College of Micronesia
PO Box 159
Pohnpei, FM 96941
Course Title: Contemporary Issues in Micronesia
Department & Number: SS220
Course description: This course examines the major political, social, economic and cultural
issues facing Micronesian societies today.
Course Prepared by: Mariana Ben Dereas
Hours per week
Semester Credits
Lecture
___3____
x
Laboratory
_________
x
Workshop
__________
x
State: Pohnpei, National Campus
No. of week
Total Hours
___16___ x _48_____
______
x ______
________ x ________
=
=
=
___3_______
___________
___________
Purpose of Course:

Degree Requirement _____X______
Degree Elective
______X____
Certificate
___________
Other
__________
This course also meets PLO #(s) 3 of Liberal Arts program.
Prerequisite Courses: SS150
________________________________________
Signature, Chairperson, Curriculum &
Assessment Committee
__________________
Date Approved
________________________________________
Signature, VPIA, COM-FSM
__________________
Date Approved
SS220 CONTEMPORY ISSUES IN
MICRONESIA
RECOMMENDED BY CAC: 11/28/11
APPROVED BY VPIA: 12/14/11
A. PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOs):
The student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to read, speak and write critically and effectively in English
about Micronesian Studies Program course content.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in the geographical, historical, and cultural literacy of the
Micronesian region.
3. Demonstrate proficient knowledge of the structure and functions of the government
and social, political, and economic issues concerning the Micronesian Studies course
content.
4. Demonstrate the ability to perform research and write papers relevant to
Micronesia using different methods and technologies.
5. Demonstrate an appreciation of the requirements of good citizenship in the FSM.
B. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs) - GENERAL:
The student will be able to:
1. Have basic understanding of the Micronesian islands and societies and the issues
in which they are facing today.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the effects of colonialism, the process of
decolonialization, and present political and social status of the Micronesian islands.
3. Know the prospects and problems of economic development in the Micronesian
islands.
4. Demonstrate understanding of the population, environment, education, public
health, political, and traditional issues faced by the Micronesian islands today.
SLO PLO1
1
D
2
D
3
D
4
D
PLO2 PLO3 PLO4 PLO5
D
D
D
D
M
M
D
D
D
M
D
D
M
M
D
D
I = Introduced
D = Demonstrated
M = Mastered
C. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)-SPECIFIC:
The student will be able to:
General SLO 1. Have basic understanding of the Micronesian islands and societies
and the issues in which they are facing today.
Student Learning Outcomes
Assessment Strategies
1.1 List and describe the major islands of the
Map activity, writing
Micronesian Islands.
activity scored with rubric.
1.2 Identify and discuss general issues shared by the
Writing assignment scored
different islands in the Micronesian region.
with rubric and/or quiz.
1.3 Define traditional society in FSM by examining
Writing assignment scored
traditional practices throughout the Micronesian
with rubric and/or essay in
SS220 CONTEMPORY ISSUES IN
MICRONESIA
RECOMMENDED BY CAC: 11/28/11
APPROVED BY VPIA: 12/14/11
region.
1.4 Explain how traditional societies in Micronesia
differ from modern day Micronesia.
test scored with rubric.
Comparative essay scored
with rubric.
General SLO 2. Demonstrate understanding of the effects of colonialism, the process of
decolonialization, and present political and social status of the Micronesian islands.
Student Learning Outcomes
Assessment Strategies
2.1 Define colonialism and discuss the different
Writing activity scored with
colonial era in Micronesia, specifically the FSM.
rubric and/or quiz.
2.2 Write a critical paper on the influence of
Critical paper scored with
colonialism on the islands’ social, political and
rubric.
cultural practices.
2.3 Define decolonialism and discuss events leading to Essay scored with rubric.
the process of decolonialization in Micronesia.
2.4 Write an essay on the Compact of Free
Essay scored with rubric.
Association and its role of decolonialization in
Micronesia.
2.5 Critically discuss the 1986 Compact of Free
Class debate scored with
Association and its implication to the current Compact rubric.
of Free Association Agreement.
General SLO 3. Know the prospects and problems for economic development in the
Micronesian islands.
Student Learning Outcome
Assessment Strategies
3.1 Differentiate individualist from communalism.
Quiz.
3.2 Define traditional leaders in Micronesia and their
Writing activity scored with
roles in the islands’ economic development.
rubric and/or quiz.
3.3 List and discuss the influence of the Compact of
Writing assignment scored
Free Association I and II to economic development in with rubric and/or essay in
the Freely Associated States (Palau, FSM and
exam scored with rubric.
Marshall Islands).
3.4 Discuss the economic potentials and constraints of Class debate scored with
the islands.
rubric.
3.5 Write a critical essay on how modernity and rapid Critical paper scored with
economic development have influence the social,
rubric.
political and cultural change in the islands.
General SLO 4. Demonstrate understanding of the population, environment, education,
public health, political, and traditional issues faced by the Micronesian islands today.
Student Learning Outcome
Assessment Strategies
4.1 Analyze and discuss demographic factors such as
Classroom group work
fertility, mortality, and migration, and their impact on scored with rubric and/or
Micronesian islands, especially the FSM.
quiz.
4.2 Discuss by comparing and contrasting population
Compare and contrast essay
trends in the Micronesian region with the population
scored with rubric.
of FSM.
SS220 CONTEMPORY ISSUES IN
MICRONESIA
RECOMMENDED BY CAC: 11/28/11
APPROVED BY VPIA: 12/14/11
4.3 Discuss the impact and prevention of pollution on
high and low islands such as the ones in the
Micronesian region.
4.4 Differentiate traditional education in Micronesia
from the Western education system.
4.5 Write an essay on how Western education has
influence the social, political, and cultural beliefs in
the islands.
4.6 Discuss the status and conditions of the health
system in the FSM.
4.7 Discuss by comparing and contrasting traditional
Micronesian gender roles with the modern day
Micronesian gender roles.
4.8 Write a critical essay on how modernity has
influence Micronesian gender roles and how this has
in turn influence the contemporary societies in
Micronesia.
Group discussion scored
with rubric and/or essay
question on test scored with
rubric.
Writing activity scored with
rubric and/or quiz.
Essay scored with rubric.
Group discussion scored
with rubric and/or essay
question on test scored with
rubric.
Compare and contrast essay
scored with rubric.
Critical paper scored with
rubric.
D. COURSE CONTENT
1. Traditional Societies in the Micronesian region
2. Impact of modernization on Micronesian traditions
3. Pre and post-colonialism in Micronesia
4. Modern politics, government and the Compact of Free Association
5. Economic Development and its impact on the islands' environment
6. Leadership and its influence on contemporary issues
7. Population growth and its implication to the contemporary issues in Micronesia
8. Western education vs. Traditional Micronesian educational system
9. Health issues in Micronesia
10. Gender roles and gender issues in Micronesia
E. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Text reading, lectures/discussions, project-based learning and peer group work,
brainstorming, cooperative learning, demonstrations and simulations, and seatwork
assignments.
F. REQURIED TEXT(S) AND COURSE MATERIALS
Hezel, S. J. (2001). The new shape of old island cultures: A half-century of social change in
Micronesia. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. (or most recent edition).
G. REFERENCE MATERIALS
None
H. INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS
SS220 CONTEMPORY ISSUES IN
MICRONESIA
RECOMMENDED BY CAC: 11/28/11
APPROVED BY VPIA: 12/14/11
None
I. EVALUATION
None
J. CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
None
SS220 CONTEMPORY ISSUES IN
MICRONESIA
RECOMMENDED BY CAC: 11/28/11
APPROVED BY VPIA: 12/14/11