The Human Quest: Integrating Content, Skills, and Technology in a Core Curriculum Course Carol Clark, AUC

Multiple Sources of Inspiration• Present

– Mellon Grant to AUC– First Year Experience Proposals– Guns, Germs, and Steel– Student, Alumni, Parent Interviews

• Past – Thomas Billings’ Education Course – Own UG Skills Gaps– Jeanne’s Question

• Future– Instructional Technology on New Campus

The Human Quest Goals: Attitudes

Enthusiastic engagementWide world viewSelf-expression in a unique voice

The Human Quest Goals: Knowledge

Key factors of a liberal arts educationLearning style preferencesPersonal identity in a multicultural

worldOne extended theory of humankind’s

developmentA way to approach literatureDebate as a way to address ethical

issues

The Human Quest Goals: Skills

Participate effectively in classTake useful notes in classDesign and use a Power Point fileGive an engaging oral presentationRead a variety of texts criticallyWrite short reflection and response

papersIdentify key questions and how writers

address themParticipate in a debateMake connections between different

genres of human expression

Content Integration• Late 20th Century Texts

• Genres of Expression

• Voices

• Tasks

The Semester at a Glance• Weeks 1-3: Who am I?• Weeks 4-9: Where did we come from?

What does it mean to be human? Why are some societies more

powerful than others?• Weeks 10 – 11: What do the arts tell

us about the human condition? • Weeks 12 – 14: Where are we going?

What is the best way to get there?

Content Collaboration• Mellon Subcommittee

– Goals, Objectives, and Cuts– Classroom Observation

• Michael– Title

• Testing and Evaluation Unit– Overall Evaluation Plan– Rubrics

• Center for Learning and Teaching– Mid-Semester Assessment

Web CT Content: Steps in the Quest

Skills Collaboration

• Mentoring Unit– Skills Workshops

• AUC Library: LALT – Information Literacy Links

Skills Integration • Reflective Skills

– Critical Reading, Reflective Writing– Films– Skills in the Quest Page

• Active Skills– Class Presentations– Small Group and Class Discussions– Information Literacy– Field Trip to Cairo Tower

Web CT Skills in the Quest

Reading Skills Link

Technology Collaboration & Integration• Center for Learning and Teaching

– Web CT Design and Advice– Power Point Tutorials– Excel Spreadsheets– Prototype Classroom– Turnitin.com

• Elisabeth Yoder

“Only connect”.…

--E. M. Forster Source: Doyle, D. (2005). Bedouin Woman.