E Concordia - Course Announcements PDF

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1/14/2021

eConcordia - Course Announcements

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Encountering Religions (RELI 216) Lesson 0 – Getting Started (January 13, 2021) Hello Everyone! Welcome to the course RELI 216 – Encountering Religions!

Announcements: 2021/01/13 - Lesson 0 – Getting Started 2021/01/06 - eConcordia Welcome Message to Encountering Religions Students

This is the first announcement for the course so it is a little long. Think of it as a 20-minute lecture filled with all sorts of tips to highlight key course resources available to you so you can maximize your grades. Please be sure to read to the end. (you might even copy this into a word doc so you can review it at any time) There is no set class time for the RELI 216 course as it is offered through the eConcordia platform. That is, the course is designed as a totally asynchronistic structure allowing students to complete each weekly lesson at a time convenient for them. Note the average time required to complete each weekly lesson is from 3 to 4 hours and includes two scheduled due times for discussion board posts (anytime before 1pm on Friday for the initial posts and anytime before 1pm on Monday for posts responding to peers). There are also two written assignments due later in the term. Within this announcement you will find pertinent information that will resonate throughout the course, including: Approaching the Course (with etiquette statement) Lesson 00 – Getting Started Course Dashboard Course Outline Announcements TAs and communication Course Reader Purchase options Lesson Resources – A. Required Course Reader; B. Extra Readings; C. Video Lectures; D. web-based resources; E. Case Study; F. Connect, Discuss and Graded Components; G. Learn More; H. Additional Resources Graded Assignments Bonus Grades Discussion Boards: General Questions; B. Weekly Discussions: Participation – 63% of final mark Connect Session Themes and Schedule Looking forward to your participation! Laurie Laurie Lamoureux Scholes, Ph.D RELI 216 - Course Instructor TAs for 216 Philip Auclair Sarah Boyer Frédérique (Fredy) Lambert https://www.econcordia.com/my2/CourseAnnouncements/View.aspx?id=32236

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My 1. APPROACHING THE COURSE This course explores the complex topic of religious encounters. The content is delivered in a manner that allows students to build knowledge about traditions and encounters with religious others, content that requires time to absorb and analyze the information. Thus, there is the need to engage with content weekly. That is, it is not a cramming kind of course. Instead consider the course as a conversation about various threads in a topic: how does each lesson resource inform your thoughts about religious traditions practiced throughout the world; compare content delivered from various perspectives – academic, practitioner, popular culture; which theoretical or social perspectives resonate most and why; how do religious traditions shape conversations about diversity, identity and social relations of those within the tradition and with those of other faith persuasions; which ideas would you like to discuss further? To support this conversation, the online course encourages interaction amongst students with 63% of the final grade dedicated to participation in weekly discussion board posts (DB). The DBs provide the opportunity to demonstrate a clear engagement with the course content that encourages respectful discussion of ideas with your peers. As you prepare your contributions, please keep in mind the following statement from the course syllabus: Etiquette for Engagement with Lesson Materials and Course Peers: In our culture, the topic of religious diversity can be a sensitive one, often unnecessarily so. Since religion touches on so many personal and emotional issues, it is often surrounded by any number of taboos and prohibitions. We must be open and forthright in our discussions, so as to benefit fully from our learning. We must also be respectful and understanding of difference. While we approach all faith traditions from a position of respect, it is equally important to remember that all moral, religious and theological positions, including our own or that of any religious leader or institution, are subject to critical examination and discussion. Being critical does not mean that one is being disrespectful. However, in being critical it is also important for your delivery to be respectful.

2. LESSON 0 – GETTING STARTED The first half-week of this 13-week course is an introductory session – Lesson 0. It offers the opportunity to review course requirements, figure out how to navigate the course website, consider each lesson theme and case study option, organize access to the course reading requirements, review the ‘Learn More’ options, check out the extra resources including the Course Blog, RSS feed and Religion corner, review the assessments page where all course assignment guidelines, tip sheets and samples are posted, and most important, build your personal agenda to meet the course assignments. The Lesson 0 page walks you through all these details about course content and resources with the intention of maximizing your engagement and grades. The introduction video “What to Expect” provides an overview of the philosophy behind this updated version of the course, including how to approach the content for each lesson (videos, readings, web-based links, case study options), course expectations, participation requirements, and particular themes that will be highlighted throughout the course. The video “Where to find it” offers a guide of the course website. The Lesson 0 page also includes details about resources to complete all graded components successfully. At the bottom of this lesson you can access the 1% graded quiz titled ‘Will you make the grade?” Note the quiz needs to be completed before noon or 12pm on Wednesday, January 27 to receive the grade. https://www.econcordia.com/my2/CourseAnnouncements/View.aspx?id=32236

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My next week!

3. COURSE DASHBOARD For those new to eConcordia, the course dashboard is your access point to the course website and many essential resources. The left-side includes links to access the course website, the course outline, the ‘Assessments’ link where you will upload the Case Study and Letter assignments, and an access link to check your grades. The right-side lists your TA name and contact details and your Assigned Group Number – essential for the discussion board activities. The middle section is where the weekly course announcements are posted – including this one! Be sure to check the Announcements every time you login as any new information about the course, technology issues, or changes to assignments will be posted there.

