“Cultural Literacy” Online Book Discussion Group
Registration for this course is open.
Course Description:
“Cultural Literacy,” by E.D. Hirsch, explores and reevaluates the concept of literacy, proposing that fragmented and diverse education deprives children of knowledge that enables them to function in society. This shared knowledge, or “cultural literacy,” as Hirsch calls it, allows for efficient, nuanced and rich communication between parties who share background knowledge. Hirsch also includes a glossary of over 5,000 terms that he believes to encompass American cultural literacy at a high school level for the time when the book was written. The Online Book Discussion Group will evaluate the merits and feasibility of cultural literacy in a collaborative and interactive discussion group, culminating in a final project contrasting the cultural literacy curriculum with other superficially similar universal curriculum programs, such as St. John’s College’s great books program.
NOTICE: If you are registering for graduate credit for an online course, this is a two-step process:
1. Register for the course using the online form. (Click on “Register” to get to the online form.)
2. Print out one of the forms (for Ashland University, Notre Dame College or The University of Akron) on this page, fill it out, and fax it to Laureen Ferry at (216) 916-6365. Note that graduate credit for our Online Book Discussion Groups is only available through Ashland University or The University of Akron (Notre Dame College does not provide graduate credit for our Online Book Discussion Groups.) Or you may send it via U.S. mail to:
Laureen Ferry
Idea Center®
1375 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Please DO NOT send the form or any payment directly to the university. We need to process all forms and payment at WVIZ/PBS first.
Graduate credit for PBS TeacherLine courses is $130 for a one-credit course, $260 for a two-credit course, or $390 for a three-credit course.
Graduate credit for Online Book Discussion Groups is $130 for a one-credit course through The University of Akron or $186 for a one-credit course through Ashland University.
All graduate credit is pass/fail. Transcripts are available from Ashland University approximately 4 weeks after the course ends. Transcripts are available from the University of Akron and Notre Dame College ONLY at the end of the semester (May, August, or December.) Upon completion of the course, please request a transcript directly from the university – links are provided on our graduate credit page.
Class Information
Dates: Wednesday, January 27 - Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Cost: $120
Location: Online
Course Type: Online
Course Subject: Interdisciplinary Teaching
Contact Hours: 15
Graduate Credit Available: 1
Credit Cost: $130 - $186
Grade Level: All (K-12)
Course Facilitators: Mike Kroner
