Class Evaluation

First of all, I would like to say that I love what this course is trying to be and much of what it already is. So many things must come together for a class like this to feel unique and worthwhile— the right group of students and an open-minded professor probably being most key. Because these two aspects felt right on target for me this quarter, I pushed aside smaller concerns and complaints along the way. I think you have to be flexible with a discussion-based course on Jerusalem, where the topics can lead anywhere and the syllabus changes almost daily. But now that the discussion has no more time for digression, it’s time to go back and dig out those concerns. I want to focus on a few larger topics of content and structure.

On Blogging.
The nature of the blogosphere leads it to feel very informal and relaxed for writers. In this sense, I had a hard time combining the structured assignments of readings and responses with the very wide open web. I liked the idea that seemed to become more prevalent later in the quarter of preparing questions on readings and bringing them in either for class discussion or the guest speaker of the day. I felt more comfortable bringing up my questions in person, rather than formulating responses to readings I often felt unsure about on my own. Some of the readings were very dense and abstract. I wanted to discuss them in class, but I didn’t actually feel inspired or even capable at times of writing about them publicly.
Another note on blogging. I think what would lend more to blog writing and discussion online is current events. The lack of reading on current news and controversy is something I regret. Armstrong does go through more recent history in her final chapters, but her sweeping review is hardly current. Ten years in Jerusalem is like a century in any other place. For next year, I guess I would like to see the blog turned into a forum for discussion of current events and things outside of class, like the campus events, lectures, Interfaith Dinners, temple visits, etc… A weekly current event article might even be a good assignment for the blog. That way, everyone would want to read each other’s blogs to learn something they might not have caught in the news. Reading other people’s responses to the same things you read and responded to is not as enticing.

On Projects.
I am now feeling a little inspired! What if rather than having one final project, there were two or three smaller projects that comprised most of the grade for the class. I say this partly because I was so overwhelmed with the breadth of the final project and the time I had to complete it on top of other work, but also because I think a few things could really enrich and engage students in the first part of the course. So for the first project, to get everyone moving through Karen Armstrong, divide people into groups and assign each group a section of Armstrong to present and lead in class discussion. Then, for the next project, new groups, and this time presentations and discussion on historical events that have happened only in the last 60 years (i.e. what is covered less in the book). Finally, for the last project, something creative and comprehensive, but not necessarily as daunting as a ten page paper or documentary short. Ok, this is all that can fit in two pages, but there will be more to come I’m sure in class. Thanks for reading!