Spring 2006 Westminster Learning Communities

For official course information, please refer to the Course Catalog.

Speaking of Philosophy....

• Public Presentations - SPCH 111 04LC - MW 2:00-3:15 - Brian Pilling
• Introduction to Philosophy - PHIL 100 02LC - TTH 12:00-1:15 - Bridget M. Newell

{Students who participate in this learning community receive credit for two LE requirements: The Public Speaking Skills (SPCH 111) requirement and the Group 9 Philosophy/Religion (PHIL 100) requirement.}

The public presentations class helps build speaker's confidence and competence in presenting information and making arguments. Although broad in application, these skills will be put to the test when students develop presentations that explore, evaluate, support, and criticize issues raised in the Introduction to Philosophy course. The philosophy class explores theoretical approaches to understanding some of the “isms” that contemporary society grapples with: racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, and ableism. By framing our discussion in terms of a broader philosophical question - What is the good life? - we will consider how experiences and understandings of privilege and oppression influence our conceptions of the good life.

Combined, this learning community's activities and assignments are designed to help students:

• Strengthen critical and analytical thinking abilities
• Learn how to research a philosophic topic; organize information; and, using sound reasoning, develop arguments, speeches, and presentations tailored to a specific audience
• Gain experience reading and responding to primary texts in philosophy
• Become a more confident and competent speaker through hands-on experience
• Develop an interest in philosophy and its application to contemporary issues
• Understand and strategically use the fundamentals of human communication to inform and persuade others
• Use and design visual aids appropriately; specifically, presentation software (Microsoft PowerPoint) will be used

Through the Looking Glass: Creativity and Culture

• Cultural Anthropology - ANTH 252 01LC - MW 2:00-3:50 - Gretchen Siegler
• Experiencing the Arts - ART 200FN 02LC - W 4:30-7:20 - Doug Wright and Nina Vought

{Students who participate in this learning community receive credit for three LE requirements: The Group 4 Social Sciences (ANTH 252), the Group 7 Arts Survey (ART 200FN) and the Group 8 Arts/Physical Activity (ART 200FN) requirement.}

This course combines the study of humanity and its expressions in art. We will explore the ways people create identities as individuals and members of cultural groups, considering factors such as gender, ethnicity, economics, family, and religion. We will examine art forms such as music, painting, dance, architecture and film. We will learn together by sharing our individual perspectives and creativity as well as collaborating in groups to interpret the significance of the arts in being human.

In our own Words - Landscapes of the Self

• English Composition - ENGL 110 06LC - TTH 12:00-1:50 - Leslie Robbins
• Introduction to Psychology - PSYC 105 04LC - TTH 2:00- 3:50 - Barb Smith

{Students who participate in this learning community receive credit for two LE requirements: English requirement and Group 4 (PSYC 105) Social Sciences II requirement}

How do you define your self and voice, both verbally and through writing, in the college community?

What traits define personality and where do they come from?

Our act of self-discovery will thread psychology and writing together. The writing process will help us establish an authentic voice, while we explore the tools of psychology and investigate why we behave as we do. So much of contemporary theory teaches us about the establishment of identity and the process of achieving a strong sense of self. We want to attempt to discover landscapes of identity through writing, through conversation about diversity, social and personal patterns, movement, and behavior.

You will, as writer Alfred Lubrano instructs, "Understand what made you who you are, then learn to navigate the new setting."

Other components of the Learning Community include:

• Service learning
• Writing workshops
• Library research instruction
• Guest Visitor Alfred Lubrano
• Community building activities

Big Foot Ate My Baby

• Introduction to Psychology - PSYC 105 01LC - TTH 10:00-11:50 - Paul Presson
• Elementary Statistics - MATH 150 01LC - MW 9:00-10:50 - Bill Bynum

{Students who participate in this learning community receive credit for two LE requirements: The Mathematical Sciences requirement and Group 4 (PSYC 105) the Social Science requirement.}

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Statistics is the science of collecting and analyzing data. As theories are developed to explain human behavior, psychologists use statistics to weigh the evidence for or against hypotheses. Both courses will use activities and experiences that illustrate these cross-disciplinary connections between statistics and psychology. In particular, this learning community will use the provocative ideas, claims, and beliefs regarding paranormal phenomena to provide students with the opportunity to integrate the ideas of psychology and statistics. One key goal is that students will become better critical thinkers as a result of taking this course.