Module 1: Introduction
Building Our Community

Objectives:

• Practice navigating the course Website;
• Think about and define respect;
• Establish Ground Rules for our discussions;
• Complete required readings;
• Begin your Reflective Journal.

"The deepest craving of human nature is the need to feel appreciated." ~ William James

Introduction:

To build a multicultural community we have to establish trust. Our task at the beginning of this course will be to bridge cyberspace and get to know each other. As we develop a sense of trust, we will be able to share ideas, perspectives, and practical classroom methods.

First, there must be trust. So, let us begin by sharing a bit about ourselves. Online we are our words. What we say and how we say it form the basis for our relationships. There is an advantage here over a face-to-face encounter. We can think about what we will say, write our thoughts, and rethink things one last time before we click the 'send button'. If you ever thought of the perfect thing to say in a classroom discussion, as you drove home from the class, you should find email based discussion liberating.

Here's What You Do:

• Read and complete the Activities for the Week
• Use the SiteMap to navigate and explore the class
• When you finish all of the activities, use the Evaluation Checklist to review and report your work for the week.
• Relax, learn, and enjoy

Respect Icebreaker: Let's break the ice… with an e-mail letter designed to gradually reveal to the group who and where we are. Let us start by writing about Respect.

• What does respect mean to you?
• What does it mean to show respect for someone?
• What does it mean to be shown respect by someone else?

In your first letter to the group, relate an experience you had where you showed respect to another. (Co-worker, student, spouse, friend, you decide.) Also, describe an important moment in your life when respect was shown to you. (This assignment is further explained in Activity 2)

I will be writing you soon to share my view of respect. I look forward to hearing from you and learning with you.

Dennis O'Connor
Feel free to write me privately at: mc@wiredinstructor.net