Program Description
Description: This interdisciplinary half-time program in Ecology and Expressive Arts will examine how environment influences cultures and how cultures shape our perception and understanding of the world. We seek to understand patterns and processes in global climates and biomes, and gain some familiarity with the major biomes and the organisms in them. We will study historical voyages of discovery as well as imaginary landscapes of myth and psyche. Our study will include the cultures and natural environments of the Middle and Far East, Polynesia, the Neotropics, and Indigenous Cultures. We will practice the arts of inquiry and methods of science, writing, music, performing, and visual arts. Students will be also engaged in research, group projects, and work in the community.
As part of the class, each student will do four hours a week of community service with a school or community organization of their choosing. Students are expected to have a completed, signed contract with a field supervisor by week five of the quarter, Nov. 2.Credit will be awarded in community service and science, art or education, depending on the focus of the student’s work.
Objectives: To acquire abilities to perceive, comprehend, and express the world from scientific, artistic, and cultural perspectives.
Class activities: Art and science workshops, lectures, seminars, field trips and guest speakers. In addition, all students will be working with a specific community organization of their choosing.
Skills: Students will acquire and/or sharpen skills in critical thinking, creative expression and community service. Students will be able to apply scientific and /or artistic methods of inquiry. This program is part of the Arts and Culture, Environmental Studies, and International Studies pathways, and is appropriate for students interested in the fields of natural science, art, and education.
Knowledge: The students’ acquired knowledge will be assessed through class participation, testing, portfolio, and class journal.
Expectations: Students are expected to be self-motivated, accountable to themselves, their faculty, field supervisor and classmates, passionately engaged in their study and willing to take responsibility for voicing their concerns. Attendance of all classes and completion of program requirements are necessary for a full credit.
Requirements:
- Community service (four hours per week). Student will have written contract with a field supervisor, who will send an evaluation of the student’s work to faculty by Dec 7.
- 4-6 page analysis of some phenomena or process in the world presented through artistic, cultural, and scientific paradigms of understanding. Articulate the value of each of the three and present a vision how they can, or can not co-exist (a draft + peer edit).
- 4-6 page paper about a research question (a draft + peer edit). The paper is to be analytical, research-based and on a topic related to the student’s public service project. Five to seven sources required, including at least one book, one academic journal, one periodical, one "live" interview and quantitative analysis.
- Participation in Web crossing. (At least one reflective entry for each reading assignment and regular responses to other students’ entries posted each week by Thursday, prior to class).
- Class Journal with words, images, and analytical summery of learning.
Books and Art supplies for Fall Term:
- Complete portfolio (see attached list).
- West Coast Journeys, Caroline C. Leighton
- Stranger in the Forest: On Foot Across Borneo, Eric Hansen
- The Alfred Russel Wallace Reader, Edited by Jane R. Camerini
- Spirit and Art, Van James
- A book of Travel/Understanding account of student’s choice
- Colored pencils (set of 8 is best)
Additional reading will be distributed in class