Q+A

[drydem]

So, I got a question about the most recent class idea.

My most recent interesting class is a way of teaching American History since 1865 at the City Colleges of Chicago, where I'm applying. The class is called "Chicago in Context" and is a course in Chicago history that touches on major themes in American History.
Instead of focusing on the generalities of history, the course will focus on the ways in which Chicago history parallels themes like immigration, civil rights, industrial development, etc.

Comments

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

I really like that idea. Specifics are almost always going to be more interesting than generalities, and positioning it close to home is also likely to help engage students: they'll recognize at least of the places and people you mention.

[dragon212k.livejournal.com]

I agree. That's a great idea. I think back on my history classes and know that I would have remembered things much better if it had been related to something that meant something that was a little more relevant to my life growing up.

[songquake.livejournal.com]

i also agree; i think the most interesting music class i had while at earlham was "music of vienna," while i was on the wiener choral programm. the reason it was so interesting and stuck so well was that we were also learning about the art and architecture of vienna and the politics & history of central europe -- in all three classes spanning from the reformation/baroque period to the 20th c.

i ended up writing my essay for the final (dan made let us "ask and answer the question you wish i would ask") on the influence of political philosophy on the music of each period. yeah. it was a bit unwieldly, but man was it a fascinating essay to write in under an hour!

[akashiver.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great class, and of course there are interesting texts to pull from, like the Devil in the White City and Sim in the Second City.