatic evolution of human expressions in many forms and styles which began several thousand years before Coronado arrived, developing rapidly when people from the East Coast US moved west and others from Europe, Africa and Asia joined them. After the Mexican War, former colonies of Spain and provinces of Mexico changed during the Gold Rush and with railroads, grew extensively after World War Two, and continue to emerge from an ongoing avalanche of mutual influences and technologies in diverse regions.

HUM 303 is fully web-based, conducted in NAU's WebCT. All course materials including the syllabus and assignments can be found in WebCT. Although the course is asynchronous, it is not self-paced. Weekly written assignments and participation in the form of online discussions are required. There are no tests or examinations. WebCT is open 24/7, giving you the opportunity to work at times that are most convenient for you.

Table of Contents

1. Explain the Change Model
2. Designing the Individual Study
3. Gathering the Information
4. Examine the Levels
5. Assess the Data
6. Choose Several Explanations
7. Compare and Contrast
8. Present Thesis
9. Critique and Respond
10. Evaluation, Self-Assessment and Forecast

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1st assignment: Explain the Change Model - DUE June 9

The reading is The Hexadigm

Note: You cannot go wrong if you respond honestly, because in that manner you reflect YOUR personal response.... jump in, say what you mean, post it in the discussion area designated for the 1st assignment, read what others offer in their first posts, and build by integrating the relevant ideas.

1. Read the Hexadigm assignment thoroughly
2. Explain your understanding and/or version of the Hexadigm and post in the discussion area
3. Read posts by others
4. Compare and contrast them with yours
5. Write an integrated update and post it
6. Comment on the works of others as you see fit
7. Write about what you learned from this exercise
8. Start a Personal Growth Presentation either in a word document to be submitted later or as a web page within WebCT (Student Pages)

Click on the "Discussions" area on the left navigation bar to complete this assignment or click the "Next" button above to go to assignment #2.

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2nd assignment: Designing the Individual Study - DUE June 16

The reading is Applying the Hexadigm

Select one of the following as a term topic to develop through the ten loops:

• adornment, animal lore, basketry, buildings, clothes, colors, dance, education,
• family, festivals, foods, games, healing, history, music instruments, painting,
• plant lore, pottery, sculpture, sky lore, song, stories, tools, trade, weaving

1. Read the Hexadigm application assignment, select your topic from the list above, and consider how to apply the model
2. Develop your ideas (no research allowed) and organize an outline in a word document
3. Write it up and post your outline as an attachment in the discussion area
4. Read what others posted and consider them
5. Organize and integrate your updated ideas
6. Write them up and post them
7. Comment on posts by others
8. Write up what you learned and add it to your Personal Growth Presentation or "Student Pages" web page

3rd assignment: Gathering the Information - DUE June 23

The reading is The Bias Factor

1. Read the assignment; consider books, articles, interview and web
2. Select some information sources of many types, places and times
3. Examine the various approaches and ideas; organize an outline
4. Write it up and post your presentation in the discussion area
5. Read what others posted and consider them
6. Organize, integrate, write, post
7. Comment on posts by others
8. Write up what you learned and add it to your Personal Growth Presentation or "Student Pages" web page

Click on the "Discussions" area on the left navigation bar to complete this assignment or click the "Next" button above to go to assignment #4.

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The Bias Factor

4th assignment: Examine the Levels - DUE June 30

Read The Ladder

The Ladder CONCLUSIONS EXPLANATIONS IMPACTS AUTHORS CONTEXTS COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION IMPRESSION

 

Click on the "Discussions" area on the left navigation bar to complete this assignment or click the "Next" button above to go to assignment #5.

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5th assignment: Assess the Data - DUE July 7

Read Evaluating Sources of Information

1. Read assignment; consider how it applies to your sources
2. List your ideas, apply them, develop an outline
3. Write, explain what you see, post that for others to read in the discussion area
4. Read what others wrote and posted for this assignment
5. Reflect; organize your ideas based on what you learned from peers
6. Write them up, and post them
7. What have you learned so far from assignments and interaction?
8. Write up what you learned and add it to your Personal Growth Presentation or "Student Pages" web page

Click on the "Discussions" area on the left navigation bar to complete this assignment or click the "Next" button above to go to assignment #6.

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6th assignment: Choose Several Explanations - DUE July 14

BIG ASSIGNMENT - READ IT ALL - START EARLY

Read the three chapters on Schools of Thought

(Foundations, Early Schools, and Global/ Post-Modern)

1. Read for this assignment; consider the many ways of interpreting
2. List ideas, organize your thoughts on what you think applies to your topic
3. Write an explanation of your choices; post for others to read in the discussion area
4. Read what others wrote and posted for this assignment
5. Reflect, reorganize based on what you learned from peers
6. Write your augmented or revised thoughts and post them
7. What have you learned from these assignments and interaction?
8. Write up what you learned and add it to your Personal Growth Presentation or "Student Pages" web page

Click on the "Discussions" area on the left navigation bar to complete this assignment or click the "Next" button above to go to assignment #7.

