HONORS SEMINARS - SPRING SEMESTER 2007
SEMINAR REGISTRATION FOR SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS
November 14th at Noon
WARNING!!!!!
IF YOU TRY TO REGISTER FOR SEMINARS BEFORE NOVEMBER 14TH AT NOON , YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO ADD THE CLASS. ALSO THE SYSTEM WILL EXCLUDE YOU FROM THE WAIT LIST AFTER THE CLASS IS FULL.
THE REFERENCE NUMBERS WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEB: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~honors/homepage.html
Make sure you plan ahead and take the number of required Honors courses and seminars as prescribed by your college Honors committee. Don't wait until your last year to meet the requirements because you may find that you will have some scheduling conflicts.
Important note: Attendance at Honors seminars is expected. Be sure to read all requirements. Be courteous and notify your instructor in advance if you are unable to attend class.
HON 322A, Concepts of Ecosystem Health: Is There a Doctor in the House?, Monday, 2nd Half, 2:10-3:30 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4651005
Instructor: Dušan Palić
Although the biosphere accounts for only a tiny portion of the Earth’s volume, we wouldn’t be around to discuss it if it wasn’t there. In short few thousand years and even more so, only during the past couple of centuries, humans gained power to alter any known ecosystem to its complete destruction. We have not advanced nearly as much in our power to heal the damage we are capable of doing. Furthermore, we have only begun to pay attention to ecosystem deterioration and processes behind it. Emerging concepts of ecosystem health encourage novel approach to natural resources management that may be similar to the physician/patient relation. Treating nature as someone who a needs medical exam and assistance before engaging in any activity calls for discussion on concepts and ideas that support and oppose such approach.
The purpose of this seminar will be to provide a stimulating learning environment within which students and instructors will explore historical circumstances that caused current ecosystem conditions, investigate basic metrics of ecosystem health (based primarily on examples from aquatic ecosystems), interact directly with surrounding ecosystems, and evaluate the effectiveness of the ecosystem health approach in resolving critical management and conservation issues. In the seminar, the instructor will use a combination of directed readings and vigorous discussion, together with a hands-on approach to assessment techniques in the laboratory and in the field. Online discussions and mailing list will be used to facilitate seminar activities and as an electronic “brain-storming” opportunity that will support the exchange of ideas and discussions on the topic outside of the class period.
Students should come out of the seminar with increased awareness about the abilities and responsibilities of natural resource managers, as well as other citizens, in maintaining sustainable growth and biological diversity. Students should recognize that the concept of ecosystem health is not a book-worm approach and that it is current, changing and actively molded/shaped through different expert, legislature and layman interest groups.
Texts:
Karr, J.R., K.D. Fausch, P.L. Angermeier, P.R. Yant and I.J. Schlosser. 1986. Assessing biological integrity in running waters: A method and its rationale. Illinois Natural History Survey Special Publication. Other suggest readings.
Instructor:
Dušan Palić is currently employed as veterinary specialist in aquatic animal medicine and adjunct assistant professor at the department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine. Dr Palić is bridging areas of ecology and medicine to enrich the student learning environment with recent ideas and concepts of ecosystem evaluation and management.
HON 322B, Tolkien’s Mythology, Friday, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4652010
Instructor: Alan Myers
Description:
This seminar offers a thorough exploration of the mythology developed in the imagination of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. Like all mythologies, Tolkien’s is a collection of stories in which listeners might find for themselves explanations of concepts difficult to understand in a scientific, rational, or empirical manner. Major themes of the mythology include the nature of good and evil, and the meaning and nature of human mortality. Tolkien is best known for his epic romance The Lord of the Rings, widely recognized as one of the greatest works of fiction written in English. This novel describes the conclusion of a 10,000-year history that constitutes Tolkien’s Mythology, offering a transition from the imaginary world into the reality of our present day. The seminar will concentrate for the most part on Tolkien’s other writings including The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and some of the extensive background writings presented to the public after the author’s death. The class will also examine The Lord of the Rings in the context of how it contributes to the structure of the mythology. Outside of the conceptual theme of the seminar, students will be guided through an entertaining body of literature that casual readers often find challenging owing to its great complexity. Specific readings will be assigned for each class period. A short term paper will be required, intended to be a creative writing piece set within Tolkien’s mythological structure. These student contributions will be discussed in the class during the closing weeks of the semester.
Texts:
The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien (complete text)
Unfinished Tales, by J.R.R. Tolkien (selected readings assigned in class)
The History of Middle Earth, by J.R.R. Tolkien (selected readings assigned in class)
The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien (selected readings assigned in class)
Instructor:
Alan Myers is Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBMB), and has extensive teaching experience in biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics courses. The College of LAS has recognized Dr. Myers with its award for outstanding teaching at the introductory level. Dr. Myers is the director of an active biochemistry research program focused on molecular mechanisms in plant metabolism. His qualification to teach a course in Tolkien’s Mythology is a long-standing personal interest in the subject, broad study of all of Tolkien’s published work, and the experience and insights gained, especially from former students, in numerous previous offerings of this seminar.
HON 322C, (Section B) IMing With Online Predators, Thursday, 1st Half, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4653010
Instructor: Chad Harms
Description:
This seminar will address a current social phenomenon that lacks research and investigation, and will potentially impact everyone at some point in their life. The topic of the seminar will be how pedophiles use the internet to target children for sexual solicitation. Specifically, what communication strategies and behaviors are identifiable, how parents and children perceive risk in Internet use, and the various techniques used to combat the problem will be discussed. Students will learn about the various efforts of Internet watchdogs, ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) law enforcement members, Department of Justice officials, and researchers to understand and combat the crime. Students will also be asked to assess the role they hope to play as contributing members of society after leaving Iowa State University. The seminar will be structured as a discussion course incorporating relevant videos, articles, websites, and text logs of predators and targets from various sources. In addition, potential speakers from law enforcement and counseling centers will be invited to talk with the students. The students will be expected to work together to brainstorm about the topic, develop strategies to combat the crime, provide feedback about the seminar, and complete a paper/presentation assignment.
