Policies
- Do not expect this course to be easy. The readings and the discussions are designed to challenge you. To be prepared, you need to read the required text and/or articles in advance of each week’s discussion.
- Attendance is necessary to ensure rich discussion in small groups and in the larger class. We value the learning that occurs from interaction, and recognize that democracy itself depends upon collective engagement. Any time you are absent, you will need to stay up with the readings in order to keep up with the class.
- Ask questions and be curious. Faculty are available during office hours to address specific questions and concerns.
- Watch for emails and updates.
- BE ON TIME. We will be taking breaks during the evening, but we expect to start and finish on time. Also, PLAN TO STAY until the end of each session out of courtesy to your colleagues.
- We will accommodate fall break schedules.
- We ask that everyone leave laptops closed and cell phones off during class and as these devices have a way of separating people from one another.
- We encourage the kind of active reading that includes circling things, highlighting main points, expressing outrage and agreement in the text itself, etc. This practice leads to successful learning.
- Students are expected to abide by their home school’s academic integrity policy. See each school bulletin or web site for details.
Students with Disabilities
If you have any special needs that require accommodation, please alert your instructor of record the first week of the semester. A plan will be developed to meet your learning needs. If you have a disability, you will need to provide the proper documentation as required by your school.
Grading Standards
Please hand in two copies of each written assignment. All faculty abide by a common grading rubric. Students wishing to contest any grade will follow a process that includes providing a written argument with ample evidence to persuade a team of not less than two faculty members why a grade should be modified. The instructor of record (the one affiliated with the student’s home institution) will be the final arbiter.
Grading Scale
A — 90–100
B — 80–89
C — 70—79
D — 60–69
F — below 60
How Your Grade is Determined
Graded Course Assignments — Details for each of these is provided on the separate assignment sheet for the class.
Your Education Ethnography — A reflection on your educational experience up to this point in your life. 10 points
Weekly blog entries on course readings and class discussions to be maintained in a course portfolio.
Self-assessment of your blogs and responses to them. 15 points
Final blog evaluation. 15 points
Participation — Since a democracy is dependent upon citizen involvement, we expect you to participate in every weekly class. We also recognize some absences are unavoidable due to illness, family emergency, etc. In those cases, contact your course instructor in advance. 10 points
Civic Discourse Research Paper – To see our democracy in action, you will view elected and/or appointed public officials as they deliberate about local concerns. 10 points
Community Project – In collaboration with your small group, you will develop a final project that answers the course questions and satisfies the course goals as stated in the syllabus. There will be three short assignments leading to the final project: Stakeholder Assignment, Power Analysis, and Final Project Draft 30 points
Final Reflections — Your vision of what you believe education ought to be in the 21st century, considering the influence of and impact on democracy. 10 points
Late Assignments — Late assignments may not be accepted. If accepted, all late assignments will receive point reductions.