Post #4: Indigenous Group

Nov 25 - Dec 4, 2014

Each student will research a different indigenous group and complete a blog about that group.  Your classmates will be viewing this particular blog post so keep that in mind.

Each class will have one class period to work on this blog:
E block:  Tuesday, November 25th
B block:  Tuesday, December 2nd
C block:  Monday, December 1st
**Please use this time in class wisely.  The personal engagement/class participation grade for this post is 20 points (completed on time and time used wisely in class).

Due date:
B block: Thursday, December 4th
C block: Friday, December 5th
E block: Wednesday, December 3rd

Part A (40 points):
1.  Choose an indigenous group and sign up on this document so there is no overlap.
2.  Spend some time researching.  Take notes on the following:  geographic location, language(s) spoken, population, spiritual practices/religion, schooling/education, ethics, values, practices, scientific knowledge, etc.
3.  Create a blog post and title it "Indigenous group."
4.  Include at least 3 pictures in the post, briefly explaining each picture.
5.  Write at least 300 words describing the indigenous group.  This can be in paragraph form, bullet points, short blurbs, etc.  Aim to teach us something new about this group/culture.  "Wow" us; impress us.  Make us think!

Part B (40 points):
6.  Choose one WOK other than language or faith (you can mention language and faith, just choose a different WOK to be the focus) to research in regards to the indigenous group/culture you chose.
7.  Define the WOK using your own words.  Avoid dictionary definitions (or other people's definitions!) here.
8.  Illustrate how the chosen WOK plays a role in that culture/group.  Be specific here.  How is it similar or different to our culture?  You can include videos/media here if you'd like  (like we reviewed in class about the Himba tribe not distinguishing between green and blue the same way we do or about the Moken people who intuitively knew the 2004 tsunami was approaching because the cicadas were silent and the sea was receding  - see p. 380 in textbook for more examples)
9.  Identify at least two knowledge questions that can be discussed in relation to the content of your post.

Post #3: Culture

November 3-7, 2014


Resources (some used in class but others to be viewed outside of class):

• Hofstede's culture survey
• East vs. West PPT
• Photos from abroad 
• China emails
• Iceberg concept of culture

Homework:  Create a blog post titled "Culture."

Due dates:
B Block:  Wednesday morning, 11/12.
E and C Blocks:  Friday morning, 11/14.

Part A.  After viewing the East vs. West PPT, create your own slide depicting contrasting cultures.  If you are not familiar with Chinese culture (which I'm assuming most of you aren't!), please use any two cultures you are familiar with.  Describe your slide in 1-2 sentences.   [10 points formative]

Part B.  In the same blog post, respond to the following questions [30 points formative, 10 points per section].  Please use specific, not hypothetical, examples to support your statements.

Section 1:

• What is culture?  How easy is it to define and/or describe one's culture? 
• Think of how the East vs. West PPT depicts US culture.  Are there any slides that you think depict US culture incorrectly?  If so, which slide(s)?  Why do you think your opinion is different than the author's? 
• If you had to describe US culture in 4-5 sentences, how would you do so?  Do you think that your description applies to everyone in the US?  Why or why not? 

Section 2:  

• How might we use our memory to make sense of a place and situation foreign to us?  
• Can you think of a time when you used your memory of what's familiar to make sense of something foreign or unfamiliar?  Describe.
• How reliable is our use of memory to know something?  Are there limitations to our use of memory? 

Section 3:

• How can we use our imagination to understand and appreciate other cultures?