Texts:
Selected readings from government reports, disciplinary journals and newspaper articles.
Instructor:
Chad Harms is an Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism and Communication and a member of the Human Computer Interaction Group. His research is focused on S.T.O.P. (Study of the Termination of Online Predators).
HON 322D, 10 Ballets To See Before You Die, Wednesday, 2nd Half, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4654005
Instructor: Dana Schumacher
Description:
Swans? Sylphs? Why did women begin to dance on the ends of their toes? Are all those men really princes? This seminar will provide students a crash course in dance literacy. Students will read about, view and discuss ten (or so) seminal dance works, exploring the origins and development of ballet, the cultural context in which the selected works were created, and the role of dance in society.
Texts:
Students will read selected chapters from Robert Greskovic’s Ballet 101: A Complete Guide to Learning & Loving the Ballet. They will do additional research for their presentations.
Instructor:
Dana Schumacher spends most of her time working as the undergraduate adviser in the Department of Political Science, though she first came to ISU as a member of the dance faculty. In that role, she regularly taught courses in dance history and dance appreciation. When not in Ross Hall, she can be found teaching ballet technique, reading about cultural policy, or otherwise engaged in arts rabblerousing. She holds a BA and MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine.
HON 322E, Can You Be Anyone?(Re) Thinking Characterization Using 2nd Person Point of View to Create Reader-Characters in Fiction, Monday, 2:10-3:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4655005
Instructor: Christiana Langenberg
Description:
Most courses in literature and creative writing discuss the element of Point of View in terms of either 1st or 3rd person narratives. Consequently, the neglected 2nd person point of view gets little attention. Yet more contemporary writers are experimenting with this form of characterization/narration every day. Well-anthologized authors like Lorrie Moore, Rebecca Brown, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro and other fiction writers (including myself) have published short stories written in 2nd person that are often both compelling and challenging to read in that they require the reader to rethink their passive approach to reading and rather actually become the character addressed as “You” in the story.
Students in this seminar will read, write and discuss 2nd person point of view short fiction exclusively in order to fully immerse themselves in what it is that makes this style of writing unique.
Students in this seminar will read, write and discuss 2nd person point of view short fiction exclusively in order to fully immerse themselves in what it is that makes this style of writing unique.
Texts:
Some of the stories we may read are as follows:
“Forgiveness” by Rebecca Brown
“Isle of Skye” by Rebecca Brown
“How to be a Writer” by Lorrie Moore
“How” by Lorrie Moore
“Lust” by Susan Minot
“You Have a Car” by Sherrie Flick
“The Sky is Gray” by Ernest Gaines
“Between Body and Language” by Christiana Langenberg
“Maura Takes the Multiple Choice Test of her Life So Far” by Christiana Langenberg
Instructor:
Christiana Langenberg is an academic advisor in the Department of English and has been teaching creative writing in the English and Women’s Studies departments for 20 years at ISU. Christiana has published numerous short stories in 2nd person pov and presented conference programs regarding the use of this technique at Purdue, San Diego State University and others.
HON 322F, Escaping From Flatland, Wednesday, 2:10-3:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref# 4661005
Instructor: Hadley Wickham
Description:
A great way of understanding data is to look at them. If we print things out, or look at a fixed plot on our computer screen, we are trapped in a flatland of only 2 dimensions. How can we escape and explore beyond the flats? Are we limited to only to thinking in 3 dimensions, or can we expand our brains to think in more?
In this course we will investigate a number of ways to explore data graphically, with a focus on high-dimensional methods, that is, methods that can explore the relationship between many different variables. Most statistics courses use mathematics and numbers to do this, but we will use pictures, movies and interaction instead.
Texts:
Dianne Cook and Deborah F. Swayne. “Interactive and Dynamic Graphics for Data Analysis: With Examples Using R and GGobi”. Available from http://www.ggobi.org/docs/
Instructor:
Hadley Wickham is a PhD, student in statistics, who moved to Iowa from New Zealand. His research interests include both static and interactive graphics. He is particularly interested in integrating graphics into the standard work flow of data analysis.
HON 322G, Understanding the Human Genome: Implications in Health, Disease, and Bioethics, Thursday, 11:00-11:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4664005
Instructor: Kevin Schalinske
Description:
The seminar will be about understanding gene expression and how that relates to disease. Students will learn about genes; methods to monitor gene expression; how differences, both normal and abnormal, play a role in disease; and the implications all of this has for society in terms of nutritional requirements, self-assessing potential for disease development, and potential legal or ethic implications.
Following completion of the seminar, students will have a basic understanding of what gene expression is; how it can result in disease; how polymorphisms play a role in disease risk; how this is determined; and the bioethic considerations of this technology.
Texts:
Not yet completely defined, but most readings will be from both peer-reviewed literature, reviews, and non-peer-reviewed articles. Examples:
Journal of Nutrition; Annual Review of Nutrition/ Medicine/ Biochemistry; The Scientist; American Scientist; Life Science Ethics
Instructor:
Kevin Schalinske currently teaches in both the department’s undergraduate (FSHN 261 & 360) and graduate curriculum (FSHN 553 & 554); he has an active research laboratory that focuses on nutrients and gene expression, including using many of the required techniques. He was a participant in a week-long Bioethics Institute (2002) via the Office of Biotechnology, ISU.
