Let's Get Started!

Welcome to 240:245 - Applied Instructional Design Section 60 Spring 2011. For the first two weeks of class we will be working on the following:

1.     Since many of you are new to me please email me at klinkzei@uni.edu the following information:

a.      What do you teach?

b.     How long have you taught?

c.      Have you traveled outside of the United States? If so where?

d.      Besides the Flat Classroom Project Conference what do you want to do in Beijing? ie. Shop, people watch, museums, cultural events.

e.      Anything else about yourself that will help me to get to know you better.

2.     Watch the video in the tab above – Top 10 Beijing Attractions: pick one of the attractions (tell us which one in the comments area below) and find out more about it. Websites, pictures, where it is located, hours of operation and anything else you might feel that we will like to know about it. Then go to our wiki and fill in the chart.

3.     Read chapter 9 that I have sent you, more instructions to follow! We will have a page on the wiki to help us work with this chapter.

4.     One project we will be working on from now until Feb. 15^th is to add to this site, information about Beijing, China. Please select on of the following roles that you will research (tell me which one in the comments area below): Historian, Shopper, Clothes Shopper, Sightseer, Cultural Sponge, Restaurant Critic, Nightlife Expert, or Phrase Finder.  (Roles explained below) Make a list of these places along with any information you may find about where the place is located, the hours it is open, and the costs associated with the attraction/event/place. Did you consider a "plan B" in case of rain or snow? Find each place on a map of Beijing so you can consider the walking/driving distance from point-to-point. Make a blog for your role and send me the URL so we can link them to this site.

·       Historian

You are intrigued by the long and varied history of Beijing. You want to visit (research) all of the museums and landmarks that document the many events of Beijing and China’s history.

·       Shopper

Your motto is "Shop 'til you drop and then do the rest through email". You are especially excited about the exchange rate between the Chinese and the U.S. Dollar. This means that your money will purchase a great deal of Chinese goods. You want to see (research) the places where you can get the most for the least.

·       Clothes Shopper

You’ve heard that the place to buy and/or have clothes made is China. Is there a place nearby to get a suit made? Can Americans buy “off the rack” in Beijing? What about fabrics?

·       Sightseer  

While history is interesting, you really want to see (research) the places that are

the most photogenic.

·       Cultural Sponge

Pretty sites are nice, but you want to get the "feel" of the city. What is it that people are thinking? What is important to the people of Beijing? What sorts of cultural activities are important to the Chinese? You want to go to the opera, dance in a disco and traditional folk festival. Research all the cultural opportunities.

·       Restaurant Critic 

What do People in Beijing like to eat? Do you want to sit in cafes and

talk with people? Do you know the Chinese word for chopsticks? What hours

are meal times in China?

·       Nightlife Expert

What is there to do in Beijing after the sun goes down? Movies, Discos, plays??

·       Phrase Finder

What are common Chinese phrases that we need to know? ie. Thank you, please, where is the restroom?