Post Secondary Teaching and Learning - PSTL

Description:  This Course Fulfills Two Graduation Requirements: CLE Diversified Core: Historical Perspectives CLE Designated Theme: International Perspectives Course Overview World History and Culture examines the 20th and 21st centiries to examine the profound and enduring ideas that have influenced the development of global, political, social, and economic systems. This course explores civilizations of the world by placing historical events, customs and cultures in a global context. The use of historical documents, computer resources, historical simulations, texts, film documentaries, small group discussions, and lecture presentations are combined to create a comprehensive view of the major world cultures. This course provides a balanced exploration of world history during the past 100 years. The course develops major concepts such as nationalism, democracy, colonialism, liberalism, socialism, communism, and fascism while tracing their impact on Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Major questions explored include: What are the forces that guide history as it unfolds? How does today's news headlines connect with the past? Is it possible to predict the near future and make personal plans as a result? Exploring these questions helps to make sense out of history and connect "then and now." Current eventrs such as ethnic conflicts, the breakup of the Soviet Union, the modernization of Japan, China, and India, Arab/Israeli disputes, nation building in Africa, neo-colonialism and trade dependence in developing countries make sense when the past is explored and connections made with the present. Technology: Another life skill that is developed through this course is the use of technology. Like many other courses at the University, WebVista is an important Internet tool that serves as a companion to the course. Utilizing the features of WebVista will allow accessing of critical course materials (study guides, lecture outlines, information links). An additional feature of this course is integrating the use of blogs, wikis, and podcasting into the course. As a class we will construst a weekly audio podcast that features a review of the history topics as well as include music selected by students. Check out the podcast at http://thenandnow.org It can be subscribed through iTunes. You can also sample the podcast by clicking on the web link on that web page. Also, the class will construct online its own study guide for the major exams. Check out the website at http://myworldhistory.net Final Words History is all around us. We observe it as well as help to create it. The only way to study history is to hold a history textbook in one hand and today's newspaper in the other. This class is about creating connections among the textbook and today;s newspaper headlines. It is about making sense out of a world that sometimes seems not to make very much sense at all. I hope that you decide to join us in the class.

Class URL:  http://myworldhistory.net

Class Time: 60% Lecture, 10% Film/Video, 15% Discussion, 10% Small Group Activities, 2% Field Trips, 3% Web Based.

Work Load: 50 pages reading per week, 8 pages writing per term, 3 exams, 1 papers, 2 special projects, 10 quizzes.

Grade: 20% mid exam, 20% final exam, 10% reports/papers, 10% special projects, 10% quizzes, 20% additional semester exams, 5% reflection paper, 5% class participation. Study guides for major exams created by students in the class and also provided by the course instructor. Also the course instructor and the enrolled students coproduce a weekly podcast that reviews the textbook chapter and class lectures.

Exam Format: Major exams have three parts: matching vocabulary, multiple-choice, and essay questions.

Instructor:  Arendale,David R | Instructor Photo