Global Problem Solving: A model for integrating
on and off-campus study
Wednesday, September 26 (11:45-1:00) Buntrock
142
Roy Grow, Department of Political Science, Carleton College
Al Montero, Department of Political Science, Carleton College
Co-sponsored by the St. Olaf Office of International and Off-campus Study
One of the continuing challenges for colleges with off-campus study programs is that of deepening and enriching the learning that takes place away from the institution through more effective integration with academic work on-campus. This session describes a course developed by Carleton College Political Science faculty that provides one model of such integration.
The course looks at the consequences of economic globalization in two very different societies-China and Mexico. It is intended to introduce students to emerging research on the impact of globalization, instruct them on research methodology, take them abroad for on-site work, bring them back to campus for an examination of the data they have discovered, and assist them in explicating their findings.
The course is spread across two terms (Fall and Winter), punctuated by a two week field trip in December. The Fall term (6 credits) is devoted to mastery of the new literature in this field, examination of the methodologies used by different analysts, and group discussions about the research the class will undertake. On the field trip (3 credits) in December , the class is split into two sections-one working in Mexico under the direction of Al Montero, the other working in China with Roy Grow. In the Winter term (3 credits) the two groups come back together to share results, write reports, and make formal presentations. The course is shaped by a "real-world problem." Our class will constitute itself as a "consulting team" and take on a real world corporate "customer" such as Medtronic, 3M, or Honeywell. Students will learn to break the problem into manageable parts and figure out analytic techniques to solve each of the problems.
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This discussion will be followed in the spring semester by a presentation
from St. Olaf faculty who have pioneered another model for integrating
on-campus and off-campus academic study. These faculty will teach
interim courses during January 2002 that are divided between classroom
work at St. Olaf and an immersion experience in the Twin Cities.
Resources for Internationalizing the Curriculum:
- Expanded
description of Professors Roy Grow and Al Montero's course
- Institute of International Education
- Kristi Hanratty, "Full Circle of Learning in Study Abroad,"
in The International Educator (NAFSA) Summer 2001.
- Josef Mestenhauser, "Portraits of an International Curriculum," in Reforming the Higher Education Curriculum, by Josef Mestenhauser and Brenda Ellingboe, American Council on Education, Oryx Press, 1998.