HON 322H, What Investors and Managers Need to Know About Fraud, Tuesday, 4:10-5:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4668005
Instructor: William N. Dilla
Description:
The focus of this seminar is to help students understand the nature, magnitude, and causes of economic fraud, explain the measures that organizations, investors, and consumers can take to prevent and detect fraud; consider the importance of ethics and values in dealing with fraud issues; and communicate with others about fraud issues orally and in writing. Students will learn about 1.) the measure managers take to prevent and detect fraud; 2.) the warning signs in financial statements that indicated possible fraudulent financial reporting; 3.) the responsibilities of certified public accountants for detecting fraud; 4.) the methods used by forensic accountants to investigate fraud; the political and legal implications of economic fraud.
Texts:
Because of increased press coverage on fraud, the proposed course will rely heavily on journal and newspaper articles.
Instructor:
William Dilla, Associate Professor of accounting, has taught auditing for 19 years. He was an auditor for Deloitte Haskins and Sells and is a licensed CPA. Professor Dilla has published articles on audit risk assessment and ethical attitudes of auditors in academic journals. He has presented continuing education courses on financial fraud for the Iowa State University Department of Accounting and the Iowa Society of CPA’s.
HON 322J, Foreign Bodies: Identity and Difference in Vienna Since 1900, Monday & Wednesday, 11:00-11:50 a.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4678005
Instructor: William Carter CANCELLED
Description:
The seminar begins in Vienna around 1900 when writers, artists, architects, designers, musicians, and Freud made modernity fashionable. Since then, one might argue, we have never been more modern . . . or more discontent.
Following the turn of the century, the historical time line will focus on specific periods of crisis in Vienna during the 20th century and consider their aftershocks, specifically, how attempts to bury and unbury the past contributed to life in Vienna and Viennese identities.
Analyzing texts ranging from art and architecture to music, literature, and film, we shall consider what role mourning, melancholia, and nostalgia play in relation to the Other in Vienna.
The case study of Vienna will return repeatedly to the many modalities of “home” (Heimat, Heim, der/die Einheimische, geheim, das Un/heimliche) that run throughout these texts in order to understand the difference between being Viennese and living in Vienna. One does not necessarily follow from the other, as we shall see.
The seminar will conclude by considering the extent to which the most recent turn of the century mirrors the previous one, what lessons we in America might learn from the case of Vienna, and consider what the future holds for the city of dreams and nightmares, as well as any other questions that might arise during our sessions.
During class, students will discuss the historical situations that lead to different crises in Vienna and in Viennese identity and consider important works of art, architecture, literature, and music (from Mozart to current Hip-Hop). Four times during the semester we will meet from 7-9 on Wednesdays (the day is flexible) instead of twice during the week. In our evening sessions, student groups will introduce a film that depicts Vienna and relates to our topic such as Young Dr. Freud, The Third Man, and Free Radicals. Following the screening, we will critically discuss the film.
Texts:
Student readings will be assembled in a course reader and will include excerpts from a number of the following representative texts:
Background
Inge Lehne and Lonnie Johnson. Vienna: the Past in the Present. A Historical Survey (Ariadne, 1995).
Carl E. Schorske. Fin-de-Siècle Vienna: Politics and Culture (Vintage, 1980).
The New Austria (Catalogue, 2005).
Die Zweite Republik—Eine Unglaubliche Geschichte (dvd—ORF, 2005).
Literature
Hugo Bettauer. A City without Jews. Trans. Salomea Neumark Brainin (Bloch Pub. Co, 1997).
Sigmund Freud. Dora: An Analysis of a Case of Hysteria (Touchstone, 1997).
Joseph Roth. “The Bust of the Emperor.” The Collected Stories of Joseph Roth. Trans. Michael Hofmann (W.W. Norton, 2002).
Arthur Schnitzler. Night Games and other Stories and Novellas. Trans. Margret Schaefer (Ivan R. Dee, 2003).
Stephan Zweig. “The World of Security.” The World of Yesterday (U Nebraska P, 1964).
National Socialism in Vienna
Steven Beller. Vienna and the Jews, 1867-1938: A Cultural History (Cambridge, 1991).
Brigitte Hamann. Hitler’s Vienna: A Dictator’s Apprenticeship. Trans. Thomas Thornton (Oxford, 1999).
Karl Stojka. The story of Karl Stojka: a childhood in Birkenau (exhibition catalogue, 1992).
Erika Thurner and Gilya Gerda Schmidt, eds. National Socialism and Gypsies in Austria (U of Alabama P, 2006).
Art & Architecture
Ingerid Helsing Almaas. Vienna (Architecture in Context series) (Kronemann, 1999).
August Sarnitz. Vienna- New Architecture 1975-2005 (Princeton, 2003).
Peter Vergo. Art in Vienna (Phaidon, 1994).
Gesichter der Stadt—Architektur in Wien (dvd—ORF, 2004).
Films
Die Stadt ohne Juden. Hans Karl Breslauer, 1924.
All Quiet on the Western Front. Lewis Milestone, 1930.
The Third Man. Carol Reed, 1949.
Young Dr. Freud. Alex Corti, 1976.
Free Radicals. Barbara Albert, 2003.
Reflections
Massimo Cacciari. Posthumous People: Vienna at the Turning Point (Stanford, 1996).
Ernst Grabovski and James Hardin, eds. Literature in Vienna at the Turn of the Centuries: Continuities and Discontinuities around 1900 and 2000 (Camden, 2002).
