Project #1: Media-Infused Presentation
Title Dominican Spirituality
Course Number T.B.A. [new course 2015-2016]
Purpose The course addresses the most recent
Strategic Plan goal of increasing our sense of Dominican & Roman Catholic identity
at Fenwick High School.
Standards N/A. Federal & local standards do not apply
to Religion/Theology classes taught in private
schools in Illinois.
Content Areas See http://linkyy.com/ogs.
Citations Included within Prezi “zooms,” i.e., slides.
Reflection
Gardner’s
discussion of the disciplined mind is both seductive and provocative. A reader finds herself shaking her head, “Yes,”
or at least, “O.K.,” in the first reading. The provoking “but” comes with
reflection.
Howard’s
first two traits have to do with a discipline’s foundations and a sustained reflection
upon its foundations, which are meta-questions that do not tax most of us. The third
trait, “diverse entry points,” and fourth, “performances for understanding,”
are what I will discuss here.
To
introduce the new, core course titled, “Dominican Spirituality,” to Fenwick’s Theology
Department and Curriculum Committee (and, as a first day introduction for
future students), I created an online presentation using “Prezi” (http://linkyy.com/ogs) because it forces you
into non-linear thinking due to its “zoom” structure. Tangents are easy to surf
with Prezi.
Still,
the basic flow is linear; it uses an historical approach to offer a first dip
into Dominican history, a history that creates, embodies, and sustains a characteristic
spirituality. The non-linear features, e.g., hyperlinks, embedded video, etc.,
break into the historical march and allow one to begin to form an experience of the history that creates a
specific spirituality. Non-linear content also attempts to provide Gardner’s “diverse
entry points.” To tweak the presentation, I would further develop these
non-linear aspects to include much more Dominicana
(legend, history, song, art, etc.; the good, the bad, & the ugly). There
are no “performances for understanding” because the presentation is designed as
an introduction, an amuse-bouche, an
invitation into deeper study.
The
combination of the linear and the nonlinear with multimedia elements helps one
to make the first few stitches in for a synthesizing mind. While this is admittedly a first
encounter, it seeks to string a line upon which you can hang a number of ideas
and felt experiences. I would like to think that it helps you begin to bring
into focus the gestalt, so that a solid synthesis can be made.
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