Course Description: What makes people feel like they belong? What are the physical and health benefits of feeling connected to others? How can we build relationships and foster community? How can we foster skills that promote understanding and communication? We will explore these questions primarily through a psychological lens, but we will consider other perspectives as we examine topics in identity, group membership, and a sense of belonging. Students will reflect on their own experiences, consider ways to connect to others and understand different points of view, and learn to engage with the academic literature in these areas. We will also apply ideas to organize a campus event or workshop. Writing may include reflections, research articles, and a longer final paper. This course engages with topics regarding Race and Power and is part of the Time & Narrative Learning Collaborative.
Keywords:Psychology, Identity, Social groups, Relationships
Course Format: The format of the course will include mini-lectures, discussion, group work and informal student presentations. I encourage everyone to actively participate in generating questions and contributing to our conversations, including planning an event to foster community on campus. Students are required to complete reading before class and to reflect on material so that you are prepared to contribute.
Updates to schedule. The schedule (at the end of the syllabus) is tentative. The moodle will be up-to-date with readings and assignments. It is important to come to class to receive announcements about assignments and readings. Please check your Hampshire email account regularly so that you receive any messages about the readings and assignments.
Assignments will include:
a) five brief 2CQs (you can select dates throughout the semester)
b) reflections on belonging and working with group (2-3 pages each)
c) article summary on published psychological study (2 pages)
d) participate in jigsaw discussion and presentations reflection on LC event
e) planning and reflecting on facilitated group event
f) topic proposal and annotated bibliography for the final
g) final paper. Explore a topic on Belonging and Connection. Write a brief research paper, create something artistic and integrate it with research, write a personal reflection that illustrates key concepts from class or explores an issue in more depth. (5-7 pages of writing or an alternative form; more on this later).
SEE THE UPLOADED SYLLABUS FOR ALL COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES.
Keywords:Psychology, Identity, Social groups, Relationships
Course Format: The format of the course will include mini-lectures, discussion, group work and informal student presentations. I encourage everyone to actively participate in generating questions and contributing to our conversations, including planning an event to foster community on campus. Students are required to complete reading before class and to reflect on material so that you are prepared to contribute.
Updates to schedule. The schedule (at the end of the syllabus) is tentative. The moodle will be up-to-date with readings and assignments. It is important to come to class to receive announcements about assignments and readings. Please check your Hampshire email account regularly so that you receive any messages about the readings and assignments.
Assignments will include:
a) five brief 2CQs (you can select dates throughout the semester)
b) reflections on belonging and working with group (2-3 pages each)
c) article summary on published psychological study (2 pages)
d) participate in jigsaw discussion and presentations reflection on LC event
e) planning and reflecting on facilitated group event
f) topic proposal and annotated bibliography for the final
g) final paper. Explore a topic on Belonging and Connection. Write a brief research paper, create something artistic and integrate it with research, write a personal reflection that illustrates key concepts from class or explores an issue in more depth. (5-7 pages of writing or an alternative form; more on this later).
SEE THE UPLOADED SYLLABUS FOR ALL COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES.
- Teacher: Melissa Burch