AFRI 101T: Introduction to Africa: For EducatorsSpecial Section for Education Majors and Middle and High School Teachers
Welcome!You are participating in a pilot for a new course in African Studies. All of the learners in this course this semester are either education majors, in the School of Education, or are teachers in North Carolina schools (perhaps working on certification for lateral entry). The content of the course will be the same as sections taught in the past, but we will all be thinking—as we process new concepts and information about Africa—about how to best bring this into the classroom for our K-12 students. Course OverviewIn the post-1945 period, there has been a growing debate in policy and academic circles on the nature of cultural, political, and economic processes in the precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial period of Africa. The rise of this debate has led to interesting and complex studies demonstrating the historical development of African societies. In this course, building on works by contemporary leading scholars, we will engage in critical and analytical reflections on the historical and contemporary forces (both internal and external) that have influenced sociocultural, political, and economic developments in Africa. The course does not assume a prior knowledge of African history or contemporary developments; thus, you should not feel intimidated. From the beginning of the term, I look forward to hearing from each of you about your views and knowledge about various aspects of the diverse societies that comprise the African continent. We all have different views about African societies, and I look forward to learning from the dialogue that I hope will emerge in each lesson. Having said all that, you may ask the question: Why should anyone bother studying a continent that some scholars refer to as being at the margins of the global south and the international system? I hope that most of you are as curious and keen as I am about exploring what I call the "poetics" of other societies. In the case of African societies, there are many reasons that should lead us to engage in a critical dialogue of historical and contemporary developments. For instance, despite the expansive post-1945 literature on African societies, these societies, in the main, continue to be viewed in very simplistic and monolithic terms. But more importantly, in the context of the latest phase of globalization—a process that is leading to a deeper form of interconnectedness of our world—understanding the nature of issues beyond the borders of our towns, states, and nations is increasingly becoming a central feature of our everyday consciousness. Furthermore, we cannot escape this, given the nature of global media networks such as CNN and the constant flow of information through the World Wide Web. I also hope to challenge the unexamined practices in classrooms to view Africa as “exotic” through over-emphasis on “traditional culture” and wildlife. Here is an example: The middle-schooler who lives with me recently had to research the “Fang” societies of West Africa. It was a great assignment on almost every level, but when he asked me how to find out what these people wear for clothing, I replied that (though I don’t know much about this particular group) most folk in West Africa wear the kind of clothes that he and I wear (only fewer jeans and more “ironing”). Luke looked at me in despair, and said, “Well, maybe so, but I’m sure I won’t get credit if I write that.” With this as a bit of background, I'd like to welcome you to AFRI 101T online! Each week we will have a core set of readings and questions to think about. For each lesson you will have summary lecture notes outlining the core elements of the readings and providing guidelines as to what issues to emphasize from the readings and research. In each lesson you will also find a section entitled “Educational Reflections.” These are designed to help you make connections between the course content and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Required Texts
The texts are available from Friday Center Books & Gifts at the Friday Center. You can order the books online, or you can print out the book order form to fax or mail with payment for texts as indicated on the form. Course RequirementsDiscussion Forum: 20 percent You are expected to participate in the weekly discussion forums. Our discussion forum can be accessed through a software program called Blackboard. Use your UNC Onyen and password to log in to Blackboard. Please visit the Onyen Web site if you do not already have a UNC Onyen. You are expected to respond to questions or issues presented for each week's discussion forum. Postings should be directly tied to the course readings, using specific page references. The most valued postings are those that seek to make connections between the readings or between one lesson and another. The forum is a site for a stimulating and engaging dialogue on weekly themes. You are expected to post an original comment and then respond to at least one classmate's posting every week. Consequently, you will need to post a response to the discussion forum questions or issues by Wednesday and then respond to a colleague's posting by Friday. Late responses will not be accepted. Personal reflections on “Questions to Consider.” At least once during the semester, you will post your reflections on one or more of the “Questions to Consider” that are a part of each lesson. These questions are designed to be non-academic, inviting you to make connections between your own life and society and the peoples and societies we are studying. In every discussion forum you will find a thread for personal reflections. While other discussion forum postings are expected to be directly tied to the readings, personal reflections need only show an awareness of the course content. You are encouraged, although not required, to make weekly postings to this part of the forum. Pedagogy Pages: 20 percent Three times during the semester, we will have a break from new learning and will gather to discuss the pedagogical issues that are emerging as we build content in the course. In these lessons, you will be asked to think about how to teach material and to engage in discussion about that teaching. What lesson plans have you used? What lesson plans or resources can you find to share with others? It is my hope that these “Pedagogy Pages” will become a toolbox for you later—a collection of ideas and resources that you can use when you are trying to teach your own students about Africa. Map Quiz: 10 percent The map quiz will be closed book. You are expected to complete the quiz in 60 minutes. The quiz will be available on Blackboard from 6 am until midnight. Term Essays: 50 percent In order to assess your progress throughout the course, you will be required to submit three essays. Essay 3 is considered your final exam. Detailed instructions on the expectations for essays are available. Please read all instructions carefully! Essay 1: 15 percent Essay 2: 15 percent Essay 3: 20 percent ReadingsThe required readings are organized thematically and form the foundation for our weekly discussion forum. Supplementary ResourcesFilms (available for viewing at UNC's Media Resource Center)
Useful Web sitesPlease note that these Web sites provide excellent material on all the topics that we will be focusing on this term. Consequently, use these Web sites as supplementary material and additional sources when researching your term essays. News (old and new)
Scholarly resources:
Honor CodeYou are expected to adhere to the University of North Carolina's Honor Code in all of your work. Course MechanicsBlackboardSome of your class components (discussion forums, the map quiz, and announcements) are accessed through a software package called Blackboard, and you will need to log-in to Blackboard using a unique identifier known as your UNC Onyen (Only Name You'll Ever Need) and Onyen password. There is a link to the Blackboard site in the gray navigation bar at the top of every page in this course. Click on that link, and then use your Onyen to log in to Blackboard. Click on the "AFRI 101T" link, and you will see navigation buttons on the left side of the screen labeled Announcements, Discussion Forum, and so on. If you experience problems accessing Blackboard, this is what you should do:
Library Services and E-reservesStudents enrolled in Carolina Courses Online can access online library resources from the UNC Library System by linking to Library Services for Distance Education Students. This site includes information on using general online reference works as well as accessing e-reserves. If you are using an off-campus computer, you will need to consult this page for instructions on how to access the resources. The UNC library staff is available to assist any students who have difficulties accessing online library resources. All communication from your instructor will go to your
UNC Onyen e-mail address (the one that appears when you post to the discussion
forum). Off-campus users can access their UNC e-mail using Webmail.
You can have your e-mail forwarded to a different e-mail address by clicking
“Forward e-mail” at the Onyen
Web site. Submitting AssignmentsIt is extremely important for you to save copies of any work you send to me via e-mail. If I don't receive your work, you must have a duplicate copy, indicating the date sent, to prove that you submitted the assignment on time. It is your responsibility to maintain copies of your sent e-mails, as there is no way to guarantee that any e-mail message will be delivered. Please check your e-mail software to see how it manages sent and saved messages. Some software automatically deletes messages one month after they have been sent; others only save messages if they are filed in folders; others save messages received but not those sent. You may need to send yourself a copy of your e-mailed assignment at the same time you send it to me, or you may need to print a copy of the e-mail message and any attachments to keep in your paper files. No matter how your system works, make sure you know how to save a copy of all work that you submit to me and that you save the copy for several months beyond the end of the course. Course Schedule
Lesson 1 |
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