Reality Check Syllabus

Reality Check: Developing Critical Consciousness

Class Syllabus[1]

Trillium Charter School Fall 2007

Instructor:

Ken Gadbow

Office Hours: Fridays 12-1

Ken@TrilliumCharterSchool.org

503-348-9849

Course Structure

This course focuses on the development of the student as a life long learner. The material we read and discuss is selected to encourage students to become more critical thinkers and practice looking at issues from multiple viewpoints. This class is interactive. It requires the participation of the students to make it a success. Small group activities and discussions dominate this course, supported by short lectures, reading, and group projects.

Course Objectives

Ø Conceptualize, express and clearly communicate their opinions, viewpoints, ideas, and knowledge through writing, discussion, and oral presentation.

Ø Respectfully and logically analyze and critique readings, knowledge, claims, and opinions presented in class.

Ø Work with peers and instructors on assignments, projects and research.

Ø Become familiar with the methods and application of quantitative and qualitative research.

Ø Use computers, the Internet, libraries, community and other resources for research and learning.

Code of Conduct

All students are expected to know and uphold the Rights and Responsibilities of the Trillium Constitution. We will use the non-violent conflict resolution process that includes conversations, mediations, and the OVRR system.

Course Overview

In this course, we will study the nature of knowledge, faith and belief. How do we know? How do we perceive? And how does our perception affect our understanding of reality? We will explore the limits of human perception, how we know what we think we know, and the nature of fact. Multi-media presentations, including hands-on activities and class discussions, help students develop tools for critically evaluating information. Students will practice deconstructing advertisements and pseudoscientific claims in order to make intelligent, informed decisions in today’s consumer culture.

Framework Concentrations:

Social Studies Fluencies:

• Access relevant background knowledge and incorporate new ideas and information.
• Apply critical thinking skills in discussion, writing and problem solving.
• Gather, interpret, use and document information from multiple sources.
• Think critically about bias and point of view in both text and other media.

Science Fluencies:

• Demonstrates ability to discern fact from opinion
• Demonstrate the ability to ask questions or form hypotheses that can be answered or tested through scientific investigations.
• Ability to understand the meaning of “evidence”, ability to determine the difference between reliable and unreliable evidence, and ability to explain ideas using evidence.
• Understand the nature of bias, and how bias can affect conclusions.

Grading:

Participation and preparation 60%

Quizzes 10%

Midterm project 10%

Final project 20%

Course Schedule

The following is a tentative schedule of how the term will proceed. We are not bound by this outline. We, students and instructor, will most likely rearrange these dates, themes, and discussions, as the course proceeds.

Week 1 (September 9-15)

Introductions and course overview. What is a fact?

Week 2 (September 16-22)

Ways of knowing. Limits of human perception.

Week 3 (September 23-29)

Perception experiments

Week 4 (September 30-October 6)

PSU visit with Professor Patrick Edwards.

Week 5 (October 7-13)

Case studies of the weird and paranormal.

Week 6 (October 14-20)

Present case studies.

Begin: What is an advertisement?

Week 7 (October 21-27)

Ad deconstruction and counter ads.

Week 8 (October 28 -Nov. 3)

Work on Counter Ads.

Happy Halloween

Week 9 (November 4 – 7)

Final project and presentations due.

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[1] Adapted from the syllabi of Patrick Edwards.