Course Guide Information | Who should Enroll? | Learning Objectives | Description | Expectations | Grades
Course Guide Information:
Who Should Enroll?
This course is open to undergraduate and graduate students with instructor's consent, who have some experience in – and strong interests in:
- Developing skills related to authoring a scholarly multi-media web page on a topic of personal interest related to "Food Systems".
- Developing skills in using library resources and google search to gather reliable and relevant literature.
- Developing independent learning skills in a (primarily) on-line learning community.
Learning ObjectivesThere are two main expected learning outcomes for this class. The first one is related to learning independently a topic of personal interest related to "Food Systems" and the second one is related to documenting the learning through authoring a multi-media web page.
Learning about World's Food Systems Issues: Through the collective efforts of students enrolled in this class, participants will gain knowledge and understanding of a few issues related to global agriculture or food system emphasizing multiple perspectives. Thus, class participants will gain competence in discussing (international) agricultural issues.
Authoring multi-media web pages: Using the "Knowleldge Administration" page editor referred to as the "KbAdmin" tools, which is structured as a database of indiviual pages cross-linked to one another, participants will learn basic "Html" codes, just enough to design effective multi-media, attractive and informative web page.
Putting the two together: Combining the two objectives of the courses, participants will:
- Learn how to learn ("life-long learning skills) using the resources of today's Google World, using a topic of your choice;
- Engage in creation of scholarly course content for future students in the class, relying on independent work in a team-oriented effort;
- Authoring and "publishing" a scholarly products on-line, gaining hands-on experience in web page design.
DescriptionThere are no lecture. This course first meet at the library where librarians instruct participants on using library resources effectively and searching for reference material. Then, a couple of sessions are dedicated to providing participants with a basic understanding of html and page design.
The classroom environment and the website have been designed to create an inclusive learning community.
Expectations: What am I expected to do in this class?
Students will be expected to demonstrate newly gained insights in their chosen topic of interest.
Example of broadly defined topic areas are as follows:
- Diversity of agricultural systems and food systems around the world;
- Historical, social, economic and political forces that shape rapid changes in agriculture around both "developed" nations and "developing" nations;
- Increased interdependence of agricultural industries around the world;
- Relationships (linkages) and connections between or among the components of a Food Systems and, for example:
- Environmental concerns;
- Immigration issues;
- International Trade;
- Cultural differences;
- Women's empowerment;
- Poverty;
- Emerging issues such as climate change, sustainability, (global) health, etc.
Working in a mix environment of a "learning community of independent learners," students will:
- Identify a topic of interest (see for example a list of animal agriculture topic at the additional resources page);
- With the help of library services, search for relevant scientific citations, technical papers and media stories related to a food system related topic;
- Complete a blog entry every week as a way to share ideas, progress, issues and to find solutions among fellows class participants;
- Learn how to use KbAdmin in the context of designing effective web page;
- Learn the step of Critical thinking skills for university students.
Using a pre-designed template, each student will construct over a period of multiple weeks their individual web page including any of the multiple components of a well-designed multi-media learning environment:
- Narrative,
- images and for example animated gif,
- Audio recording interviews with "expert",
- Links to other sites (within dairynutrient.wisc.edu and from external sites),
- Proper citation list or resource.
Grades: How will I earn my grade?
To earn your grade in the class, you are expected:
- To complete weekly "blog" entries as as way to document your "short term" progress and as a way to share ideas and concerns with other students.
- To document your work with a mid-term oral presentation using a draft web page as supporting material.
- To make a final end-of semester oral presentation;
- To complete a scholarly web-page that could be used as resource material of other students interested in your topic;
- To complete course survey and course evaluation throughout the semester.
The grading system has been designed to help you earn grade by: a) sharing with others, b) document weekly progress and 3) documenting your independent learning with a web page. The contribution of each component to the final grade is presented below.
The grades for the class will be assigned as in the following Table.
| Item |
Due Dates |
Number |
Points |
Total |
| Blog entries (summary & questions) |
Wednesdays |
7 |
2 |
14 |
| Mid-term presentation / draft web page |
03/21 & 03/28 |
10 |
1 |
10 |
| Final oral presentation |
05/02 & 05/09 |
10 |
1 |
10 |
| Final web site (10 pts from peers and 10 pts from instructors' team) |
05/02 & 05/09 |
1 |
20 |
20 |
| Completion of course formative and summative evaluations |
04/11 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
| Total |
|
|
|
60 |
Tentative Final Grade: F = 35 or less, D = 36-41; C = 42-47; B = 48-53; A = 54 or higher. 
