James Love "Creation of a Thing"...Introduction to Sociology Textbook
Overview
OER Fundamentals are invited to remix this course planning template to design and share their OER project plans, course information and syllabus, and reflection.
Project Planning
My OER Goals & Purpose: I have discover a vast amount of resources that will most defeinetly aid in the creaton of OER resources. Additionally, I have founds a large community of colleagues and professionals that have rpovide numerous resources and ideas that have been very helpful. My primary goal is to create and use OER resoures that are high quality and lower cost barriers for students.
My Audience: Introduction to Sociology students. Learning needs include a desire to explore Social Justie topics, technological and internet interaction, interactive video and assignments, self reflection, valueing student perspective and experience, muliple types of assesments.
My Team: Sociology and Social Science Faculty. Instructional Designers
Existing Resources: Numerous resources exist for introduction to Sociology course and course supports. Material can be easily gathered from other OER sources.
New Resources: Outlines, assesments, videos, and interactive support.
Supports Needed: Aligned OER with selected pedogogical perspective. Research avaliable sources and existing research.
Our Timeline: Fall 2024
OER Item
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology 101
Course Description
An overview of sociology focusing on its main perspectives, theories, and research methods. Areas of emphasis include culture, socialization, social institutions, social in- teraction, groups and organizations, social class and social stratification, deviance and crime, race and ethnicity, and gender and sexuality.
Course Content Statement:
The field of Sociology presents theory and research regarding sensitive topics such as race, reli- gion, sexuality, and gender. The intent of this course is to provide a well-rounded foundation of knowledge regarding the sociological perspective on content areas that are at times considered controversial. It is the instructor’s job to present information and provide learning opportunities that highlight these issues and perspectives; however, there is no expectation that students agree with or adopt a particular viewpoint outside that which is necessary for critical analysis and demonstration of learning. It is the student’s responsibility to utilize sociological theory and re- search to complete course materials in order to better understand those viewpoints, regardless of personal philosophy or opinion. Debate and discussion are appropriate and important aspects of the learning process, but the instructor’s responsibility within that discourse is to approach such discussions from the perspective of the field. Students who agree to continue in the course should understand that not all ideas are comfortable, but learning has value aside from the confirmation of preexisting attitudes, values, and beliefs. This course uses Sociology as its primary academic and pedagogical approach and, at times, will present a critique of the social world. This critique is essential as it provides the tools to define, analyze, and respond to pressing social issues, facilitates scrutinization of familiar truths and es- tablished facts, and is explicitly based upon the values of freedom, equality, and justice. In addition, Sociology focuses on relations of domination, oppression, and exploitation because they so obviously violate personal freedom and social equality. Sociology may appear radical to some, but it essentially the pedagogical realization of societies goals to be more inclusive and forward thinking.
Course Outcomes:
1. Identify and describe major sociological concepts including but not limited to culture, so- cialization, social structure, and social stratification.
2. Describe the sociological imagination and its relevance to both individual circumstances and society at large.
3. Compare and contrast the fundamental sociological frameworks of functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
4. Describe the social construction of reality and how it affects social definitions such as race and gender.
5. Analyze the theory of intersectionality and apply it to social issues.
Videos: Crash Course Sociology
Topics:
The Sociological Perspective
Culture
Methods
Socialization
Social Structure and Interaction :
Deviance Class and Stratification
Race and Ethnicity
Gender
Sexuality
Families and Religion
Education and Health Care
Economy and Politics
Environment, Population, and Social Change
Reflection
This been an eye-opening course and has been very helpful in the creation and editing of existing resources. My initial intent in taking this course was to learn how to lower barriers surrounding pedological materials for students; however, I have leaned there OER can offer so many new and exciting ways to engage in scholarship.
Some of the reflections I have had during my time in this course are noted below:
- Cost savings from not requiring students to purchase traditional textbooks, which could increase access to course materials.
- Ability to customize, edit and adapt OER materials to better suit curriculum and teaching style.
- Student engagement with more interactive, up-to-date open resources.
- Collaboration with colleagues to share and build on each other's OER materials.
- Insights from student feedback on the effectiveness of OERs compared to traditional learning materials.
- Assessment of the impact on student learning outcomes using OERs compared to traditional textbooks.
- Reflection on how the flexibility of OERs allows more responsiveness to current issues and real-world examples.
- Consideration of how OERs allow great inclusion of diverse perspectives, voices and representations in course materials.
- Reflection on any challenges encountered in adopting, adapting or creating OERs and how those can be addressed.
The ability to customize, update, adapt and share OERs provides valuable benefits for educators and students. Reflecting on insights gained through integrating OER practices informs ongoing improvement and adoption efforts.