NGCSU Learning Communities Fall 2007

Faculty:
Dr. Troy Catterson, Philosophy
Dr. Chuck Robertson, Psychology
Dr. Steven Lloyd, Psychology

PHIL 4900 - Topics: Philosophy of the Mind (CRN: 2204), 3 credit hours
PSYC 3310 - Learning and Cognition (CRN: 916), 3 credit hours
PSYC 4230 - Neuroscience (CRN: 2207),  3 credit hours

Open to Returning Students

Is there a ghost in the machine? What is consciousness? Why do people acquire phantom limbs? Why can't we tickle ourselves? Why is the term photographic memory an oxymoron, but blindsight not? Why do we forget? Is there a place for God in the limbic system? Do we have free will? Who's to blame - my right or left hemisphere? Is there a neurological explanation for a foot fetish? Should brain images be used as evidence in a court of law? Why do we cry? What is the self? Why did the man mistake his wife for a hat? Find out the answers to these and more in this learning community.

Faculty:
Dr. Elizabeth Combier
Dr. Dianna Spence

SPAN 1002* - Elementary Spanish (CRN: 1265) 3 credit hours
MATH 1101 - Mathematical Models (CRN: 1339) 3 credit hours
*pre-requisite is 2 years of high school Spanish

Open to All First-Semester Students

Challenged by math and foreign language?! This is the learning community for you! Math 1101 and Spanish 1002 are offering a learning community for you to build and practice your skills among friends. These courses put all the math and language skills together in a practical approach: planning a trip abroad, and having to use the metric system in all its glory! You will learn useful application of math for exchanging currency, interpreting temperatures and distances, selecting the right sizes, pricing those souvenirs in the Hispanic markets, and much more. Come join the learning community that puts into a real life situation all those speaking and budgeting skills you want to have-- before you head to Acapulco over winter break!

Faculty:
Dr. Ross Alexander
Dr. Richard Byers

POLS 1101 - American Government (CRN: 1671), 3 credit hours
HIST 1112 - World Civilization (CRN: 2192), 3 credit hours

Open to All First-Semester Students

This Learning Community will investigate the development of the American political system, which has been and continues to be dependent upon global historical events abroad. American government and politics does not exist in a vacuum, but rather is interconnected with and influenced by historical political, social, and cultural movements. In the same vein, this community will explore how American politics and foreign policy has shaped global politics and policy historically and today.

Faculty:
Dr. Michele B. Hill
Dr. Joyce Stavick

PSYC 1101 - Introduction to Psychology (CRN: 910), 3 credit hours
ENGL 1101 - English Composition I (CRN: 1105), 3 credit hours

Open to All First-Semester Students

By being in the Leaders' Secrets Learning Community, you will enter the inner circle to study the ways in which leaders think and strategize for success in a learning community. Are you a cadet that wants to understand the ways of influence? Join us. If you sometimes struggle to write well, you will want to sign up for this safe learning environment. Both verbal and written skills are needed to be successful as a leader in college and beyond.

Faculty:
Ms. Kelly West
Ms. Laurie Jossey
Dr. Donna Gessell
Ms. Alyson Paul

SFCS 1000 - Strategies for Success (CRN: 2126), 2 credit hours
BIOL 1260 - Environmental Science (CRN: 1727), 3 credit hours
BIOL 1260L - Environmental Science Lab (CRN: 1730), 1 credit hour
PHED 1000 - Wellness (CRN: 1984), 3 credit hours
ENGL 1101 - English Composition I (CRN: 2252), 3 credit hours

Open to All First-Semester Owen Hall Women Residents

Owen Hall resident women in the Live Long and Play: Your Environment, Your Health learning community will study current environmental issues linked to personal health. Through 12 hours of integrated core courses, students will learn the implications of making personal choices affecting human health and their ecological footprints. The course work will expand beyond the classroom to engage students with consumer and environmental trends and will include off-campus excursions.

* Note: To get more information or to sign up for this Learning Community, please call the Residence Life Office at 706-864-1902. *

Faculty:
Dr. Markus Hitz
Dr. Chuck Robertson

PSYC 1101 - Introduction to Psychology (CRN: 911)
CSCI 1250 - Title??? (CRN: TBD)
SFCS 1000 - Strategies for College Success (CRN: 2130)

The Collaborative Knowledge Development community is designed to aid learning by taking advantage of new technology that allows for communication and collaboration. In addition to satisfying core requirements and learning about Psychology and Computer Science, we will be creating an online social community where faculty and students will interact outside of the classroom using blogs, instant messaging, social bookmarking tools, and other web environments. Everyone accepted into this community will be working together to be successful and you will develop friendships with students and faculty that will last a lifetime. No technology skills are needed to join  
this community, just openness to learning.

