Assignments:
Learning and integrating this complex material is very much a spiral.
You are coming in with a variety of experiences and at a variety of levels,
and will all be tackling the material in somewhat different ways; some
aspects that will seem very challenging to you early on will make much
more sense as you move further up that spiral and experience it in different
ways. The program assignments are designed to help each of
you in that individualized yet collaborative process.
Weekly reading assignments: You are to at least skim the assigned
reading before coming to class each week, familiarizing yourself with key
concepts and terms to help you follow the lectures; you will often want
to go through the reading more carefully after class, along with your lecture
notes.
Learning Journal: This will be a record of your learning, as the class proceeds, including independent work and thoughts/questions that have arisen from your studies. On April 19th and May 10th, you are to submit typed 4-5 page essays based on your journal, exploring and integrating aspects of your individual learning in key areas coupled with outside reading, along with a detailed listing of how you used the 18 outside course hours each week.
Web Discussion of Selected Virus: Herpes: The Herpes family of viruses has many manifestations that can help us better understand and focus PNI. Everyone will use readings selected by the instructors as a starting point for exploration and discussion of interrelationships between the effects of various Herpes viruses and the principles and mechanistic details of psychoneuroimmunology. Each student will select one aspect of the topic, independently research it, post a summary and analysis of this reading, and host a discussion on the topic. Research should include peer reviewed literature sources, and summary should include all citations. In addition, each student is to read the entire posting by others and to give written feedback and follow-up to at least two classmates on their summary/discussion, with a copy placed in your portfolio. Readings will be distributed week 2, and on-line discussion will continue through week 6, when there will be a final in-class discussion.
Book Review :To be posted on webcrossing, no later than May 25th,
preferably earlier, to allow time for WEB discussion.
Students will read a book of their choice
relating to PNI. In the library, Betty has put a large number of
books on the open reserve shelves for either PNI or Approaches to Healing;
some of these are appropriate for this purpose and might be of interest
for those of you still trying to find the ‘right’ book to read.
While you read, take notes highlighting any
parts that were particularly significant to the book’s value or that might
contradict or detract from the book. Upon completion, write
a New York Times style book review, including highlights, personal observations
or overlaps to class material, and comments on style, readability and sense
of accuracy and post this review on webcrossing in the appropriate folder.
Classmates will read, and write thoughtful
responses to these reviews. Everyone should respond to a minimum
of two reviews. Remember to keep hard copies of your reviews and
responses in your portfolio.
Major Group Research Project: this project will entail working in a group of 2 or 3 to research in depth one aspect of PNI. The project will culminate in a class presentation of findings. Over the next 2 weeks, we will compile a list of topic suggestions from which to choose and final decisions will be made week 3. Written papers will be due May 17th, and class presentations will be spread over the last 3 weeks of class. Specifics will be distributed week 2.
Portfolio: You are to maintain a portfolio of all your work,
including your learning journals, to be submitted by Friday June 4th, along
with a self-evaluation guide
Faculty reserves
right to make changes to schedule as appropriate