HON 322K, Robin Hood: History, Legend & Film, Thursday, 7:00-9:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit:15,
Ref# 4679005
Instructor: Gloria Betcher
Description:
This discussion-oriented seminar, which would be paired with a Robin Hood Film Series open to all Honors students, will focus on the character of Robin Hood as he is revealed in historical and legendary sources and on the way in which those sources have been adapted for entertainment and propaganda in television shows and films of the 20th and 21st centuries. Readings will begin with a few medieval sources on the legendary and historical Robin Hood and selections from critical commentary on the character, examining the roots of the legend that has spawned so many modern interpretations. We’ll then examine Robin’s many personae as outlaw, hero, subversive dramatic figure, and object of popular satire in television and film. By the end of the seminar, students in the course will be able to
• identify the uses of the Robin Hood legend over the years (as social commentary, as inspiration to rebellion, and as entertainment)
• demonstrate knowledge of what is fact and what is fiction with regard to the legendary outlaw,
• present orally, electronically, and in writing to classmates and film viewers the information on Robin Hood-related topics that they have mastered, and
• impress others with their knowledge of Robin Hood in his literary and cinematic guises.
Students will spend most of their class time discussing the readings, TV shows, and the 4 films we will watch, occasionally preparing brief, written responses to study questions on readings. Every 2-3 weeks, students will watch a film instead of having class discussion. A group of students (3 or 4 to a group) will adopt each film, taking responsibility for introducing it orally to the viewers and producing a set of program notes to hand out at the screening that will explain key details about the film, its connection to Robin hood, and other fun facts about production. In the last two weeks of the semester, each student will give a 10-12 minute presentation on some aspect of Robin Hood in history, literature, film, television, or popular culture. Students will be expected to engage critically with the texts and subject matter while learning to appreciate some familiar films in new ways.
Texts:
Selected pdf’s and works on Robin Hood from books and journals, Robin Hood films, and T.V.
Instructor:
Gloria Betcher is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English with a Ph.D. in medieval literature. She has taught medieval Robin Hood plays and legends in seminars on medieval literature. She also has an abiding interest in interdisciplinary medieval studies, especially the intersections of art and literature.
HON 322L, The Tipping Point of Leadership, Monday & Wednesday, 3:10-4:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4680005 CANCELLED
Instructor: Sarah Rockwell
Description:
In this seminar, students will read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and consider the “magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like wildfire.” In the first 8 weeks of the semester, students will think critically and engage in dialogue about the ideas presented in this book. The second 8 weeks will use what they have learned about the tipping point phenomenon to focus on citizen leadership and making change in the ISU or Ames community.
• Students will read think critically about the concepts presented in The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• Students will engage in dialogue about cultural phenomena
• Students will learn about the citizen leadership model
• Students will apply concepts learned in this class to make change in their community
• Students will make a classroom presentation about their chosen change project
Texts:
Gladwell, M. (2002). The tipping point. New York: Back Bay Books.
Instructor:
Sarah Rockwell, has served as a Hall Director for the Department of Residence at Iowa State University for three years. In addition to experience with student outreach, leadership development and advising, and academic programming, her teaching experience includes instructing two semesters of Psychology 131 and serving one semester as a teaching assistant for a graduate level College Student Personnel course – Group Dynamics.
HON 322M, Psychology and Law, Tuesday, 1st Half, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4681005
Instructors: Ryan Tapscott and Jennifer Willard
Description:
This course would be aimed at exploring topics in law from a psychological perspective. Much of what psychologists know about human thoughts and behavior can be applied to a number of areas in the criminal and legal justice system. Understanding the roles, motives, ambitions and even the physiology of the major players in the legal system (e.g., attorneys, criminals, judge, jury, etc.), will allow us to move beyond thinking in stereotypical terms.
Class meetings will be a combination of mini-lectures, guest speakers, demonstrations, group activities, debates, and discussion (see section on topics/assignments for additional information).
General course goals:
1. Increase students’ understanding of the different perspectives and assumptions held by law and psychology about human behavior.
2. Demonstrate how psychological research can provide insight into the legal system and its operation.
3. Improve students’ ability to think critically and evaluate the use of psychology within the legal system.
Texts:
Wrightsman, L. S., Greene, E., Nietzel, M., T., & Fortune, W. H. (2002). Psychology and the legal system (5th Ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth.
Other readings as assigned.
Instructors:
Ryan Tapscott and Jennifer Willard are doctoral students in social psychology at ISU.
Ryan Tapscott’s research interests include the integration of media effects and psychology of the law, including studying such topics as the tipster process in eyewitness identification and the CSI Effect. He has also taught a course on forensic science.
Jennifer Willards’ research interests include examining self-fulfilling prophecies, perceptual biases, and stereotypes. In addition, she has conducted research on the effects of pretrial publicity on jury decision-making and the alibi overestimation effect. She has taught several sections of Psych102, Psych302, and is currently teaching the Honors section of Psych101.
HON 322N, Sustainability and Public Gardens: How Gardens Can Be Greener, Tuesday, 3:30-5:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 4687005
Instructors: Lisa Orgler and Colleen Rogers
Description:
Content:
This seminar will discuss the concept of sustainability and how it can be applied to a public garden. Iowa State University’s Reiman Gardens will serve as a living laboratory for students to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with social, environmental and economic factors in working toward sustainability.
Objectives:
To understand how the three pillars of sustainability can fit together at a public garden. To explore how sustainability is being incorporated into the work of public gardens in the United States and across the globe. To develop a project or projects to measure sustainability performance at Reiman Gardens and to make recommendations for improvement.
Procedures:
During class, students will discuss reading assignments, including case studies of sustainability initiatives at public gardens and learn how to develop a plan to collect data related to a sustainability issue at the Gardens.
