In recent years, as a result of interactions between cognitive psychology and education, we now have many ideas about classroom learning, and approaches to teaching, testing and assessment. We also have strong evidence that implementing these ideas could really improve learning for all children and youth, including those who are under-resourced. In this seminar we will work to understand the findings by reading and discussing a selection of theoretical works from cognitive science and psychology.

This course will provide advanced preparation for independent work in sculpture at the Division III level. Students will develop an independent body of work through assignments that increase in complexity and depth. The course culminates with a long independent project that proceeds from a written proposal. Students will work with steel, fabric, wood, concrete, plaster, found objects and other materials in the production of sculptural objects, installations and environments.

This course will integrate advanced level drawing assignments with two student defined half semester long independent projects. Readings, slide talks, field trips to nearby drawing sites, and independent research will provide a context for the development of a personal and cohesive body of work. Drawing as a visual practice will be defined broadly to allow for the exploration of forms and imagery across multiple genres, media and dimensions. Group critiques will provide a critical environment and offer a forum for the discussion of contemporary issues in drawing.

This seminar is designed for first or second semester Division III students whose project involves some aspect of theatre. Seminar participants will be expected to read some key performance texts and discuss them in relation to their own work, as well as helping to select readings relevant to their area of focus. We will also attend performances and participate in workshops led by theatre practitioners. Considerable time throughout the semester will be devoted to students' presentation of works in progress, peer editing, and sharing strategies for completing large independent projects.

Our focus will be on how novelists grapple with writing about war, including wars that are ongoing. How has each writer sought to depict the complex, delicate nuances of human drama, along with the "big" themes? How have the approaches changed according to the military "sophistication" of the times, and a conflict's (in)visibility in the media? To what extent does literature sensitize us to concepts of "good" vs "evil" and "liberator" vs. "terrorist," or merely affirm what we think we know?

Through reading novels in a range of styles and from a range of places, we will look at how fictional characters are shaped by history. What are the tools writers use to create their characters, and are these tools any different from those used to make characters in a contemporary setting? Equally, how do we talk about character in historical fiction? Are we looking for a portrayal that in some way complements our understanding of a time and place, one that challenges it, or both?

This is a research course for intellectuals who are artists and artists who are intellectuals. The course has two goals: (First) To investigate life in the U.S., 1890-1910, an era whose inequities and injustices, inventions and ambitions, panics and disasters eerily resemble our own. Students will sift through collections of archival photographs and an array of primary and secondary written documents to carry out their investigations. Photographs will come from large, on-line, archival collections; newspapers and novels published during the era will serve as primary written sources.

Air, gas and vapors are not often thought of as artistic or design mediums but they have great potential as such. This course through experiential means will explore some of the potential these "invisible" mediums have. Through a verity of projects, participants will enhance their technological creativity and designing capacity while gaining a deeper understanding of their creative process by exploring the design and artistic potential of air, gas and vapors.

Proceeding from the premise that the ideas behind a successful artwork should be intimately related to its materials, this course will investigate three of the most significant characteristics of digital media. We will work with a wide variety of tools that allow for the creation and manipulation of various media, including bitmap and vector images, 2D animation, and sound. Students will create a series of conceptually based digital artworks, culminating in an interactive multimedia final project.

This course will look at the issues involved with design and fabrication in situations where there are limited resources. Students will engage in the hands-on study and design of technologies considered appropriate for less developed and small-scale local economies. Topics will include water quality, human powered cargo transportation, energy production, food storage and preparation, and wheelchair technologies. We will consider factors that make for successful adoption and widespread use of appropriate technologies.