Spring 2024 Advanced Honors Seminars
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HON 205: Interdisciplinary Investigations
Section 1: Public Education's Possibilities and Predicaments: Exploring Portrayals of Critical Issues in "Abbot Elementary"
1st 8 weeks of the semester; Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 - 11:50 am; DeGarmo 208
Dr. Sara Jones; School of Teaching and LearningEmmy-award winning TV show "Abbott Elementary", a light-hearted "mockumentary" chronicling the day-to-day experiences of teachers in an urban elementary school, simultaneously offers critical commentary on numerous issues facing public education. From teacher shortages to funding inequities, from gifted programs to the role of the arts in schools, from relationships with students to school discipline, "Abbott Elementary" invites viewers to grapple with their own experiences with and perceptions of public schools, all while centering the humanity of students, teachers, and communities. This seminar draws on theories and research from various disciplines to explore the critical education issues represented in "Abbott Elementary". Students will engage with theoretical and empirical perspectives on issues and then analyze how this issue is represented in selected episodes, blending scholarly and "pop culture" perspectives.
Section 2: Family Dynamics: Divorce as a Phenomenon?
1st 8 weeks of the semester; Wednesdays; 2 - 3:50 pm; Williams 313
Dr. Julie Campbell; PsychologyDivorce is a phenomenon which has an effect on about half of all United States families. For children and adolescents living through a divorce event, their developmental path is altered. This seminar will explore the effects of divorce on the adults and children who have gone through the experience of divorce. What are the effects of divorce on people's own marital behavior later in life? Economic and custody issues in relation to the cognitive and social-emotional development of children will also be explored. We will review family dynamics theory and how this theory works to explain the effects of divorce on family members. Several research studies on these topics will be reviewed, as well as a book about the life of a child as his family went through the divorce process. Two guest speakers will join the course for dynamic discussions. Their input will provide new ways to think about the effects of divorce on our society.
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HON 206: Innovation and Inquiry
Section 1: Current Issues in Technology and Education
1st 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays; 3 - 3:50 pm; Williams 313; This class will meet in person on Mondays. Other work will be completed asynchronously during the week.
Dr. Anthony Piña; Center for Integrated Professional Development – Director of Online EducationTechnology has become ubiquitous in education at all levels and in all disciplines. Prior to the pandemic, 1/3 of all college and university students were taking online courses and even more are doing so now. COVID-19 forced many into technology use with little preparation, resulting in positive and negative outcomes. ChatGPT and other AI technologies are being debated as either a threat to education or as a catalyst to move education into the future. In this hybrid seminar, you will experience many of these issues first-hand and engage in research and hands-on evaluation of technology for learning and teaching.
Section 2: Reimagining Living: Preparing for a Future in an Age of Disruption
2nd 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays and Wednesdays; 1 - 1:50 pm; Honors Program Building 113
Dr. Roy Magnuson; Creative TechnologiesThis seminar will explore the complex relationship between disruptive technologies and humanity, examining both their transformative potential and the ethical dilemmas and societal challenges they present.