4. COURSE OUTLINE Start with a quick review of the Course Outline. You can access this from the course dashboard or from the link on the top right corner in the course website. It contains an overview of the course with brief descriptions of course expectations – note the full guidelines for all graded assignments are posted on the Assessments page within the course website. The outline also includes the course agenda which highlights deadlines for weekly discussion board submissions, dates for the case study assignment, connect sessions, etc. You can also find these dates on the ‘Agenda’ link in the course website. Note that as the syllabus is a static document, any changes will be included in weekly announcements.

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS SECTION When you login to the eConcordia, please be sure to check the ‘Announcements’ section on the course dashboard. The announcements are designed to provide you with important and updated information about lesson content, graded components, and any technical issues. In general, postings will occur on Mondays and Fridays with additional items throughout the week if required, i.e. on weeks with Live Connect sessions an additional announcement with details about the activity may be posted. The dashboard will display the three most recent posts with a link to access previous posts. Remember to take the time to check this section every time you login. 6. TAs AND COURSE COMMUNICATION A. TEACHING ASSISTANTS (TAs) For the Winter 2021 course, there is a full enrollment of 270 students. Each of you have been placed into one of 9 groups of 30. These groups are where you will engage your peers in the weekly online discussion board conversations about the course content. Each group has an assigned TA. The name of your TA and their contact information, with assigned group number can be found on the right-side of the course dashboard. I am pleased to introduce you to the three TAs who will be overseeing the discussion boards, assisting with grading and be available to answer your questions posted. The winter 2021 TAs are: Philip Auclair (Master Program – Department of Religions and Cultures) Sarah Boyer (Master Program – Department of Religions and Cultures) Frédérique (Fredy) Lambert (Master Program – Department of Religions and Cultures)

https://www.econcordia.com/my2/CourseAnnouncements/View.aspx?id=32236

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My 4-5pm or Fri 1-2pm or on request. Please send your meeting request by email: [email protected] Include your two preferred meeting day/time options. The zoom link will be sent with the confirmed meeting time. B. EMAIL COMMUNICATION: When sending an email, please include: your full name, student ID assigned group number. With 270 students, this information is essential for us to respond to your questions. Please note that as we are all employed in part-time contracts with additional commitments in our weekly schedule, the TAs and myself will check/respond to emails three times each week (generally before 2 pm on Mondays and Thursdays and once on either Sat/Sun). That said, by request, the professor will be available for a zoom meeting (see above). Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

7. COURSE READER PURCHASE OPTIONS: The course reader Understanding Interreligious Relations is essential as it provides important scholarly input for your analysis of religious encounters, and to prepare your discussion board posts, case study response and for the final letter assignment. Of the 18 chapters, 14 are assigned readings. The course reader is available for purchase through the Concordia Bookstop as either a paper copy or electronic copy. Paper: $70.75 Electronic Rental (6 month): $22.75 Alternatively, you may also consider purchasing directly from the publisher: Ebook version from Vital: $17 CAD ( https://www.vitalsource.com/enca/products/understanding-interreligious-relations-v9780191509667? term=cheetham%3A+9780199645855 ) Paperback version direct from OUP: $34.95 + $10 shipping (Understanding Interreligious Relations - Paperback - David Cheetham; Douglas Pratt; David Thomas Oxford University Press (oup.com) ) Paperback and Kindle versions are also available from Amazon or other online booksellers. There are also four electronic copies of the text available through the library catalogue. However note that there are strict limitations for access: 3 students at one time and only 200 views for each license. It is best to purchase your own copy.

8. LESSON RESOURCES To get the most out of this course it is important to review the lesson resources including all video lectures, at least three of the lesson resources posted in the third box of the opening section for each lesson. Aim for at least one scholarly source, preferably from the course reader, and at least one or more of the additional electronic readings, and web-based resources. A review of the casestudy topic for each lesson provides the opportunity to explore a particular interreligious issue in greater depth. You may also consider case study content in preparing your weekly DB posts. Review of the lesson resources will take approximately 1.5 – 3 hours each week and is essential for preparing your discussion board posts and responses to your peers. The lesson resources are also essential for preparing the case study assignment and to complete the letter to colleague assignment at the end of the course (more below). https://www.econcordia.com/my2/CourseAnnouncements/View.aspx?id=32236

