"The unexamined life is not worth living."

Socrates

 

Dear Humanities 127-0C1 Student,

Welcome to Oakton’s Teleweb Introduction to Philosophy class. In this class we will examine fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, personal morality, and social justice. We will critically examine both our own ideas and the ideas of famous philosophers on these subjects. To learn philosophy is not simply to memorize the views of different philosophers; to learn philosophy is to engage in the activity of the critical examination of different philosophical views and of your own most deeply held convictions.

This process of critical examination requires the active participation of all students. Although you will not be present in a classroom, you will need to actively participate online several times every week of the semester. This will guarantee that you will learn the course content and that our class as a whole can have a meaningful and even enjoyable experience.

Humanities 127-0C1 will be conducted through WebCT. In order to learn about WebCT, you may log into the Student Guide that is available online: http://www.oakton.edu/online/4_0webctguide/index4_0htm

In order to access this online class, you will need your student login ID and a password. You may already have been using this login and password to use Oakton computers and email. Your login ID consists of your first initial, up to the first seven letters of your last name, and the last four digits of you Oakstar ID. For example, a student named George Washing with Oakstar ID "B1234567" would have the login ID gwashing4567. (Your Oakstar ID can be found on your tuition bill and can also be found online at http://www.oakton.edu/resource/it/idlookup/html.) Your initial password is your six digit birth date. For example, a student born on January 1, 1983 would have the initial password 010183.

You will begin by going to the WebCT login page that is found at http://online.oakton.edu:8900.

After you type in your login and password, you will select HUM 127 for fall semester. This will lead you to the home page for our class. On the homepage, click on the "Course Schedule" in order to see what the exact activities for every week are. I have scheduled the precise activities and discussion questions for the first few weeks. However, the pace at which we move and the precise questions that we emphasize later can be determined by the interests of the class members so I will develop discussion questions as we proceed. Every week you should also click on "Announcements" for general information relevant to the class and to find out about extra credit opportunities that may occur.

Here is a summary of the kind of activities that will occur each week:

1. Students will view one or two of the tapes from the video series called The Examined Life. I like this series because it features many contemporary philosophers explaining and debating philosophical questions. It also does a good job of showing why these questions matter. We will not be viewing all the tapes in this series, and we may view some tapes out of order. Information about obtaining these tapes has been enclosed.

2. Students will do some reading. In most cases, students will be asked to read a selection from Does the Center Hold? by Donald Palmer and some original sources that can be found online. The text can be obtained at either the Des Plaines or the Skokie campus.

3. After students have done their viewing and reading, they will take an online quiz on the material. These quizzes will be very easy for anyone who has viewed the tape and read the selection. To find the weekly quiz, click on "Quizzes."

4. Students will post a comment in response to a question I have posed and at least two comments that respond to other posts. To post comments, click on "Discussion Forum."

5. Students will also write their responses to the videos, readings, and discussions in a philosophical journal. Let me emphasize that this journal does not require research. Rather, it requires that students evaluate the views of others and that students present and evaluate their own views. This journal must be 15 typewritten pages. The comments that you post may be included as part of this journal. I will ask to see your progress on the journal twice during the semester.

6. Students will take a mid-term examination and a final examination in the Oakton’s Testing Center. These exams will have both an objective and an essay component. Detailed study guides will be attached to the course schedule at least one week before the exams.

7. You should look at the course syllabus so that you know the exact weight that will be given to each of the required activities. To do this, click on "Syllabus." The syllabus also provides you with other important information such as the academic integrity policy.

There are many resources available to you on the website for the class. I have put together a list of relevant philosophy links that you can access by clicking on "Philosophy Resources." When it is appropriate, I will supply extra notes that I have written. You can access these notes by clicking on "Notes from Instructor." Your grades will be available online in a way that only you can view by clicking on "Student Progress." You may also want to view my web page for all of my classes ("Instructor’s Home Page"), and the web page for the Philosophy and Humanities Department ("Department Home Page").

Success in an online class requires that you communicate with me whenever you have questions. If you have philosophical questions, you should post them on the Discussion Forum, and I will answer them there. If you need to speak with me privately about problems or concerns, you can email me (hgraff@oakton.edu), you can call me (847-376-7033), or you can visit me (3614 at the Des Plaines campus).

I am sure that right now all of you have questions about the mechanics of the class. The best way to get answers to these questions is to attend the Orientation Session that will be held on the evening of August 27 at 7:00 – 7:50 P.M. at the Des Plaines Campus, in 1833. Although Orientation will be on the 27th, please remember that the class begins on the 25th. If you have explored the online class before the orientation session, I am sure that you will find the session even more valuable.

Your very first activity in this class will be posting your introduction on the "Discussion Forum." I look forward to reading all the introductions.

I hope that I will meet many of you on the night of orientation, and I look forward to working with all of you.

 

Sincerely,

Holly Graff,

Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy and Humanities Department