Week 1 discussion
Education
Think about your early years of education (elementary
through high school) and identify that which influenced and/or impacted you.
Consider your family life, friendships (or lack of), specific classrooms,
teaching styles, teachers, other students, etc. What stuck with you and what
have you let go? Do early experiences âbuild characterâ or perhaps linger?
Week 2 discussion
Gender
We have all heard about the girl who wants to join the wrestling
team and the boy who wants an Easy Bake Oven. Think about some of your earliest
experiences with gender. Consider at school, extracurricular activities, your
parents, your friends, etc. Discuss gender roles, stereotypes, myths, and/or
controls in society that existed then and you see exist today. Do you feel that
males or females have more or less âcontrolsâ placed on them by society? Is it
fair? Do you believe that boys and girls/men and women should stick to the
qualities, interests, etc., that society deems appropriate for their gender?
Week 3 discussion
Techno-Generation
Of course we can laugh when our parents and grandparents (or
even we) reflect on the âgood ol’ daysâ when life was simple and children
played in the yard, made fun out of anything they could find, and spent minimal
time in front of the âboob tubeâ and even less playing video games. But even if
television, the media, film, computers/internet, and video games arenât
necessarily bad for children and teens, give some thought to what they are
missing out on by spending so much time with these everyday âoutlets.â What
might they be doing instead and what might those other activities do for their
mental, emotional, and physical health? Have we lost touch with human
interaction/communication on some level? Have we come so far that it is too
late to get some of that back?
Week 4 discussion
Giving
How do you feel about âgiving backâ or âpaying it forward?â
Despite your own everyday difficulties and responsibilities, have you ever
asked yourself, âHow can I help?â Have you any experiences to share? Consider
some of the many ways that one can âpay it forwardâ and share them here with
your fellow students. Please note that many ways are so simple! Smiles and
thumbs up are free!
Week 4 reflective discussion
Reflection and Integration
Reflecting on the four modules completed this session,
provide suggestions and advice to those taking this course in subsequent
sessions. What would you have done differently a second time around? The same?
If your goal is to provide the necessary tools for success for your fellow
student, think of the top five suggestions and explain each with specific
details and examples from the course.