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My assigned readings. B. FREE electronic copies of all other course readings from scholarly sources are available through the Library Reserve page by clicking on the link posted on the Lesson resources page and logging into the library using your Concordia netname. You can download the pdf files for personal printing. C. Video Lectures and Podcasts with religious studies scholars offer important context for examining the themes found in each lesson. The podcasts with Rabbi Howard Joseph were collected in the first iteration of the course and focus more on historical foundations and early encounters. The video lectures captured for the course update offer a more sociological perspective focused on diversity within traditions, religious identity construction, and discussions about religious encounters both INTRAfaith (within a tradition) and INTERfaith (amongst diverse traditions). There are also additional podcasts and lecture videos included in the ‘Learn More’ section of most lesson pages. These extra resources speak directly to concerns raised by students in previous courses including how to approach and analyze ideas presented in the course content. D. Web-based resources are listed on the ‘Lesson Resources’ page with links to access the online content. These resources often provide a practitioner perspective and are mostly popular culture sources. That is, they are not formally peer-reviewed so may present a particular bias. These sources are included to compare and contrast diverse approaches and perspectives that contribute to our understanding of a topic. E. Case Study section is included for each lesson. Here you can find the lesson case study focus theme with related video lectures, readings and web-based resources. You are required to complete one case study assignment: CASE STUDY: DUE by 6pm on Tuesday of Lesson 11 week (April 6, 2021) The case study assignment allows for a deeper critical engagement of various voices (sources) associated with an interreligious relation issue related to the main topic/theme of the lesson. Each lesson includes a specific case study option with related resources (video lecture, readings and webbased sources/voices). Review the Case Study sections for each lesson then select which topic you want to explore further. For more information about how to approach this assignment see the case study guidelines, grading matrix, graded sample and Case Study Assignment Video which are posted on the ‘Assessments’ page accessible through the top menu on the course website. F. Connect, Discuss and Graded Components section highlights the various outlets to engage in the conversation about course content through the live connect sessions and course discussion boards. Also highlighted are any graded components for the lesson or timeline in the course. G. The Learn More section included on each lesson page allows you to access additional information about any of the lesson topic/themes. Several lessons also include in this section podcasts and video lectures by experts highlighting strategies for critical reading of sources/voices within the tradition. The section may also video interviews with former TAs who highlight key elements or issues from the lesson content that previous students encountered. H. Additional Resources: If this is your first religious studies course or you are unfamiliar with elements of a particular tradition please visit the Religion Corner. Here you will find a basic overview of key elements, timeline, texts, symbols, and holidays for each of the five traditions examined in the course. Want more? Look to the extra links in the Learn More tab. The course also includes a Blog that offers a forum to discuss religion in the news items drawn from the RSS feed and beyond.

9. GRADED ASSIGNMENTS You can find detailed guidelines for each of the graded assignments on the ‘Assessments’ page accessible from the top menu in the course website. There you can see the breakdown of the grades, access the guidelines, grading matrix, samples and tips. Please review the discussion https://www.econcordia.com/my2/CourseAnnouncements/View.aspx?id=32236

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My There are also two quizzes to complete before the first connect session in the lesson 2 week. The first quiz is from Lesson 0 and is related to the course resources and expectations. The second quiz is a participation grade only and is focused on gauging your religious literacy. Results from this quiz will be discussed in the first connect session.

10. BONUS GRADES- Connect Sessions – up to 3% (see below for more details about the connect sessions) Bonus participation grades are possible for two of the four scheduled Connect sessions: Week of Lesson 2: 1%; Week of Lesson 11: 2%; Specific dates and times posted on the myAgenda page. Note participation in the Connect sessions are optional. We understand that not all students will be available to attend sessions set for a specific day/time. Those who attend the sessions need to demonstrate participation in activities to receive the bonus mark.

11. DISCUSSION BOARDS: A. GENERAL QUESTIONS The general question folders provide a forum for you to find answers to questions you may have about particular course elements. There are folders dedicated to questions about lesson content, Discussion Boards, Case Study, Citation Style, Grading, Connect Session, Technical Issues and Others. If you have a question, first check the related folder to see if a peer has already asked the question and if it has been answered. If not, post your question. In the first line of your post, please open by indicating the specific lesson for which you are asking the question. e.g.

Lesson 2 Content: My questions is…. Connect Session #2: Please confirm the login procedure…

B. WEEKLY DISCUSSIONS (GRADED – WORTH UP TO 63%) The weekly discussion boards are where you will upload your initial posts and peer responses each week. To participate, review the lesson resources and prepare your post. Note the DBs do not have an auto-save option so it is recommended that you prepare your post in a word document before uploading to the DBs. When your post is ready, open discussion board link from the course dashboard or within the course website, click on the weekly discussions option, select your group and open the lesson page. GRADING: Discussion Boards (DB) Lesson 0: Course Expectations (3% - initial post only - post by Friday of Lesson 2 week) Required DB Lesson 2 (10%) Open DB Participation (50%: best 5 DB grades x 10% - from Lessons 1, 3 to 10). For DBs B and C there is a two-part graded process: One Initial post 6% (uploaded before 1pm on Fridays) TWO response to peer posts (4%: 2x2%) (upload before 1pm on Mondays) See the ‘Assessments’ link within the course website to access the full assignment guidelines, grading matrix, critical reading tips, sample posts with graded comments and DB assignment video. https://www.econcordia.com/my2/CourseAnnouncements/View.aspx?id=32236

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My strongly encourage to explore any key theme or characteristic found within the lesson that was most interesting, confusing and/or challenging to you. Be sure to explain your position with references to specific lesson/course resources. While there is room for personal opinion, it needs to clearly relate to themes discussed in the lesson resources. Remember not to post any personal information, student ID or phone numbers on the Discussion Boards.

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