Project Synopsis Expections

Project Description:

The course project will require you to apply and integrate your learning to a either a specific concept in science or a specific technology, by examining the historical, societal, ethical, and future implications of the concept or technology.

Most authentic learning involves incorporating concepts and ideas that you read and hear into new models that you incorporate into your pre-existing mental models about yourself and the world in which you live. You should thus view the course project as a way to take some germ of an idea that you get from the class, the reading, or from pre-existing ideas and increase the depth of your knowledge in that area until you have a new model in your mind that you think is important, and you also think would be of interest to others around you. The project is worth 30% of your course grade, so should involve significant effort and quality.

Project Topics List suggestions/interests from 9/12/03:

cloning, genetic counseling, technology in education, environ. ethics-Christians and Environment, appropriate/sustainable technology, technology of military, internet/communication tech,IM, human impacts of newer technology, AI, Space technology, technology in psychology/counseling, "knowledge technolgies", television and video game technology

Project Common Requirements:

• Project leaders will be responsible for leading 1 or more class sessions as appropriate for the topic.
• Project leaders will present the issue in a balanced way seeking after the "truth"
• Project leaders will find and inform the rest of the class from "good" research and readings.
• Project leaders will provide adequate reading for the class for an overview of the topic and its perspectives.  Reading total for a given class session should try to keep the reading to less than 1.5 hours per session.
• Project leaders should provide links to offer the possibilities of exploring the topic more if class members wish to dig deeper.
• Project leaders should include the rest of the class intheir topic presentation including discussion either intermingled or post presentation in a separate second session if needed.

Project Synopsis "Expectations"

• Briefly describe your topic, how you propose to approach the topic, and why you think the topic is pertinent to the theme of the course. (This portion of the synopsis should be about 500 words and should use/list at least 5 of the sources you hope to use for the project). In the synopsis you are showing us that you have thought about what you are trying to do and have done some preliminary research to know that the project is possible and will help the class further the "pursuit of truth" relating to science, technology, and society.
• Write out Goals & Objectives for your specific project. Try to state how your project will help you (and us) fulfill one or more of the Course/Category objectives stated on the course syllabus.
• Describe  your thoughts on how you might "present" the topic to the class - What format would you prefer? What will best present your information, your learning and yet also help us learn or participate in constructing our own learning..
• Describe the criteria you want your peers and your instructor to use to evaluate your project. What criteria would distinguish clearly Excellent A level work, Above average B level work, Average C level work etc. in our examination of your project/topic presentation.
• How many class sessions do you see as necessary to address the topic.  On average I would like to see at least two sessions per topic (one week) with a Focus Question culminating the topic on our "on-line" Fridays.  If you decide to work in a group to tackle a more complex or interrelated set of topics, clearly delineate how much time you see as needed and the role that each group member will play (tackling what subtopic).
• Do you have an initial idea for a focus forum question (not required, but might be nice to begin thinking about now). Have you located any essential required readings (these can be from the texts or outside) and/or auxillary readings and or links? (Again not required yet, but if you have them put them down, but feel free to change and revise at a later date as you find  more infomation.

Project Schedule and Deadlines:

• One page project synopsis submitted by Oct. 1
• Version 1 submitted by Nov. 5
• Projects will be "presented" to the class as appropriate depending upon the medium of the project.
• Final version submitted by Dec. 10