Ithaca (IC) 2 College Demonstration Projects Periodic Update Report Date of Submission: January 8, 2010 Project Title: Representing South Asia Principal Investigator: Jason Freitag Department: History School/Division: Humanities and Sciences Project Co-Principal Investigators (if any): Reporting Period: I. Anjali Nerlekar (English), Denise Nuttall (Anthropology) Fall 2009 X Spring 2010 ________ Fall 2010 __________ Spring 2011 ________ Executive Summary of State of the Project: The proposed 1-credit Block II integrative course was designed and run in the Fall 2009 semester. Eight students participated in the course, which involved seminar-style classes in which all three professors participated; two experiential components, a trip to a Hindu temple outside Rochester and a trip to New York City; reflective writing throughout the semester and final, interdisciplinary group projects. A unique student statement was designed and administered, and will be analyzed and assessed, along with the instructors’ assessments and reflection, as the next step in the project. 2 (IC) Periodic Update Report Page 1 of 5 II. Key Accomplishments to Date (or Since Last Report): The proposed Block II course and trips were fully implemented. III. Key Challenges to Date: Due to the short time-line from approval of the project to the actual running of the course, the process of scheduling the class and registering the students for it was difficult. Some minor roster issues remain, though we believe, in consultation with the H&S Dean’s office, we have found the appropriate solutions. IV. How were these Challenge(s) addressed: We worked closely with the H&S Dean’s office, in particular David Garcia and Stacia Zabusky. They were invaluable in carrying out the administrative end of the project, locating the course within the IISP category in H&S, and providing continuing support throughout the semester. V. Expenditures to Date: We spent just over $900 of the $1,000 proposed for the trip to New York City. A complete breakdown of the expenses for vehicle rental, parking, fuel, museum admission, subway rides, and food will follow on the next update. None of the $1,200 proposed for faculty compensation has yet been spent. We expect the contracts for that money to be drawn up and issued in the Spring 2010 semester. 2 (IC) Periodic Update Report Page 2 of 5 VI. Project Assessment: The project is only now moving into the assessment phase. Since the timeline to get the project up and running was so short, we ask that we be allowed to present the full assessment plan and results in the Spring 2010 report. The following table, therefore, is preliminary and subject to revision. Project Goal Actions Measure(s) Outcome(s) Next Steps Explore a creative model of interdisciplinary teaching that would serve as a blueprint for multiple, easily deployed, inexpensive and flexible small-scale integrative learning projects across the curriculum. Identify and resolve administrative hurdles to interdisciplinary teaching. Create a space for experiential learning, defined here as learning which is student-led and in which the outcome has an element of unpredictability that is both the result of, and is enhanced by the integrative, interdisciplinary nature 2 (IC) Periodic Update Report 1. Observation and/or participation in regular weekly puja (worship) service at Hindu temple. Student reflective journal writing. 2. Visit Page 3 of 5 of the course and the material. Metropolitan Museum of Art South Asian Collections 3. Visit “Little India” in Jackson Heights, Queens for dinner and neighborhood visit. Identify ways to support and streamline learning experiences that happen off the campus. Create learning communities for people who have developed a disciplinary or area interest. Open course only to those students already enrolled in South Asia related courses. Explore connections and disjunctions between disciplines in a structured and intentional way. 2 (IC) Periodic Update Report Page 4 of 5 Student Learning Assessment: The project is only now moving into the assessment phase. Since the timeline to get the project up and running was so short, we ask that we be allowed to present the full assessment plan and results in the Spring 2010 report. Student Learning Objective (SLO) 2 Method of Instruction (How was this SLO taught) (IC) Periodic Update Report Type of Measure (Direct and Indirect) Outcome Possible Reason for Outcome (interpretation) Revision (if any) Page 5 of 5