Human Relations in a Multicultural Society
EDU 475
Course
Syllabus
Spring
2007
Class Time:
Monday & Wednesday 2:30-3:45
Location:
ADM 256
Instructor: Dee
Acklie, Ph.D.
Home Phone:
(402) 391-6061
Work Phone: (402) 399-2606
Office:
ADM 264
E-Mail:
dacklie@csm.edu (work)
Office Hours:
As posted and by appointment
Class Materials:
Required
Textbooks:
Schniedewind, N.
& Davidson, E. (2006) Open Minds To Equality. 3rd Ed.
Rethinking Schools
Course
Objectives: Students
will identify characteristics of various ethnic groups, which relate to
learning, working, and living in a pluralistic society. Students will
develop and understanding of the values, lifestyles, contributions, and
history of a pluralistic society.
Student Learning
Objectives:
-
To
recognize and deal with dehumanizing biases, including, but not
limited to, race, culture, exceptionality, religion, class, gender,
and sexual orientation.
-
To
install a respect for others, irrespective of their race, culture,
or ethnicity.
-
To
provide varied instructional methods in order to meet the needs of a
diverse society.
-
To
determine why group membership affects values, attitudes, and
behaviors.
-
To
confront individual and institutional racism, prejudice, and
discrimination in school and society.
-
To make
personal and professional choices that reduces discrimination and
prejudice.
-
To
exhibit and promote dignity and respect for the rights of all human
beings.
Attendance:
Attendance is required for the entire class period. Events and activities
occur during a class session that cannot be reconstructed or imparted at a
later date. An attendance sheet will be circulated at the beginning of
class for those who arrive after class has begun. It is the student’s
responsibility to sign her name on the attendance sheet for each class.
Students will be held accountable for all announcements and handouts.
Tardiness and absences will result in the lower of one’s final grade.
Missing class can jeopardize your grade. Each absence may lower your grade
by 2%. If you are absent three times from class, the instructor has the
option to drop you from class or your grade will automatically be lowered by
one letter grade. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the
instructor.
Special
Accommodations:
CSM seeks to maintain a supportive academic environment for students with
disabilities. If you have a disability and need accommodations to succeed
in this course, please contact me to verify that the required documentation
is filed with the Academic Affairs Office and that an accommodation plan is
in place. Please remember that the law places the responsibility on you,
the student, to notify the College of your disability and to request
information.
If you have a
certifiable learning or physical disability and require special
accommodations, please call and make an appointment with Jennifer Yarns in
the Achievement Center ADA office at 399-2366. Considerable lead-time is
required for accommodations, so it is important that your request is
received in the Achievement Center ADA office as early in the semester as
possible. Please note: your request will be handled confidentially..
Declaration of
Open Discourse:
In the spirit of
intellectual inquiry, College of Saint Mary is committed to the exchange of
diverse ideas and viewpoints. In this environment, honest discourse is
valued; demeaning remarks are not tolerated. Each member of the campus
community is encouraged to:
-
Recognize
the basis of her or his own assumptions and perspectives,
-
Acknowledge
the assumptions and perspectives of others,
-
Promote
understanding and respectful dissent.
Evaluation and
Grading: Class discussion, activities, and assignments along with reflection and
field experiences are designed to promote exposure to the goals of this
course. Final grades will be based upon attendance, in-class activities,
graded assignments, reflective writing exercises, and student
presentations. Rubrics (scoring guides) will be used to evaluate the
quality of written assignments.
All written work
must use correct grammar, spelling, and form. Written assignments are not
to exceed three pages with the exception of racism log and online
discussion. Professional attire and conduct are expected, especially in
settings off-campus. Classroom and field trip attendance are mandatory for
this class. These assignments help to demonstrate your understanding of
concepts presented in class. All late work will be docked 10%. No work
will be accepted if turned in later than 1 week of due date.
LAPTOP
POLICY:
Laptop use in classrooms creates new and exciting possibilities for teachers
and students when used appropriately. Please use your laptop ethically and
for educational purposes and activities permitted by the instructor.
Unacceptable uses include: instant messaging, e-mailing, unassigned Internet
browsing, game-playing and completing homework for other classes.
Violations of this request will result in withdrawal of permission to use
the laptop in this class and may affect your grade in the course.
QUALITY
WORK:
Assessment of the quality of your written and oral expression will be
included in the evaluation of your work. All written work is to be typed,
double spaced, and must include correct grammar, form, punctuation, and
spelling. All sources must be cited with complete bibliographic
references. (APA Format). You will use technology skills to explore
resources and make lessons plans, class presentations, and a web page. All
written papers should be turned in electronically and in paper copy formats.
