IDST 401 - Colloquium III: Open Research

Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: IDST 301 and SOSC 450 or MGMT 370
This online colloquium is an open research topic course designed to provide students a multi-disciplinary learning experience. There are two primary components to this course that will be completed by this online learning community. First, students will engage in the learning process by viewing multiple presentations on a wide-range of diverse topics. Following each online presentation, students will evaluate and critique each presentation using a rubric developed through a collaborative learning exercise. Students will also engage in self-reflection throughout the course and record emerging insights and questions through a video blog or journaling activity. Thoughtful peer-to-peer exchanges will be an expectation through active participation in online discussion forums that provide a space for critical dialogue and debate related to presentation topics. Secondly, students will conduct their own research over a topic of their choice with the expectation that they will present their research. As part of this exercise, students will be expected to develop a thoughtful research question or thesis statement and conduct necessary research to prepare a final paper and provide a video presentation to be viewed, discussed, and evaluated by their peers. This advanced course should be completed in the last semester of the students anticipated degree completion. This course will utilize a variety of learning strategies, including but not limited to assigned readings, video presentations, research and writing, video blogging, journaling, group discussions, and online presenting.