SOCS195: Theory & Practice in the Social Sciences

Kids on Race, as discussed in class….saving it here for next time around…
Link here

No comments »

I.  Turn in Final Papers!  Brief reports?

II.  Story of Stuff?  Margaret Cho?

III.  Course Evaluations

No comments »

On the off chance that anyone is still reading tonight or Monday morning, here are my draft questions for the Final Essay.  Corrections, suggestions, additions welcome….. speak now…

Write a 3-4 page essay on TWO of the following topics (6-8 pages total):

1. Think back to the theorists we read at the start of the semester.  Which theoretical frameworks resonate for you now after the rest of our work this semester? What gives you hope, insight, vision? Is it Bourdieu’s social capital?  Dewey’s democratic education?  Caring theory?  Bakhtin or Derrida on the power of language and discourse?  Said on exoticizing difference?  Hooks’ critique of capitalist patriarchy?  What makes a particular theory or theorist compelling to you, and why, at this point in your studies?  Be sure to draw on specific applications of this theory in course reading, or topics covered in class discussion.
    
2. Stuck in the Shallow End.  How does the promise of technology fall short as a magic bullet for educational inequities?  Is it reasonable to expect technology to ‘save’ our educational system?  Why or why not?  What should the role of technology in the classroom be, if any?
    
   Option B2.  Address the same topic, but write in the form of either a professional letter to the authors’ Margolis et al, OR to the Ford Foundation suggesting a different research project.  Be sure to address the strengths or limitations of the Shallow End project, and lay out specific goals and details for your own.  Think big.
    
3. Acknowledging Diversity in the Classroom” – the duhh question.  We had this reaction a few times to specific chapters in Learning to Teach for Social Justice.  Why?  What does it mean that you/I/we say ‘duh, we know that.’  Do we really?  What particular kinds of experiences, identities, privileges come to the forefront when you/we have this reaction? How can/will/might these experiences play out in the classroom? Amongst others? This is a slightly vague but potentially excellent essay prompt….
    
4. Redesign this course syllabus for next year’s class.  The course is meant to focus on the theory and practice of social science, particularly in the field of education.  You must keep at least one course text and explain what makes it worth keeping.  But then you may add 2-3 additional texts of your own choosing, as long as you convey a clear sense of their specific content and value for your course.  (e.g. do not assume I know the texts, but give specific details and quotes from each). Be careful with this option that you stay within the basic parameters of our readings and discussions so far.
5. Write your own question. Share it with us, please.

No comments »

Remember Ken’s comment about how education is frequently framed in the discourse of business?  Well, there’s a reason for that.  Check out this PBS frontline special, available online …

College Inc. (at PBS.com)

No comments »

Click on image to see full size….

If you’re interested, more confusing docs at http://suse-step.stanford.edu/accred_reports/accred_reports/STEP_CCTC/

No comments »

Wed 5/5
* 10 – Lindsay P.
* 11 – Jimena
* 12 – Jessica
* 14 – Lindsey L.

Mon 5/10
* 17 – Lindsay
* 18 – Kevin
* 22 – Ken

Wed 5/12
“Behind the Model Minority Stereotype” – Jessica
“Why White Parents Don’t Talk About Race” – Ben

Mon 5/17 – Last Day
Review, Fun vid, evals,
Hand out takehome final (due Friday noon to my office or DMH 239A),

No comments »

Angela Davis, Are Prisons Obsolete? – is available here – part one (first 60 pages) & two here (last 40 pages & notes)

.

On the Stanford charter school, here is Linda Darling-Hammond’s report on its progress.  The STEP research page also has some interesting policy articles.  I’m still working on finding a profile of the student population….

.

Speaking in Tongues.  More about Ling-Chi Wang, UC Berkeley Professor Emeritus, a brief article from UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center

.

Arizona’s new SB1070 legislation is

• summarized here
• briefly analyzed for constitutionality here
• critiqued by activists here or at facebook (one of many)
• discussed by columnist Eugene Robinson here

.

No comments »