Week+1+stuff

Week 1 Hi, everybody. This is the assignment page for Week 1.

OVERVIEW If you think you need a quick general overview of how to use Wikispaces, watch this short [|YouTube video]

Your weekly assignments for this class will be in three parts: 1) The wiki mini-assignment; 2) Online discussions - Part A; 3) Online discussions - Part B. All three of this week's assignments are explained on this page.

1. WIKI MINI-ASSIGNMENT Curriculum theory can be invigorating, complex, and obtuse -- often all at the same time. But underneath the complexity, the most basic curriculum question is relatively simple: "What is most worthwhile to know, understand, and experience?" (A much more difficult question then becomes, "Who decides?")

If we take that as our basic question, we quickly realize that curriculum is not confined only to school classrooms or to formal teaching/learning situations. Indeed, the curriculum of our lives comes from many sources. Try this: Think about something you are really good at. (I'll go grab a cookie while you think about it.) OK, what is it? How did you learn it? Was it in a formal setting, with scripted lessons and explicit objectives? Or was it something you learned from a friend, a grandparent, a book -- or by observing carefully and learning over time? Most of us learn as much from the "out-of-school curriculum" as we do from the formal curriculum of our schooling -- and what's more, we often learn these lessons in a more enjoyable and more enduring fashion. Why is that? And what can schools learn from this realization?

To help us get to know each other (which is really difficult in this type of class), we will each share a few pieces of the curriculum of our lives. Click on this page and then follow my model to share some of the sources of your most meaningful learning.

2. ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS - PART A The groups for this week's "Part A" discussions are as follows: Jennifer B. Mary D. Anne H. Jodi L. Molly U. || ** Group 2 ** Alison B. Hannah D. Sarah H. Sarah M. Erik W. || ** Group 3 ** Adam B. Michelle G. Randy H. Cassy N. Brandi W. || ** Group 4 ** Kim D. Jacqueline H. Brandon K. Jill U. Amy W. ||
 * ** Group 1 **

To find your group's discussion, click on the "Discussion" tab at the top of this page. Then under the "Subject" header click the discussion thread with your group's name to open it. Be sure to choose your assigned group (1, 2, 3, or 4). To post a comment, simply type (or paste text you've copied from a word processor--this actually may work better) inside the "Reply" box, and when you're finished, click "Post." That's all there is to it. If you're still unsure of how it works, here's a one-minute [|YouTube video] that gives an overview of how to post comments on a discussion board.

Also, even though you're only participating in one assigned discussion for Part A each week, I would like you to read the other discussion threads as well once all the responses have been posted (this should be by Wednesday of each week). In this way you can "listen in" on other discussions and learn from the insights of your classmates.

3. ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS - PART B

This week's "discussion starters" for Part B will be posed by Alison, Hannah. Kim, Erik, and Amy. They will be posted on this page's discussion board by Wednesday evening. Click on the "Discussion" tab at the top of this page and you will see their questions listed at that time. Remember, for Part B discussions you do not have assigned groups, so you can choose which discussion(s) you'd like to join. Those of you who ask this week's questions should join someone else's discussion first (and if you'd like to join your own as well, that's great, too).

For some guidance on formulating your discussion questions, click here.