Faculty:
Ms. Michelle Hill
Mr. James Forrester
Ms. Mindy Henderson
Mr. Todd Campbell

SFCS 1000 - Strategies for College Success (CRN: 2135) 2 credit hours
PSYC 1001 - Foundations of Leadership (CRN: TBD), 1 credit hour
PHED 1040 - Adventure Activities (CRN: 2292), 1 credit hour
PHED 1026 - Backpacking (CRN: 2292), 1 credit hour
ENGL 1101 - English Composition I (CRN: 1085), 3 credit hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to Psychology (CRN: 909), 3 credit hours
SPAN/FREN - Foreign Language of Your Choice, 3 credit hours

Open to All First-Semester Donovan Hall Residents

Experience college from a desk, from a trail, and from a telephone pole!  The Learning to Lead Learning Community provides team building through challenging outdoor experiences and in-class engagement.  The courses will help you develop the leadership strategies which successful college students, community leaders, and global leaders possess.  This RESIDENTIAL learning community will enroll students in 11 hours of core courses and will be housed in Donovan Hall. Come Learn to Lead!

* Note: To get more information or to sign up for this Learning Community, please call the Residence Life Office at 706-864-1902. *

Early Childhood/Special Education
Learning Communities Fall 2007

The School of Education invites freshmen students attending NGCSU for the first time in the Fall semester 2007 to participate in learning community groups with a primary focus of preparing teachers for the multicultural classroom. All participants will have an opportunity to engage in deeper learning of diversity, social responsibility, professional behavior/ethics, and global communities through planned activities and guided discussion generated by the integrated content of a carefully selected curriculum that will be coordinated by talented faculty.

While participation in these groups is voluntary, it is designed as a 4-semester program and students must be enrolled full-time and willing to attend classes from Monday to Friday.

Faculty:
Dr. Derek Sutton
Dr. Amy Childers
Dr. Kristi Hislope
(Other Faculty TBD)

POLS 1101 - American Government (CRN: TBD), 3 credit hours
ENGL 1101 - English Composition I (CRN: 1098), 3 credit hours
SPAN 1002 - Elementary Spanish* (CRN: 2286), 3 credit hours
EDUC 2130 - Exploring Learning and Teaching (CRN: TBD), 3 credit hours
MATH 1101 - Mathematical Models (CRN: TBD), 3 credit hours
PHED 1000 - Seminar-Topic TBD (CRN: TBD), 1 credit hour
*pre-requisite is 2 years of Spanish in high school

Open to All First-Semester Early Childhood/Special Education Majors

During this semester, students will explore the meaning and attributes of professional behavior in all settings, but more particularly in education, and will engage in oral and written discussions that focus on the ethical decision-making process and ethical behavior expected of teachers as citizen leaders.

Faculty:
Ms. Mariana Stone
(Other Faculty TBD)

SPAN 1002* - Elementary Spanish (CRN: 2287), 3 credit hours
SPAN 2001 - Intermediate Spanish I (CRN: 2289), 3 credit hours
SPAN 2002 - Intermediate Spanish II (CRN: 2290), 3 credit hours
EDUC 2110 - Investigating Critical and Contemporary
Issues in Education (CRN: TBD), 3 credit hours
EDUC 2120 - Exploring Socio-cultural Perspectives in Educational Contexts (CRN: TBD), 3 credit hours
MATH 1101 - Mathematical Models (CRN: TBD), 3 credit hours
*pre-requisite is 2 years of Spanish in high school

Open to All First-Semester Early Childhood/Special Education Majors

According to the U.S. Census, the United States has the fifth largest Hispanic population in the world. Being able to communicate in Spanish is already a definite advantage to teachers and students. Students who select this track will take 9 credit hours of Spanish in one semester and will continue to receive language support in the subsequent three semesters through other core-curriculum courses. Learners will be fully immersed in the language and will interact in meaningful ways in a variety of situations, particularly in educational settings. In addition, the richness and challenges of diversity in our immediate communities and nation will be analyzed.

Faculty:
Dr. Steven Brehe
Dr. Tamara Spike
Dr. Cristian Harris
Dr. Robert Fuller
(Other Faculty TBD)

HIST 1112 - World Civilization (CRN: 1155), 3 credit hours
POLS 2401 - Global Issues (CRN: 1764), 3 credit hours
GEOG 1111 - Physical Geography (CRN: 2259), 3 credit hours
GEOG 1111L - Physical Geography Lab (CRN: 2260), 1 credit hour
ENGL 1101 - English Composition I (CRN: 1093), 3 credit hours
MATH 1101 - Mathematical Models (CRN: TBD), 3 credit hours
PHED 1000 - Seminar-Topic TBD (CRN: TBD), 1 credit hour

Open to All First-Semester Early Childhood/Special Education Majors

With advancements in technology and economic growth, geographic borders have shifted from lines on a map to conceptual opportunities for free enterprise and exchange of ideas across the world. Students in this track will expand their knowledge of community, from local to national to global, through a deeper understanding of the impact of history on humanity and the impact of our response as citizens of the globe. As a result, these future teachers will be better prepared to design and impart curriculum that is competitive and innovative in tomorrow's schools.