Texts:
Since the topic of sustainability and public gardens is quite new, reading resources are slightly limited. Readings will include:
Selected papers from the 2006 American Public Garden Association conference and the 6th annual BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International) conference;
Education for Sustainable Development: Guidelines for Action in Botanic Gardens, a BGCI publication; Botanic Gardens: Using biodiversity to improve human well-being, a BGCI publication; The Campus and Environmental Responsibility by David Eagan (Editor) and David Orr (Editor); Toward Sustainable Communities: Resources for Citizens and Their Governments by Mark Roseland and Stacy Mitchell; Indicator Systems for Sustainable Innovation (Sustainability and Innovation) by Jens Horbach (Editor); Ecodemia: Campus Environmental Stewardship at the Turn of the 21st Century: Lessons in Smart Management from Administrators, Staff, and Students by Julia Keniry of the National Wildlife Federation, Washington, D. C.; Toward Sustainable Communities: Resources for Citizens and Their Governments by Mark Roseland and Stacy Mitchell
Instructors:
Lisa Orgler is currently the Assistant Director at Reiman Gardens. Her responsibilities include supervising the areas of horticulture, education and entomology, while also encouraging the whole staff to plan as a team. This past year Lisa published the Gardens' team-based design process in Roots Magazine by Botanic Gardens Conservation International and presented a workshop at its 6th International Congress on Education in London.
Colleen Rogers is currently the Communications Coordinator at Reiman Gardens. She is responsible for marketing the educational programs, horticultural displays and events at the Gardens. She is also member of the Steering Committee for the Iowa State University Council on Sustainability. She holds a M.S. in Environmental Education from the University of Wales and conducted her master’s thesis research on campus sustainability. As part of her role with the Council on Sustainability, she prepares and facilitates campus sustainability presentations and discussions to student, staff and faculty groups at Iowa State.
HON 322P, New Urbanism and the American Suburban Neighborhood, Monday 12:10 - 1:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 5111005
Instructor: Michael Martin
Description:
The students will critically investigate the “New Urbanism”, as a cultural and design trend that emerged toward the end of the 20th century, as a critical response to postwar suburbanism. We will take a broad view, exploring this trend in terms of its social/cultural assumptions, aesthetics, and history.
Class time will be used for discussions of assigned readings (readings from a broad variety of sources, both academic and popular press), occasional viewing of New Urbanist imagery (in movies such as “The Truman Show”, which features iconic New Urbanist development Seaside, FL), and local field trips to Somerset as well as to the “old urbansim” exemplified within the Ames Main Street historic district.
When they complete the seminar, students will understand New Urbanism as more than a design style; they will be able to appreciate this trend as a cultural phenomenon with aesthetic, social, political/ideological, economic, and even ecological dimensions. They will understand a range of arguments that favor New Urbanism-type planning and design, as well as a range of perspectives from which New Urbanism has been critiqued. Students will be encouraged to consider these multiple perspectives and to draw their own conclusions about New Urbanism in contemporary American society.
Texts:
Selected chapters from Suburban Nation, by Duany/Plater-Zyberk and Speck; Selected chapters from Real Places, by Grady Clay; “Back-alley as Community Landscape”, Landscape Journal, by Michael Martin; Selected chapters from Asphalt Nation, by Jane Holtz Kay; “Returning to Radburn”, Landscape Journal, by Michael Martin; Plus articles from several other sources, including contemporary popular press
Instructor:
Michael Martin is Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture. He is a licensed landscape architect; 10 years professional practice background in suburban-oriented practice in Atlanta GA and 11 years teaching experience in landscape architecture, with emphasis in research/publication and teaching on neighborhood design and open space planning.
HON 322Q, Exploring Leadership, Thursday, 3:10-5:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 5113005 Instructors: Jennifer Garrett and Brandy Cunningham
Description:
Every individual has the capacity for leadership. This is the basic assumption of this course. Old ideas and notions about leadership are changing from a leadership approach that is hierarchical and top down to a contemporary leadership process that is inclusive and empowering. This seminar will give you the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of leadership in today’s world.
Leadership is a relational process occurring between and among members in organizations who have common goals and purposes. In this seminar, students will learn to examine how their purpose in life influences their own goals and leadership, to think about the ethical responsibilities of leadership, and to learn how leaders and participants mutually shape the environment of an organization or community. The seminar is designed to help students recognize their leadership potential.
Course Objectives:
Students will
- Think critically about leadership issues facing our communities and society.
- Confront the belief that you have the potential to transform your world.
- Understand personal, group and societal values.
- Increase awareness and understanding of diverse groups.
- Explore their personal identity as a leader.
- Enhance their written and oral communication skills through reflective writing, out-of-class assignments, and class presentations.
Texts:
Exploring Leadership: For college students who want to make a difference, Komives, S.R., Lucas, N, & McMahon, T.R. (1998), and additional readings.
Instructors:
Jennifer Garrett is the Coordinator of Leadership & Service at Iowa State, she works with several student groups including Dance Marathon, Freshmen Council and The 10,000 Hours Show. She is working with a university wide committee to develop a leadership program called the Leadership Journey.
Brandy Cunningham is the Assistant Director for the University Honors Program. Previously, she was the Assistant Director for the Programming, Leadership & Involvement Office at Loras College where she developed and taught a four-tiered leadership seminar series based on the Social Change Model.
