NDI 100--Perspectives of Time

NDI 100—College Studies: Perspectives of Time

Oxford Study Abroad Program

June 4- July 2, 2004

Instructors: Drs. Berger, Close, and Wahlstrom

PERSPECTIVES OF TIME

NDI 100 at Oxford

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

COURSE DATES and TRAVEL:

The course begins in Oxford on the afternoon of June 4, 2004 (U. S. departure on June 3). The last day of the course will be on July 1, with a return to the U. S. on July 2, 2004. Students may elect to extend their stay in Europe and return after July 2. Students are expected to make their own travel arrangements.

TEXTS:

Craig Callender and Ralph Edney, Introducing Time. (Cambridge: Icon Books, 2001). ISBN 1-84046-263-9.

Martin Gorst, Measuring Eternity: The Search for the Beginning of Time. (New York: Broadway Books, 2001). ISBN 0-7679-0844-9.

Note: Books must be purchased prior to departure for England. They may be purchased at the College Bookstore or from http://www.allbookstores.com.

COURSE HOME PAGE and SYLLBUS:

The course home page is at http://userpages.bright.net/~dclose/dcoxford-2004.htm. The home page contains a detailed day-by-day syllabus of the course, travel details, and other information. Students are expected to visit the course page regularly prior to departure to obtain updated information.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the concept of time from the disciplinary perspectives of drama, geology, and philosophy. The course is offered at the University of Oxford in conjunction with the Oxford Study Abroad Program. The placement of the course at Oxford provides students with unique opportunities to study and reflect on the nature and meaning of time both in and outside of the classroom. Lecture and discussion, including guest lectures by Oxford faculty, form the core of the course. Experiential learning includes viewing and reflecting on the horological and astrolabe collections at Oxford’s Museum of the History of Science and the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, theatre productions in Oxford, London, and Stratford-upon-Avon, and guided trips to Cambridge, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Avebury, and Siccar Point in Scotland. Extensive travel opportunities are provided (both group and self-guided). Students will be affiliated with New College, University of Oxford, and may also obtain membership in the Oxford Union Society.

COURSE MECHANICS:

Short Papers: Three short papers (2-4 pages each) over the central themes of the course are required. The first two papers are worth 10% each. The third paper will be a rewrite and expansion of either of the first two papers and will be worth 15% of the course grade.

Oral Dramatization: At the beginning of the course, students will organize themselves into small groups and establish for themselves a theme, issue, or event to explore over the course of their stay in Europe. During the course, you will be given opportunities to conduct research—in the field and in the library—to aid you in addressing your topic. You will write a script for a public dramatization of your topic. At the end of the course, you will perform your dramatization for the entire class. More details will be provided in lecture regarding the project proposal (2%), a progress report (4%), the presentation itself (16%), and a presentation review (3%).

Journal: All students must keep a journal. Your journal is a place for you to record events, impressions, and ideas generated by your course work and your travels. Your journal is also a place for you to reflect upon and attempt to make sense of, and to make connections between, those same events, impressions and ideas. This journal will use a double-entry system, with notes written on the left-hand pages and commentary about those notes written on the right-hand pages. Your journal will be graded on the interaction between your observations and your commentaries. A full description of the journal will be provided. The total value is 25% of the course grade. This includes two pass-fail progress checks of 3% each and a journal content grade worth 19%.

Seminar Participation: Active engagement in the conversation at each of our meetings is central to this course. If you are shy and retiring, this will be a great opportunity to develop new skills. The value is 15% of the course grade.

ATTENDANCE AND COMPORTMENT:

Students must attend all lectures, discussions, and official Oxford Study Abroad Program (OSAP) activities. Unless otherwise indicated, lectures and discussions will be held in the OSAP office on the third floor of Chester House, 21-27 George Street in Oxford. Students should dress business casual (no jeans or T-shirts – you can wear them after class). Some events will require academic robes, which will be provided by OSAP.

Students are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects honor on Heidelberg College and themselves.

ACCESS TO FACULTY:

Dr. Amy Berger: aberger@heidelberg.edu

Dr. Daryl Close: dclose@heidelberg.edu

Dr. Ruth Wahlstrom: rwahlstr@heidelberg.edu

No part of this document or associated Web pages may be reproduced in any form

without permission of the course instructors.

Permission may be obtained by e-mail at dclose@heidelberg.edu

Rev. 7-Jun-2004