History (etc) 300

Hybrid  Syllabus

Hybrid Homepage

Westminster College

Calendar for DECEMBER

Prof. Michael Markowski

DESCRIPTION

This course is a hybrid -- a mixture of methods. The course invites each student 'to make history' through research of a topic of choice, then to present the results online, to tell the world what it needs to know!

The image to the left illustrates 'hybrid:' In a medieval setting the scribe uses the latest technology to expand the life of the mind. (Monks were both male and female with the same Latin word describing both.)

This hybrid of methods, reaching back to the scholarship of the past and stretching forward to the technologies of the future, creates a new present.

DESCRIPTION, Specifically

       Students will research and present the history, and/or current-state-of-affairs, of a topic of choice. Cross-disciplinary topics are very welcome.

        We will also analyze the discipline of research itself, i.e., how one artfully creates and communicates ideas by pulling together sources, studies and reflection, and then by presenting the results on the web for the world to see and learn.

       This course will reveal insights into the historian's craft & art. The hope is to present a contribution to an inquiring World Wide Web about some idea, person, place, thing, situation and/or trend of interest.

     The hope is also for us to learn about our topics, to communicate our work in an elegant way, and to gain more expertise in the online world -- a world forever a part of our life & livelihood.

     One Objective of Hybrid Courses is to reduce class time. This means discipline and self-motivation is a requirement on your part, and my part, for this course to work.

     A caveat: This 'first-time experiment' will probably go astray from the syllabus schedule within minutes! Every student needs to stay in touch and keep up with the changes. I will update an online calendar to help in this.

By the end of the course students should have:

A Great Portfolio online and on CD to show family, friends, loved ones & prospective employers.

This Portfolio will exhibit all the items below, and then some:

Command of a topic or area of knowledge in the student's field of expertise;

Ability in, and depth of, understanding that area -- presented in a website...

A website that conveys significance & development, lively controversies, influences;

Confidence in dealing with people -- in history, in group-tasks, individually and online;

Understanding of how to critique one's own work, that of others;

Facility in reconciling and applying critique to one's own work and advantage;

Artful presentation of scholarship & interests;

Principles of successful communication and design;

Visible Computer and web skills as related to education;

Completed Websites which will inform the public about that topic for some time to come; as in the box below and via Dorothy Sayers, this takes work and does not happen by magic:

     Instead of the various steps, to see an overview of the entire project & semester in just a single sentence, click here.

The mm-logo takes you to my WC home page.

BOOKS:

Kathryn and Michael Summers. Creating Websites that Work.

Jules R. Benjamin. A Student's Guide to History.

NECESSITIES: Grades are drawn from three sources:

1. Quality of online presentations, including the final version (60%);
2. Postings on the Bulletin Board and Group Website projects (20%);
3. Classroom participation (20%).

OFFICE HOURS: MW 1:15-2:15, F 11-1 in FOST 419;
                   Tues 11-12 in MALF 203. Or by appointment.

Whenever you see this little monk-link:
clicking him or her will bring you back here.

     SCHEDULE: MW @ 10AM in MALF 203

          Readings are linked here and linked in turn within the site-readings. The Calendars contain the assignments and only a few readings to reduce calendar-clutter.

Click for the August Online Calendar of events

Step 1 Map: HOMEPAGE BUILDING, Aug 25, 30 & Sep 1

Readings

Step 1 Overview; Websites that Work, 94-107

Doings

Critique and respond to an online homepage (BB=Bulletin Board)

Design, Create and Present your new Homepage online and email me the link so I can add it to the Class Site.

View the Class Site and respond to a colleague's homepage on the Hybrid Discussion Bulletin Board (BB)

Click for the September Online Calendar of events

Step 2 Map: WEBPAGE of LINKS, Sep 8 & 13

Readings:

Reading 'Round a Topic

Step 2 Overview; Group Link-Page; Revisit Fine Sites

Doings:

Join a group of Three; communicate nose-to-nose & online: Be Prepared: This group-thing may be the MOST difficult Step of all!

Produce a single web page of (as you see it) of the most important links for the Westminster Community -- in a single, elegant, attractive, enticing and successful webpage.

Class Presentations on your own Group Dynamics & Solutions: How did y'all (Oregonian second person plural pronoun) make the group-thing work?

Concerning Malouf 203 -- Workstudy students from the General Computer Lab will be staffing Malouf 203 during the following hours of Fall 2004 Lab Hours:
Monday 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Tuesday 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Wednesday 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Thursday 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - Noon

Step 3: PROPOSAL & Techniques for Geeques, Sep 15, 20, 22 & 27

Readings:

Read the Overview & Defining Characteristics of Proposals; Benjamin, 78-115, esp. 78-83.

Be familiar with manuals/help files

Doings:

Prepare to Discuss this proposal in class on Sep 15th & email me a sketch of what you are proposing by day's end.

Create your Proposal, load it online;

Provide Feedback to a colleague's proposal on the BB;

Refine your proposal after BB Feedback, thinking & discussion.

Learn & implement Webpage building Techniques for Geeques

Read the Intro to Techniques for Geeques

Step 4: LITERATURE REVIEW

Present Secondary Sources in your field (Literature Review).

Readings:

Overview -- Description

An example  

Doings:

Write your Lit Review, load it online and link it to your project home page

Provide Feedback to a colleague's Lit Review on the BB

Refine your proposal after BB Feedback, thinking & discussion.

Click for the October Online Calendar of events

Step 5: THE COMPONENTS

Present your Components as integrated parts of your Site. View and critique the others linked to the Class Site.

Readings:

On the Five Components along with the linked examples

Doings:

Create three of the five components, load them online, link them to your homepage, look at ALL the other students' components for a general class discussion.

Step 6: TOPICAL ESSAY

Present a Topical Essay integrated into your Thesis, Proposal & Lit Review. Be sure to explain how it integrates into your work.

Readings:

On the Topical Essay

Doings:

Create & write your Topical Essay, load it online and link it to your homepage

Step 7: EVIDENCE

Put together and present your three strongest pieces of evidence. Be short, concise & to the point.

Have this element online by Oct 27, peruse the others over the weekend, and be prepared to discuss yours and the others in class on Nov 1.

Click for the November Online Calendar of events

Step 8: BRINGING IT ALL HOME

Critique of the sites as they come together: in detail. Start applying more evidence, reasoning, development, images, links, pages, to the site. Integrate Step 7.

Evidence is the Heart & Soul of the Project. Be ready to give and get feedback on these rough drafts.

Step 9: END GAME

Incorporate final feedback into the project. Final editing and alterations. Be sure that all you have gathered, and should have used, is used! Re-read, proof, re-edit, spruce up, tone down -- as you, the artist, craftsperson and creator -- see fit.

Click for the December Online Calendar of events

Step 10: FINISHING

Completing and incorporating last critiques, completing the project, downloading it onto a CD.

Final Exam: Thurs Dec 9, 10-11:50 AM in Malf 203 to debrief, fix problems, turn in CDs and identify improvements for the future.

Hybrid Bulletin Board Link through this image:               My 'non-copyright' statement.

    Westminster College seeks to provide equal access to the college's programs, services, and activities to people with disabilities as defined by the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you have a disability for which you will need accommodations in this class, please let the instructor know as soon as possible. You will also be required to provide documentation of your disability to the Services for Students with Disabilities program in the START Center (Carleson Hall, 832-2590). visits since 11/17/04.