Upcoming Events - The Challenges of Introducing Islam in the Classroom: Can Technology Help?

April 15, 2008 , 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Eastern
delivered online via MIV

Brief Introduction

For faculty members from participating colleges who teach about Islam and the professional staff who help these faculty integrate technology into their courses. Delivered online via MIV. (1 program unit. Liaisons' deadline:Friday, March 14, 2008)

Level

Appropriate for all levels of experience

Prerequisites

Experience and familiarity with teaching about Islam and/or incorporating technology into cultural and religious studies will be helpful.

Technology Requirements

To have a successful participation experience, participants will want to use

• a computer manufactured in the last two years;
• a web video camera; and
• an echo-free audio system. (For hands-free use and quality sound, we recommend a USB head set.)

Participants will also want to connect via a high-speed Internet connection. (Test your bandwidth speed at http://reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_7-0.html: enter your telephone area code and your connection type, then click G0. Your bandwidth speed should be 500 kbps or greater.)

Description

While some variation of "Introduction to Islam" is taught at most liberal arts colleges, the topic presents challenges due to its scope and depth as well as the number of disciplinary and ideological approaches that might be taken into consideration when designing the course. This professional development brown bag considers some of the issues involved in designing and teaching this course, and particularly the degree to which technology may help resolve them. Issues to be considered include these:

1. To what extent can and should the cultural, institutional, and disciplinary context in which the course is taught affect the way it is taught?
2. What materials and resources have been most useful? How does one find, evaluate, and profitably use online and multimedia resources? What is it necessary to cover, and what can be left out, if necessary? What are different strategies for striking a balance between breadth and depth?
3. Can students make use of external resources, media projects, communication technology, and peers at other campuses and on study-abroad trips to better engage the subject matter?

Jamie Schillinger, Assistant Professor of Religion at St. Olaf College, will lead a discussion of these topics. NITLE's Michael Toler will moderate the discussion.

Program participants will be invited to log onto the interactive video system up to 15 minutes ahead of the program start time.

How to Participate

Interested faculty and staff from participating colleges: To participate in this online brown bag, please contact your campus liaison. Your campus liaison will select your campus's nominees and send their names to NITLE. Nominees will receive further information from NITLE about the registration process.

To ensure a positive participation experience in this online program, participants who are new or newer to multipoint interactive videoconferencing (MIV) are required to successfully complete training in the use of MIV. Complete information regarding available training times will be sent directly to the participant upon acceptance to the brown bag. Training options will include a "Do-It-Yourself" option, including a hands-on, informal "Water Cooler" session, or Level 1 training: "Collaborate with MIV." Both training options will help new and newer users of MIV feel comfortable within the virtual MIV environment, learn how to use its interactive tools, and otherwise learn how to participate and contribute successfully within MIV.

Deadline

Liaisons from participating colleges should complete the nomination process no later than Friday, March 14, 2008. Participation is determined on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact (program)

For more information about specific program content for this Professional Development Brown Bag, please contact Michael Toler.

Contact (logistics)

For logistical questions, please contact Terri Coahran.

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