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April

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2006

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY?

Undergraduate Program

Course Number

391 ?

Credit Hours:

4

Semester to be offered: ?

2007-1

Title of Course ?

Global Perspectives

Prerequisites:

departmental consent (SFU women's softball team)

Instructors:

Sessional

1. Description of the course:

Education 391 builds on a student's approved international and intercultural

placement in Japan during Spring 2007. Through engaging in, and reflecting

upon, their educational and personal experiences in an intercultural setting in

Japan, participants will deepen their global perspectives and understanding of the

role of culture in their athletic and academic pursuits.

2. Objectives: Learning outcomes for students:

The course will comprise of a range and variety of learning experiences for

students, to include:

• Pre-departure orientation and classes at SFU; introduction of all

assignments will be undertaken,

• Individual study and field-work in the international setting in Japan

• When back in Canada: small-group and whole-class discussions, seminars

and problem-solving activities,

• Written and oral presentations to fellow student athletes,

• Lectures, workshops, and

• Demonstrations provided by students

Specifically, all participants will:

a) Present an extensive, reflective journal based on the experiences found in their

athletic (softball) program exchange during their fourteen-day program. This

professional journal will document the variety of observations and

experiences that each student had with exchange teams, school based

coaching activities, cultural visitations and presentations they undertake in

Japan.

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b)

Provide a review of readings based on the accompanying bibliography on

international and intercultural education. These readings will be summarized

in writing and presented in the special seminars and will be incorporated into

the major paper/presentation for the course.

c)

Complete a major paper/presentation/portfolio that will incorporate the

following themes:

The connections between the student's international practicum and the

readings the student has completed during this course and the affect the

international experience has had upon their educational beliefs and their future

educational activities.

• A series of paintings with supporting document

• An "I" movie depicting key experiences

• A series of poems to capture key experiences

• Double entry journal entries observations, resources gathered, learning

about schools, athletic programs and community experiences

• An essay analyzing experiences

• Use questions/topics of interest to other SFU athletes from the

exchange to gather and analyze information gained during the

exchange

"Through the student exchange experience, many

questions will arise that are relevant to your post

secondary undergraduate education. Select one of these

questions and locate a resource that helps you explore

this question further. Write your current response to this

question including examples from your exchange

experience and ideas gained from the selected

resource."

• Summaries of interviews with educators, athletes students and/or

parents

• Research based on a comparison of a theme/issue in Japan and in new

setting or a theme that emerges in the trip

• Discuss and illustrate the implications that this experience has had on

your philosophical beliefs and could have on your undergraduate

course work experiences and learning during the practicum.

This representation will be shared in class with class members and fellow

student athletes and entered on EDUC 391 website.

d)

These will be shared in class and during an interview with the instructor.

3. Course Readings: TBA

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Selected readings and articles regarding modern Japan, Olympics, etc

- Cultural history of Japan

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2006

4. General Course Requirements:

• Completion of all assignments while on international practicum.

(Reflective journal and assigned readings)

• Regular class attendance and participation in all tasks (e.g., discussions,

group problem-solving, self- and peer-evaluation strategies, etc.). The

class will meet at regular intervals.

• Completion of readings and written assignments.

5.

Assignment Overview:

• In-class and/or take-home assignments, and in-class participation - 20%

• Reflective Journal - 30%

• Field assignment readings - 15%

• Major Paper and Final Presentation -

6.

Student Assessment and Grading Procedure:

The completion of course requirements will form the basis for an evaluation.

Participants' work will be assessed according to university assessment and

grading guidelines. Criteria will be set for each assignment, and criterion-

referenced evaluation strategies will be used.

Assessment, evaluation and grading practices will be consistent with strategies

reviewed during the course. Evaluation will be based on stated criteria and

standards, but will allow for a choice of representations that are appropriate to the

particular assignment and that encourage different ways of demonstrating

learning. Criteria and possible forms of representation for each assignment will be

discussed with students prior to completion of the assignments. Each assignment

will include some form of student self-evaluation.

7.

a)

Undertake a couple of readings related to the Olympic Movement and the

relationship of the Olympic Spirit to the Oriental Culture

b)

Consider how cross-cultural experiences such as the softball trip can work to

harmonize international relationships between countries.

c)

Select a possible topic of interest in advance that they can do some preliminary

research on prior to the trip and incorporate into their action research project in

Japan.

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