HON 322R, The Russian Film Comedy, Friday, 10:00-10:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 5117005 Instructors: Olga Mesropova
Description:
Laughter and comedy have been staple ingredients of cinema since its birth. If a film is
funny, it will bring in the crowds. This seminar examines Russian and Soviet film comedies from early comedies of socialist realism to the emergence of satire in the 1970’s and to recent post-Soviet comedy blockbusters. Students will discuss how Soviet comedy film-makers treaded a fine line between making people laugh and being ideologically acceptable to Soviet censorship. Students will also investigate why Soviet comedies of the 1990s failed to bring in audiences while more recent comedies (especially those produced under Vladimir Putin) have gained national and international recognition. Among films to be viewed are “Extraordinary Adventures of Mr. West in the Land of Bolsheviks,” “Ivan Vasil’evich Changes His Occupation,” “Peculiarities of National Hunt,” and “Adam’s Rib.” Students will also look at some Hollywood comedies and discuss their role in American society.
Texts:
All readings will be provided by the instructor on WebCT. All readings are in English; films are screened with English subtitles. Readings will consist of excerpts from the following sources:
Beumers, Birgit, ed. Russia on Reels: The Russian Idea in Post-Soviet Cinema. London: I.B. Tauris, 1999
Dobrenko, Evgeny. "Soviet Comedy Film: or, the Carnival of Authority." Trans. Jesse M. Savage. Discourse 17.3 (Spring 1995): 49-57.
Horton, Andrew, ed. Inside Soviet Film Satire: Laughter With a Lash. NY: Cambridge UP, 1993.
Gillespie, David C. "The Sounds of Music: Soundtrack and Song in Soviet Film." Slavic Review 62.3 (Fall 2003): 473-490, among others.
Instructor:
Olga Mesropova is an assistant professor of Russian at ISU. Her research interests include post-Soviet film, gender and culture studies. She has published articles on various aspects of Russian culture, film, television, and performance in journals such as Russian Review, Slavic and East European Journal, and Canadian Slavonic Papers. She is also the author of KINOTALK (a cinema-based conversation textbook, forthcoming, Slavica 2006). She is currently co-editing a collection of essays entitled Uncensored? Reinventing Humor and Satire in Post-Soviet Russia (forthcoming in 2008).
HON 322T, Electronic Relationships, Monday, 1st Half, 1:10-3:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 2968005
Instructors: Michelle Boettcher and Chris Fowler
Description:
How do cell phones, instant messenger, Facebook & MySpace, I-Pods, and other technology-based communications impact the interaction between people? College students in particular have access to much more than a landline or email. Even their academic experiences are affected through the addition of online courses where students might never meet their instructors in person. How do they manage their electronic relationships similarly or differently from their interactions in person? What impact does technology have on human interaction?
Texts:
BYTE-in Satire: A Light-Hearted Poke in Technology’s Eye by Joel Klebanoff
Instructors:
Michelle Boettcher is a Hall Director with Department of Residence. She teaches an honors seminar course and a Psych 131 class , Fall 2006.
Chris Fowler is a Program Coordinator with the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. She is a certified Meyers Briggs Type Indicator Administrator.
HON 322U, (Section B) Understanding War, Wednesday, 2:10-3:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 2977010
Instructor: Jean-Pierre Taoutel
Description:
“What is it like to be in a war zone?”
“What challenges do civilians face when they are trapped in a war”
The seminar will examine the daily life in wartime and the social effects of war. How do people live in extreme conditions? Through study cases and living experiences students will be able to better understand the “chaos of war”. We will examine in depth the Geneva Convention and other Human Rights documents to raise awareness about war crimes against civilians. We will also explore the role of the media in conflict. Students will compare various newspapers and different versions to better understand the sided, biased or impartial role of the media. They will learn to read behind the superficial or general information presented in some media. At the end of the seminar students should be able to understand the reality of war and its effect on society. War is not just a video game between the good and the bad.
Texts:
The Geneva Convention; Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Reports from Amnesty and Human Rights Watch; Selected readings
Instructor:
Jean-Pierre Taoutel was born in Syria and grew up in Lebanon before moving to France. French and Arabic are his native languages. He has been teaching at ISU since 1999 as a Lecturer of French and an Instructor of Arabic.
HON 322V, The Pilgrimage Route to Santiago De Com Po Tela (Spain), Tuesday, 1:10-2:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 3552005
Instructors: Dawn Bratsch-Prince CANCELLED
Description:
For over a millennium, hardy pilgrims of all types have made their way across northern Spain to visit the city of Santiago de Compostela, famed as the burial site of Saint James the Apostle. The Camino de Santiago or Pilgrimage Route to Santiago has inspired believers and non-believers alike to make the 700 kilometer trek for as many reasons as there are travelers. In the ninth century, the discovery of the bones of Saint James the Apostle (Santiago), in north- western Spain set into motion a fascinating and lively historical narrative tradition that spawned epic poems, fabulous chronicles, ballads, and miracle tales along the route and on both sides of the Pyrenees. This narrative tradition fuses historical events with religious legend to serve the interests of the kingdoms and towns along the pilgrimage route. Political, religious, and commercial motives for the propagation of these narratives have insured that they endure until today.
In this seminar, we will study both the physical and the narrative route to Santiago. Students will track the pilgrim’s progress from the Pyrenees to Finisterre, as we read the stories that both inspired and sustained their journey.
Texts:
- Readings posted on WebCT including English translations of:
- The Song of Roland (selections)
- The Song of Roncesvalles (fragment)
- The Primera Crónica General (First General Chronicle) of Alfonso X, the Learned (selections)
- The Song of El Cid (selections)
- Poem of the Siete Infantes de Lara (The Seven Princes of Lara) (selections)
- Berceo’s The Miracles of Our Lady (selections)
- The Miracles of St. James (selections)
- Hitt, Jack. Off the Road. A Modern-Day Walk Down the Pilgrim’s Route into Spain. NY: Simon and Schuster, 1994, 2005.
- Melczer, William. Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago de Compostela, NY: Italica Press, 1993.