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7th assignment: Compare and Contrast Views - DUE July 21

Read your notes from previous assignments

1. Consider HOW many schools apply to explaining your topic
2. List ideas, compare and contrast six or more applicable schools
3. Write explaining those and post for others to read in the discussion area
4. Read what the others wrote and posted for this assignment
5. Reflect; organize your ideas based on what you learned from peers
6. Write them up, and post them
7. What have you learned so far from assignments and interaction?
8. Write up what you learned and add it to your Personal Growth Presentation or "Student Pages" web page

Click on the "Discussions" area on the left navigation bar to complete this assignment or click the "Next" button above to go to assignment #8.

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8th assignment: Present Thesis, Evidence and Conclusions - DUE July 28

1. Consider what you learned; decide what you want to tell others
2. List ideas; develop outline and items for your Personal Growth Presentation or "Student Pages" web page
3. Assemble and post your Personal Growth Presentation(if you chose a word document then submit as an attachment in the discussion area)
4. Read other presentations
5. Reflect; organize your ideas based on what you learned from peers
6. Write them up, and post them in the discussion area
7. What have you learned so far from assignments and interaction?

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9th assignment: Critique and Respond - DUE August 4

Read several Personal Growth Presentation or "Student Pages" web page by peers

1. Critique several other student presentations
2. Read critiques of your presentation
3. Respond to critiques with individual posts
4. What did you learn that might cause you to revise your presentation?
5. Create new presentation or explain why you chose not to
6. Post and read what others posted
7. Consider what you have learned so far

Click on the "Discussions" area on the left navigation bar to complete this assignment or click the "Next" button above to go to assignment #10.

10th assignment: Evaluation, Self-Assessment and Forecast - DUE August 8

1. Read the evaluation questions as a guide
2. Organize your responses to the evaluation questions
3. Post, and read evaluations by others; revise yours if appropriate
4. Formulate a thorough self-assessment based on course criteria
5. Write it as an explanation of why you should or should not keep your A
6. Post and read what others posted
7. What do you think will happen with your topic in the next decade or two?
8. Write and post that in the discussion area.

Thanks.

Guy

YOU ARE FINISHED WITH THIS COURSE

Here are the evaluation questions:

Note: I do not use the standard evaluation forms NAU provides because we are exploring new territory and I want to learn about things that are not covered in those few questions. Consider the spirit of this inquiry in your responses about our learning methods and support technologies. Accept my thanks in advance for helping us gain a clearer understanding of how to meet the ever-evolving needs of learners. Write as much as you need to respond comprehensively.

Write about your personal growth. What happened to you and your learning this semester?

What stages of "learning development" did you go through?

Where were you "anxious," "confused," "frustrated?"

At what point did those stop?

What might help get over these faster, or make them easier: or are they a necessary "passage"?

Where did you do "best," where "so-so," and where "less well"? Explain.

Where in the course were you most comfortable, where least?

What do you want to say about the user-friendliness of WebCT?

Write about your learning curve, challenges, and computer navigation.

Explain whether enough help and/or computer lab assistance was available?

Give us your suggestions for improvement?

What parts of the subject matter are clearest to you. How so?

What parts remain unclear? Why do you think that is?

Which learning models did you work with most easily ? Which ones were hardest? Explain.

Recognizing you are graded on growth, consider also the comparative (class standing) and ideal (amount of knowledge and skills) standards.

How would you classify yourself in relation to others in the course ­ Top? Middle? Bottom? Explain.

With other course members, did you receive help and/or give it?

Discuss whether you received enough feedback from the professor.

If you were continuing with study on your personal topic, what would you plan to work on the most?

How do you assess your work habits, perseverance and growth?

Whose work impressed you? Explain.

Who in the community helped you or taught you the most? Explain.

What might you do differently if you were to take another such course?

What advice would you give to friends who plan to take this course?

Define learning?

Has your vision about learning evolved? How?

What implications do you see for your further academic study? For your lifelong learning?

ANYTHING else you want to add?

Do you believe you have kept the A you were given at the beginning of the course?  PLEASE NOTE: I am NOT asking what grade you want. Your evaluation will not be complete until you tell me whether you believe you have kept your A and the reasons WHY.... So --- LIST AND EXPLAIN your justification by commenting in detail upon how well you have followed the assignment instructions, all five requirements and the course expectations.

(Here they are as a reminder---- )

respond in writing to all 10 assignments, one each week, with numerous postings. stay current and timely with your work. If there is to be any deviation from weekly posting? read new postings and comment constructively with substance each week upon those which have meaning for you. be helpful and encouraging. If you see a fellow course member doing poorly, having trouble or falling behind, offer a hand. demonstrate growth in: vocabulary, terminology, subject knowledge, inquiry talents, open to several options, awareness of many sources of information, ability to organize data, themes, ideas and slants, clear, concise communication and grammar, technology skills for searching and posting, interaction and collaboration skills, comprehensiveness and creativity in explanation,  evaluation, critique and responding know-how, integrity, timeliness, flexibility and helpfulness

 

Thank you. You are done, it is over, finito!

Congratulations. I know it was work, and I am glad you were with us.

Until next time, so long, buen viaje, ahee'yeheh.

    Guy