Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 19:16:12 -0600
From: DRBennett1 <DRBennett1@aol.com>
Thanks to everyone who responded to my December query about structuring a one-credit university course entitled "Women's History Resources on the Internet." I received some wonderful suggestions and learned some new things myself in the process.
However, the class was cancelled due to a lack of interest. Only three people had registered.
Frankly, I wasn't surprised. I thought the topic was a bit too narrow to encourage folks to surrender three Saturdays to a one-credit class. Perhaps if a component concerning the building of a web site had been included or if the class had only been on two Saturdays, interest might have been stronger.
Some had asked to see the syllabus for the class, and the syllabus is appended to this message.
Thanks again for all of the really good input!!
Dana Bennett
Reno, Nevada
DRBennett1@aol.com
College of Education
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
CI 506B
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Women's Studies
WS 497
Women's History Resources on the Internet Spring Semester 1998
Instructor: Dana R. Bennett, M.A.
Phone: 323-6002
E-mail: BennettDRB@aol.com
Office hours by appointment
TIME AND PLACE
Saturdays
February 21, March 7, and March 14
9 am to 3 pm
Building and room TBA
TEXT
No text is required for this course.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This course explores the wide range of resources available on the Internet
related to study of women's history on local, national, and international
levels. Students will acquire an understanding of the methods that can be
used to search the Internet for specific women's history topics and will
develop ideas for incorporating the results of those searches into lesson
plans, curriculum, or other projects. The class does not require any
previous Internet experience.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Today's technology provides unprecedented access to historical information
throughout the world without ever leaving the comfort of one's own chair.
It is important that all those who are interested in women's history --
teachers and students alike -- possess the basic knowledge necessary to tap
into these exciting resources. It is also important to determine useful and
productive approaches for integrating this tool into the development of
lesson plans, scholarly papers, and projects of personal interest.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
As a result of active participation in class and successful completion of
course requirements, the student will be able to conduct computerized
searches with confidence and will demonstrate effective use of Internet
resources for research into women's history topics. The student will also be
able to exhibit thoughtful and creative application of such skills into the
development of lesson plans or scholarly work, as appropriate.
PRIMARY METHODOLOGIES USED IN CLASS
The course will begin in a lecture format and other lectures will be given
throughout the course, but all will be brief. In addition, guest speakers
may be utilized. Primarily, however, the course will consist of actual work
at a computer terminal and class discussions of results and potential
applications.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
There are no prerequisites for this one-credit course, and 15 contact hours
are scheduled.
Due to the nature of the course's topic, much of the work will take place in class; consequently, a great deal of weight will be placed on timeliness, attendance, and class participation. In addition, the completion of a project appropriate to undergraduate or graduate level will be required.
Attendance
Complete attendance throughout the length of each class period is absolutely
mandatory. One tardiness will be allowed, but habitual tardiness will lower
the grade by one. For example, if a student's work indicates an "A" but the
student was late to two or all of the classes, the grade will be lowered to
a "B." A person is tardy who enters the classroom 10 minutes or more after the
class has begun.
Because the course consists of only three days, absences will not be excused. One absence will lower the grade by two. For example, if a student's work indicates an "A" but the student missed an entire class, the grade will be lowered to "C." Two absences will result in a failing grade.
Class Participation
All of the assignments will be completed in class, and no homework will be
assigned. Each student will demonstrate successful completion of each
assignment through participation in discussions, answers to questions from
the instructor, and results shown on the computer screen. Completion of all
of the assignments will result in an "A" for this portion of the course.
The instructor will work with any individual who has trouble completing an
assignment in order to help that student reach success. However, a student
who clearly refuses to work on assignments or to incorporate the skills
learned through the assignments will have his or
her grade lowered accordingly.
Project
Both undergraduate and graduate students will find that the assignments will assist them with their projects. In addition, time will be available during class to work on projects. Undergraduate projects must be given to the instructor no later than the end of the final class; graduate projects are due no later than April 15.
Undergraduate level
Students enrolled in this class for undergraduate credit will prepare a thorough, annotated bibliography of Internet resources pertaining to a specific historical woman or to a topic in women's history. By the end of the first class, the undergraduate student will have chosen a subject for the final project, which is to be completed by the end of the last class
One of the subjects discussed early in class will be the proper citation of Internet resources.
Graduate level
The student seeking graduate credit will prepare a women's history unit consisting of no less than three (3) lesson plans appropriate to a specified grade level, which incorporate resources available on the Internet and illustrate how internet resources might be used in the classroom. Such projects will also describe how non-Internet resources can be incorporated into the lesson plans in order to create a cohesive unit.
The graduate project must be mailed or delivered to the instructor no later than April 15, 1998.
COURSE OUTLINE
Date Topic
Feb. 21 Becoming comfortable with the computers
Introduction to the Internet and women's history
*Undergraduates must specify subject of bibliography
Mar. 7 Searching the Internet for Women's History Resources
Identifying helpful sources
Using the resources found on the Internet
Mar. 14 Continue searching, identifying, and using
*Undergraduate projects due at end of class