Instructor:
Dawn Bratsch-Prince is professor of Spanish and chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. She received her Ph.D. in Romance Philology (medieval languages and literatures) from the University of California - Berkeley in 1990. Her scholarly interests include medieval Spanish literature; the history of women, particularly women writers, in Western Europe, and the history of underrepresented peoples in Spain throughout history.
HON 322W, Tracking Technologies: Contemporary Uses of Radio Frequency Identification Tagging, Tuesday, 2:10-3:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 3675005
Instructors: Anthony M. Townsend and Andy Luse
Description:
This seminar will be a discussion of tracking technologies and their many uses. What is RFID (to include the wide variety of RFID systems available)? What is bar coding (including the newer 2 dimensional technologies)? How have these technologies been deployed? What is the social and commercial impact of these technologies?
At the end of the seminar, students should clearly understand the capabilities and limitations of the individual technologies, and have an informed understanding of how the technologies are actually used and the social and ethical implications of their increasing use.
Procedures
Class time will be used to discuss readings and engage in hands-on use and development of tracking technologies.
Assignments
The primary assignments will be selected readings and in-class lab exercises using RFID and Bar Coding equipment. There will also be small writing assignments where students explore tracking technology use to report back to the class.
Texts:
- Book
- RFID Field Guide: Deploying Radio Frequency Identification Systems Manish Bhuptani Shahram Moradpour
- “RFID pays off: real benefits begin to accrue in several industries. Mohsen Attaran. Industrial Engineer”
- Computer viruses in luggage and pets. Cynthia G. Wagner. The Futurist
Instructors:
Anthony M. Townsend’s research focuses on a variety of issues dealing with the interface between people and information systems. He currently teaches a variety of MIS courses for the Logistics, Operations and Management Information Systems department in the College of Business.
Andy Luse is a Ph.D. student in the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) program with a home department in MIS. His research focuses mainly in the areas of computer and network security and visualization technologies for these systems.
HON 322Y, Poetry and Conceptual Design, Tuesday & Thursday, 1st Half, 2:10-3:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 3725005
Instructors: Michael Pate
Description:
One of the most important steps in the design process is concept generation, otherwise known as conceptual design. It is in the conceptual design phase that possible design solutions are first envisioned. As such, extensive creativity and imagination are required to develop a large number of approaches that can, in subsequent design phases, be evaluated and ranked with regards to achieving the design objectives. Therefore, conceptual design requires thought processes that are unimpeded, unconfined, and uninhibited, similar to the creative and imaginative thinking routinely used to achieve success in the arts. “Thinking outside the box” is a common phrase to describe these thought processes. The specific arts that emphasize creativity and imagination are literature, music, and the visual arts both 2-dimensional (e.g., painting) and 3-dimensional (e.g., sculpturing). Of all the arts, poetry has those characteristics of brevity the visual arts, that enable sit to be used as a classroom tool for promoting both creative and imaginative thinking in students. Thus, poetry writing can be used to strengthen the creative and imaginative processes in individuals so that they can then apply this skill to formulate solutions to conceptual design problems.
The objective of this seminar course is to provide students with the ability to write modern poetry as exercises in creative and imaginative thinking and then to apply this enhanced thinking to formulating solutions to conceptual design problems.
The class time will be used to prepare students for the task of writing modern free-verse poetry by per\\resenting definitions, guidelines, and background information including techniques and other poetics necessary to achieve the course objectives. This preparation will also include exposure to contemporary poetry along with creative exercises. After providing background material sufficient to build confidence in the writing process, students will be asked to write short poems with emphasis on releasing their creativity and imagination for the purposes of applying it to contemporary design. Students will be given some limited opportunities to share their poetic creations with the class on a voluntary basis. Prior to integrating poetry writing with conceptual design, the design process, emphasizing conceptual design, will then be presented independent of student discipline. Finally, solutions to a wide range of conceptual design problems will be formulated with emphasis on creativity and imagination gained from poetry writing exercises.
Texts:
Handouts describing and dealing with poetics and conceptual design along with samples of each;
Internet activities and information;
Library resources
Instructor:
Michael Pate has written a significant body of free-verse poetry, oftentimes emphasizing the interaction of society with the environment and technology. In addition, he is a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department where he teaches a variety of mechanical engineering courses dealing with the thermal sciences, including alternative energy conversation. In addition to emphasizing real world design in all of his courses. He has also taught ME442 Heating and Air Conditioning Design, which is a core design course in the ME curriculum.
HON 322Z, Transformational Role of Information Technology, Wednesday, 1st Half, 9:00-10:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 8334005
Instructor: Sree Nilakanta
Description:
The late Peter Drucker remarked that we are living in the knowledge economy. Information technology is the prime mover of the knowledge economy. In this role, IT influences several aspects of our lives. The effect has been to transform individuals, firms, nations, and society. These transformations have ranged from very bad to very good.
The seminar will examine the transformational nature of information technology. Students will explore examples of transformation. Students will trace the history of these transformations through a review of contemporary writings. These could include books, articles, and opinion pieces. The seminar will use in class discussions supplemented by on-line discussions via the electronic portfolio (eDoc).
Students will be able to synthesize the discussions and arrive at some general philosophical conclusions about the influence of information technology on contemporary society and economy.
Texts:
Cyberactivism: Online Activism in Theory and Practice, by Martha McCaughey; Media Technology and Society; A History: From the Telegraph to the Internet, by Brian Winston; The Internet and Society, by James Slevin; The Social Life of Information, by John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid; Blown to Bits, by Philip Evans and Thomas Wurster; And selected articles and op-ed pieces
Instructor:
Sree Nilakanta is Associate Professor of Management Information Systems in the College of Business. He has taught two Honors seminars in the past focusing on information technology. His current research interests are in the areas of organizational memory, transformational nature of IT, and privacy and security.
