Help with a Western Civ (History) project!!!
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive August 2006:
Help with a Western Civ (History) project!!!
I'll go ahead and warn you, I'm going to be bumping my own post to make sure everyone that could possibly have ideas, can see this! LOL!
I'm taking an independent study course for Western Civilization (second half). I will have to outline each chapter, at least 3-5 pages each, do three semi-long papers throughout the course on Primary Sources for events in History, and take the mid-term and exam.
Okay, none of that is a problem. However, because I am taking this as an I.S. course, the professor feels that I should have to do another big project to make it fair since I don't have to come to the college for classes. Ugh!! Most of my professors that have online web or video courses realize that taking it on your own is much more difficult in itself.
Anyhow, if I can't come up with something on my own, I will have to write a 20 page term paper, properly cited and everything! Yikes!
I also have to meet with this prof every two weeks, to orally go over the chapters and kind of have an oral exam, but I won't be graded on it.
I've been brainstorming, and I've come up with the vague outline of maybe a couple ideas. He also mentioned that since I am going into teaching I may want to do something with the different psychologists of history, and compare and contrast, etc.
So I'm thinking maybe either get together a great lesson on something in history that may interest children at a certain grade level, and go into the classroom and teach them a lesson, maybe do a project with them, etc. This is just a brief outlay, not a finished idea. I haven't even come up with details because I'm not sure yet.
Second thing I'm thinking of, is maybe to interview different children in different age groups on subjects in history to get their take on them, and to see how much they really know, or how their mind works when it comes to understanding some things. I don't have any question ideas yet, just kind of thought of this.
I have until the 29th to come up with a couple of ideas, so right now I am in the brainstorming stage. On the 29th, I meet with my prof. and we brainstorm a couple of my ideas and some he came up with till we get a solid idea.
I don't have to have any specifics, like events or anything, just wondering if anyone may have any ideas, or anything to add on to a couple of mine. I really would like to get out of the term paper and do something that I would really enjoy.
well since it is an IS course, could you take advantage of email...do some sort of email study to children (or moms of children..lol) Maybe with some questions like what is your favorite thing you have done in history class, or what is the biggest historical moment you recall. And then do a comparison based on age, religion, sex, etc on what stands out. You could relate the similarities on what they did enjoy. In general my hypothosis is kids really only get history as they live it, so if you can directly hook current events onto historical events only then do they get it.
If you go with subjects...you could do the space shuttle breaking apart, the election of bush the first time, 9-11, current war stuff, hmmm.
Kaye, I like your ideas.... Thanks!
Personally, I'd have a serious chat with the professor about his misconceptions.
Dawn, I am so glad that someone sees things the same way I do! Unfortunately, this prof is basically doing me a favor by offering this course to me independently because the profs don't have to do that. This is an on-campus course, and I can't do that, so he has agreed to let me do it as an I.S.
Personally, I feel his opinions are skewed about this, but really, I either have to take the course as he gives it, or I don't get to take it. And we only have a mid-term and final, which I feel are probably going to be written essay, so I can't risk upsetting this guy so I don't get the grade I need.
But I was more than a little upset when he said he felt it was only fair for me to do a large project to make up for not being in class. These courses are not simple. They involve a lot more work than classroom courses do. The student does not have the advantage of having a prof lecture and pick out the most important points, etc. But, there is obviously no convincing him of that...
Bumping up to see if anyone else has ANY ideas. Please? Anything? LOL!
Luvn  I think Kaye has a great idea..and you already have a great group of mom's to poll *eg*
If I think of anything I'll post. I'm sorry that you ran into some difficulties with the prof and have to do extra work (((((((( hugs ))))))))
Adena, I like the idea of interviewing kids but maybe try jr high or high school level and find out what they know about their country and its history. I think that would be interesting.
You could also find little known trivial facts and write about them...or maybe do something like "Snopes"; fact vs. fiction.
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