Work maybe checked through Turn It In Software
Participation:
You will be expected to contribute to class through discussion, attention to
guest speakers, and guides on field trips, internet discussion board,
electronic journal entries, website exploration, cooperative learning
activities such as simulation activity, and presentations. Included in
participation will be the following learning activities:
1)
Cultural Plunge
– Attend an event or visit a place that is dominated by a culture outside
one’s own identity. Think outside your own religion and/or culture. Think
about ethnic celebrations, religious ceremonies etc… Write and present a
short report (2 -3 pages) on the experience. If you are unable to find such
activities see me for ideas. Due within one week of the event. (100
pts)
2)
Racism Log
– Note three examples of racism or discrimination throughout the course from
personal experience, media, class, internet, etc. Describe the incident and
answer the following questions: Why was it racism or discrimination? What
was your reaction to the incident? Logs are to be e-mailed to the
instructor at
dacklie@csm.edu. Logs will be kept confidential. All Logs due by
April 25, 2007. (60 pts)
3)
Semantic Map - create
a graphic organizer that shows who you are. For example: your instructor is
a professor, a wife, a mom of twins, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an
aunt, a great-aunt, a quilter, a church member, a singer etc…Use inspiration
to create this map. Maps Due January 31, 2007. (50 points)
4)
Physical Appearance
– Write approximately 2 pages about the messages you received as a child.
Include what it meant to be physically attractive. What messages did you
receive from teachers, peers, parents, and the media? How did this affect
your image of yourself? A pink collaged cover page representing these
messages will serve as a visual component to this paper. Due February
14, 2007. (50 pts)
5)
Personal Heritage Paper -
Describe your
own racial/ethnic/cultural/religious heritage. Include information about
family customs and rituals, any prejudice experienced by you or family
members, when and where your ancestors entered the United States, and
occupational patterns of your cultural groups. Tell how you obtained the
information included in your report. 2-3 pages typed. Due January 31,
2007. (100 pts)
6)
Pop Culture Observation - Begin
to look at how we address other cultures in the media. View a movie, or TV
program write about the stereotypes portrayed within the media. Movie ex:
Dangerous Minds, Schindler’s List, I am Sam, The Color Purple,
Mississippi Burning, Roots, Heaven and Earth, Crash, Joy Luck Club,
Philadelphia, Stand and Deliver, Spanglish, Tortilla Soup, Smoke
Signals…(must receive instructors approval if choosing a movie not on this
list.) A list of TV programs will be brainstormed in class. Due by March
14, 2007. (20 pts)
7)
Multicultural Lesson Plan
– Explore multicultural web sites and prepare a multicultural lesson plan.
The lesson plan should include the following components: title, time
required, basic theme, expected learning outcomes, materials, anticipatory
set, objectives, modeling, guided and independent practice, and evaluation.
The lesson plan should feature one selection of appropriate literature.
Due March 28, 2007. (40 pts)
8)
Internet Discussion Board
– Participate in two online discussion board activities. These discussions
(100 words or less) are to focus on the topics selected by the instructor to
spark dialogue and critical reflection. These discussions will be based
around current events presented in discussion groups. (80 pts)
9)
Current Events Discussion Group -
Weekly current
events will be discussed in class. Individuals are responsible for
presenting 2 articles within the semester for discussion. Articles will be
brought to class. Newspaper/magazine articles, new clips, or websites are
all sources, which can be used for discussion. Groups will set a schedule
and will post weekly one item to the discussion board. Individual will write
a short summary of article and group discussion. (20 points)
10) Quick
Writes and Activity Reflections -
Quickwrites and Activity reflection/participation will be assigned
throughout the semester at professor’s discretion. Due prior to next
class. Reflections will be submitted by email to instructor at
dacklie@csm.edu (100 pts)
11)
Possible Multicultural Field Trips/Speakers
–
a.
El Museo Latino
(25th & L). Admission fee is $4.00.
b.
The Islamic Center of Omaha (Muslim Mosque-3511 N. 73rd
Street).
c.
Jewish Community Center or Michael Gendler
d.
Michelle Rupiper, Ph.D UNL Ruth Staples Lab School
e.
Anti-Defamation League
f.
Lutheran Family Services-Refuge Resettlement
Write 2 papers
describing your reactions/reflections to speaker choose 2 and write a 1-2
page paper. Due within one week of speaker’s visit. (100 pts)
Write 2 papers
describing your reactions/reflections on a field trip choose 2 and write a
1-2 page paper. Due within one week of fieldtrip. (100 pts)
7)
Celebration of Diversity Tasting Party -
Individuals will
bring one item and discuss how this item ties into their heritage.
Example: My family eats sauerkraut and potato dumplings at most major
gatherings. This dish was a specialty of one of my Grandmothers. We now eat
it at each holiday. OR I might choose to bring cinnamon rolls. These rolls
are one of the things my mom was famous for. We will probably schedule this
during finals week. (optional Extra Credit up to 10 pts)
8)
Final Service project.
You will spend
at least 10 hours working on a group service project with individuals from
outside your culture. (50 pts) You will have approximately 5 different
projects to choose between. Number of participants may be limited in some
projects. The group will make a multi-medial presentation during finals week
about your experience. This presentation will include what you have learned
about the other culture as well as how this has changed you. ( 100 pts)
Yellow Participation logs will be photo copied and turned into professor.
Communication with the professor will take place throughout this project in
the form of journals. You are required to submit 5 journals about your
experience. (50 pts) (Project total 200 points)
Total 1000
pts
Grading Scale
A= 93%-100% 930-1000 pts
B= 84%-92% 840 –929 pts
C=71%-83% 701-839 pts
D= 70%-61% 700-610 pts
F= Below 60%
609 pts or below
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