SEP Session 1, Day 4 (9-11)

Each day, we will feature several courses. Throughout the session, we will feature as many courses as possible.

Today in "The Gender Game: An Exploration of Student Norms" students began the class by watching the video below. The video served as the jumping off point for a discussion of gender in students lives. Students brainstormed gender roles in their family and then shared with the class. Students were asked to think about both ways that gender stereotypes were adhered to as well as broken within their family. Students also thought about the ways that religion, race, and other identities intersect with gender.

Following this discussion, students talked in pairs to answer critical thinking questions about gender. Questions included: "Is it possible to raise a child without gender? How? What gender stereotypical activities do you enjoy doing? What activities do you not enjoy doing? What would the world look like without gender?"

Today in "Religion, Rulers, and Riots" students began the class with a brief discussion of religion in the Roman Empire in the third and fourth century. Students learned about the Valerian Persecution (a persecution of christians) and the tension between pagans and christians. Peter Morris pushed the students to answer critical thinking questions like, "what arguments might pagans have lodged against christians? What defense were christians mustering?"

Students then began a very interesting game! In this game, students were given perspectives (Sossianus, Porphyry, Eusebius, and Lactantius). They were then given the task of presenting their case to the empire Diocletian (Peter Morris). In order to "win", students needed to be consistent with the perspective of their role and use what they learned about Diocletian's vision and goals to convince him. In the first round, students argued if christianity should be legal or illegal. In the second round, they debated what measures or regulations should be implemented. And in the third round, the final decision was made.

Today in "(Super) Human Physics" students explored energy conservation. They learned about kinetic, gravitational potential and elastic potential energy. Students worked through a variety of physics problems. Later in the class, they did a jump height experiment.

Today in "Engineering Hogwarts" students analyzed and debated several engineering ethics scenarios in small groups. Critical thinking and controversy highlighted today's class.

Best,

Nicole, Olivia, and Abby