A sampling of the New Gen-Ed Courses Music: Dr. Lou Bunk, assistant professor of music
organizations and in the surrounding community, rates of library
technology, explained his thinking behind creating a
borrowing, and faculty development related to teaching, all increased.
new general education music course which is focused on the song: “The Song: From J.S. Bach to Jay Z.” The course focuses on a particular genre (the song), as a
with the campus culture, and resistances developed which, along with
means to help students learn to listen to music critically
a gradual loss of momentum over time, led to the recent initiative to
(active vs. passive listening and instrumentation), have
replace it.
opportunities to create their own music, understand the mechanics of music, and learn where particular
For one thing, the emphasis thrown on general education never
types of music fit in historically. Targeted for the student
overcame the disciplinary orientation of most faculty, and the insistence
who does not plan to specialize in music, the course is organized around topics and skills, with contrasts
on interdisciplinary teaching took many out of their comfort zone and
and commonalities investigated between all types of
into the realm of doubt concerning the method. For students, the issue
songs: opera, contemporary, jazz, country, and more.
appears to have been less disciplinary loyalty than lack of choice. A fixed
The course is designed around the “arts & design”
curriculum and mandatory service may not have seemed problematic
learning outcome and hones “creative thinking” and “critical thinking” skills. Two other general education
to an Athenian youth sitting at the feet of a revered mentor, or to a
music courses have been designed by the other music
medieval seminarian, but for modern American consumers-in-the-
department professors: World Music (music from
making, with a multitude of options in other areas of their lives, they
different cultures), and Composer’s Voice (composers
proved a tough sell. For those students, too, whom survey after survey
throughout history).
have shown to be drawn to higher education above all by the promise
Astronomy: Susan Rolke, a lecturer in environmental
of a rewarding career, the Individual and Community theme may have
science, designed a two-semester science sequence
appeared too academic and idealistic – not “practical” enough.
for the new general education curriculum: Astronomy I, The Cosmic Perspective; and Astronomy II, Life in the Universe. Professor Rolke enjoys both the flexibility
Piercing the Future
that the new general education curriculum offers the
The General and Liberal Education (GLE) program to be rolled out this
student and the shift in the classroom from teacher-
fall addresses these sticking points in the Pierce Plan, not by retreating
centered to learner-centered; the latter focuses on
from the traditional ideal but by reworking its possibilities. Liberal
what the student is learning and taking away from each course, with the professor facilitating learning.
education is now defined in terms of a set of overall undergraduate
“Astronomy has been my passion; the whole reason
learning outcomes, a unifying principle broader than that of a general
I went into physics,” says Professor Rolke. “These are
education “core.” General education has a role to play in enabling
the courses that I’ve always wanted to teach.” The
students to achieve these outcomes, but so does study in the major
second semester of the course will introduce students
programs, where in fact the different capabilities will be mastered at
to concepts in biology and geology in order to understand if and where life might exist beyond planet
the highest levels. The tension between the two rival curricular areas
Earth. Some of the exciting hands-on opportunities in
will be further eased by the provision that, rather than standing on
the course include measuring light pollution as part of
separate, interdisciplinary ground, general education courses are to
an international project, and simulating what it is like to
be based in the disciplines. This will allow individual faculty members
drive a rover on another planet. Students will be given the foundation they need to be scientifically literate,
to teach to their passions, and not coincidentally open up a far greater
and provided with opportunities to contribute to the
range of choice for students. That passion is evident, as is the intention
scientific community no matter what their major field of
of continuing to serve the general education needs of all students, in
study. The courses are designed with the “knowledge
what Franklin Pierce professors have to say [see sidebar] about their new
of science” learning outcome and with “critical thinking” and “inquiry and analysis” skills targeted.
6
Nevertheless, in some respects the scheme did not mesh well
Franklin Pierce University fall 2012
GLE courses – three of which coincidentally promise fresh treatment of original Liberal Arts, music, astronomy, and logic.