Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

COURSE DETAILS:

Instructor: Dr. Michael Ling, gling@sfu.ca

Days & Times:  May 1 & 2, May 15 & 16, May 29 & 30, June 12 & 13, July 3 & 4;

Written Comps Due: July 6-8

Oral Comp Presentations: Fri July 17, Sat July 18, Sun July 19 (times to be discussed)

Location: via Zoom   “

Teachings come from everywhere, when you open yourself to them. That’s the trick of it, really. Open yourself to everything, and everything opens itself to you.” (Richard Wagamese, Embers)   “I learn by going where I have to go.” (Theodore Roethke, The Waking)  

In a very real, clear, and compact sense, this course might best be described as an exploration of both Wagamese’s and Roethke’s statements. Reflecting on your fulsome journey through this program, engaging in various forms of inquiry as you have, we might pose three sets of concise questions to guide this exploration: where did I aim, or plan, or hope to go, where have I gone, and what have I been opened to (or, where have I needed to go, where has the journey taken me), and, what have I learned,  how have I learned, and what has opened in me?  

In effect, we are asking ourselves:
-        what have I learned through the program, and through this time, from conducting my inquiry, about myself, my communities, and my practice?
-         what key ideas, concepts, theories, thinkers, approaches, and philosophies have had an impact on me?
-        how have these ideas influenced, confirmed, challenged, and/or transformed my thinking and my practice?
-        how do I now situate myself in the community of scholarship, in my community of practice, and, importantly, in whatever I consider my ‘lived and living’ community or communities?
-        how will I now take these ideas into my practice in a good and honourable way?  

In more concrete terms, the course is an opportunity to draw together these ideas and experiences in various ways toward the creation of the two Comprehensive Exam components, the written project and the oral presentation.   We may have some readings or ‘viewings,’ to inspire and support this last phase of the journey, which will be made available by email or posted on Canvas.  

This course is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis and this will be based on: attendance and participation in our sessions, including discussions, activities, collegial review, advice, and support; and, submission or sharing of draft documents at various times during the term.  

SCHEDULE

May 1/2           
Reflecting on Inquiry and the Journey so far Some Ideas about the Comps (Content and Process)
Activity: Creating or revisiting “The River”
Discussion: A Short History of the Long History of Inquiry  

May 15/16*     
Reflecting on Self
Activity: Developing “A Constellation;” Guiding Questions for the Comps; Writing workshop; 1:1 meetings
Discussion: On Identity  

May 29/30     
Reflecting on Contexts & Conditions                                    
Activity: Sharing our “Constellations;” Writing workshop; 1:1 meetings; Possible visit from previous M Ed EP students       Discussion: On Culture  

June 12/13      
Reflecting on Practice
Activity: Possible visit from previous M Ed EP students; Writing workshop; 1:1 meetings.
Discussion: On Ceremony, Liminality, Ritual, Transitions, and Change  

July 3/4           
Drawing it all Together: Details & Logistics: Comp Weekend Presentation Planning, and Penultimate Thoughts
Activity: Writing workshop/peer review 1:1 Meetings; Work-time      

* NB: we’ll talk about this weekend, the May Long Weekend, at our first class  

POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL 1:1 MEETINGS: at any point through our time together, I am happy to arrange with you additional 1:1 meetings, if you wish.  

Important Dates: -       
LAST CLASS ALL TOGETHER BEFORE COMPS: July 3-4 -       
WRITTEN COMPS TO BE SUBMITTED: July 6-8 -       
ORAL COMP PRESENTATIONS: Friday July 17, Saturday July 18, Sunday July 19, via Zoom; timeframe for each day, to be discussed, approximately 9am-5pm (except possibly Friday or Sunday).        

“All members of the University community share the responsibility for the academic standards and reputation of SFU. Academic honesty is a condition of continued membership in the university community.” Please review the Policy at www.sfu.ca/policies/teaching/t10-02.htm   “Simon Fraser University is committed to creating a scholarly community characterized by honesty, civility, diversity, free inquiry, freedom from harassment, mutual respect and individual safety. Each student is responsible for his/her conduct which affects the University community.” Please review the Policy at http://www.sfu.ca/policies/teaching/t10-01.htm