HON 324A, Rich Nations, Poor Nations: Can Scaled-up Foreign Aid Reverse the Great Divergence?, Tuesday, 1st Half, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 8858005
Instructor: Lehman Fletcher
Description:
Achieving economic growth in the low-income countries is both an intractable economic policy problem and the essential key to alleviating world poverty. The 20th Century brought a major per capita income divergence between leading high-growth countries and lagging low-growth countries. The relative per capita income gap between the richest and poorest countries rose from around 10 times at the beginning of the century to 100 or more times at the century’s end. Absolute mean income differences increased from about $2,000 at the end of the 19th Century to well over $30,000 at the beginning of the 21st Century. Today’s poor countries need 5-7 percent annual growth rates over several decades to alleviate poverty and converge with the rich countries. The strong linkage of overall economic growth to poverty alleviation requires a pro-poor strategy in the context of rapid and sustained economic growth. This seminar will focus on the role, potential and limitations of foreign aid as a means to encourage poor countries to both raise their growth rates and alleviate the mass poverty of their populations.
Texts:
UNDP. Human Development Report 2005. Oxford University Press , 2005. Chapters 2-3; Sachs, J. The End of Poverty: How we can make it happen in our lifetime. Penguin, 2005; Easterly, W. The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s efforts to aid the rest have done so much ill and so little good. Penguin, 2006.
Instructor:
Lehman Fletcher is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Economics. He has taught economic development and comparative economic systems. He has done research in many developing countries and worked for several international development agencies.
HON 324B, Moby Dick: An Epic for the Ages, Wednesday, 1:10-2:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:10, Ref# 8854005
Instructor: Dale Ross
Description:
Melville’s Moby Dick, largely unread today, is one of the major literary works written in English. The novel repays frequent reading, both as a study of the American character and as a political allegory that transcends national boundaries.
Students will practice close reading of the novel and engage in weekly discussions. By term’s end, seminar participants will understand Melville’s “quarrel with God” and his uniquely American world-view.
Instructor:
Dale H. Ross is Associate Professor Emeritus. Former Chair, Dept of English, he is currently teaching courses in American literature and Modern Fiction. He has taught American literature, Honors courses and seminars for several decades.
HON 324C, Race, Ethnicity, and Community Relations, Tuesday, 1st Half, 6:00-8:00 p.m., 1st Half, 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 8855005
Instructor: Basil Mahayni
Description:
The United States has a history of turbulent relations among its various races and ethnicities. In this seminar, students will work to understand the current state of these relationships, especially within the Iowa State and greater Ames community. Through guided discussions, the participants will discuss their personal experiences and perspectives. Each week we will address a different issue through videos and short readings. Ultimately, each student will investigate a problem of interest and generate a relevant action plan. As class progresses, we will move from dialogue to planning the future through policy changes and action groups.
Texts:
Selected articles, video’s.
Instructor:
Basil Mahayni is a graduate student in Political Science. He co-taught this seminar in spring of 2005 and again in the spring of 2006. Basil received his BA in Political Science with Honors and Distinction in May of 2005.
HON 324D, Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Biological and Ethical Considerations, Tuesday, 11:00-11:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 8856005
Instructor: C.R. Youngs
Description:
The objective of this seminar is to provide students with a scientific basis for understanding reproductive biology in animals and humans. The first part of the semester will largely be lecture and discussion, whereas the last part of the semester will focus on student presentation of topics such as embryonic stem cells, in vitro fertilization, embryo freezing and nuclear transfer (cloning).
Lectures will include a discussion of reproductive anatomy and physiology, regulation of reproductive cycles, and an overview of artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Students will be given assigned readings throughout the semester. In addition, students will work in teams of 2 or 3 to develop and deliver a presentation to their classmates.
Texts:
Required readings will be announced on the first day of class.
Instructor:
Curtis Youngs, Associate Professor of Animal Science, has taught reproductive biology courses for 19 years and has been actively involved with research on embryo transfer and embryo manipulation in domestic mammalian livestock. Some of his former students are actively employed at human infertility clinics throughout the United States.
HON 324E, Celtic Dance and Culture, Monday, 7:30-8:30 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit:15, Ref# 8857005
Instructors: Victor Raymond, Eric Hansen, Monica Stich
Description:
This course will provide instruction in the traditional dances of Scotland and Ireland, as well as providing a view of traditional Celtic culture and its modern revival in the British Isles and elsewhere. Students will have the opportunity to learn dances through participation in weekly dance sessions, and also engage in field trips related to Celtic music and culture. The objective of this course is to provide a connection between dance as a recreational activity and as an expression of cultural survival.
Students will be encouraged to discover more about the meaning and persistence of Irish and Scottish culture by developing an appreciation for dance and music. Since these have played not merely an evocative but truly essential role in cultural preservation, the students should have developed an appreciation for this relationship by the end of the course. Students will be expected to participate in dancing, and to learn about the history and cultural meaning of dance and music for the Scots and Irish and other nationalities in the British Isles. Direct participatory learning will be supplemented by readings and material related to the course activities.
Texts:
Selected readings.
Instructors:
All of the instructors have been involved in Celtic dance for several years, and have been student instructors for the Celtic Dance Society at ISU. Eric has additionally learned Celtic dancing at St. Andrews University in Scotland. As part of a faculty improvement grant provided by the Honors Program, all three have received teaching materials from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, and have attended teaching workshops sponsored by the RSCDS-Central Iowa Branch. Finally, Monica is using Celtic dancing as the basis for her Senior Honors Project
