Syllabus ITC 5535 - Global Perspectives in Technology and Media

An Appalachian Overseas Education Program Course in Indonesia Summer 2014

This syllabus is a draft and could change in respect to content, dates, and assignments. Instructors

Dr. Paul Wallace Dr. Linda Veltze

Course Website http://indonesiastudy.org

Course Description Students in this faculty-led Appalachian Overseas Education Program will travel to the islands of Java and Bali in Indonesia, to study the current state of technology and media in Indonesian schools and libraries, and collaborate with Indonesia partners in an international service-learning experience. As the only Indonesian study abroad program of its kind in the country, this course offers library and educational professionals a rare and unique insight into the vast ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity that exists across the Indonesian archipelago. We work closely with Indonesian colleagues to compare how these issues impact social and educational systems in our two countries.

Contact Hours Pre-Trip: 10 hrs (1 session x 4 hrs; 3 online sessions x 2 hrs each) Trip: 42 hrs (July 10 – 22, 2014) Post-Trip: 03 hrs (1 online session x 3 hrs) Total: 55 hours

Goals and Objectives

The goals of this course are for students to:

• Evaluate and compare educational and library practices and procedures in the U.S. and Indonesia.

• Collaborate with Indonesian colleagues to compare issues related to ethnic, class, gender, and religious diversity in the U.S. and Indonesia, and the impact on power, equity, and self-determination within social and educational systems.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a project related to one’s specialty within one of our partner schools or libraries in Yogyakarta.

 

 

• Engage in service-learning by leading a workshop related to one’s specialty at an educational event in Yogyakarta, open to K-12 teachers, teacher education students, and librarians from both urban and rural regions on the island of Java.

• Read, discuss and reflect upon issues in Indonesia that impact libraries and educational institutions; including history, culture, geography, politics, and the environment.

• Study the Indonesian language, to master simple greetings, daily expressions, and vocabulary relevant to educational and library professionals.

• Participate in cultural activities, classes, and tours, to understand how the arts, traditions, and belief systems of Bali and Java influence Indonesian culture and community.

The Global Learning Outcomes of this course are:

A. Knowledge a. Knowledge of world geography, conditions, issues, and events — Students

will gain insight into the political, strategic, and economic importance of Indonesia in the 21st century. With the fourth largest population in the world, and located at a strategic point between Southeast Asia and Australia, Indonesia is developing to be a key player in our nation’s “pivot to Asia”, and a rising global economic powerhouse. Already the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is poised to become the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2030, overtaking developed economies like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Students will read and discuss issues related to social, economic, and educational issues that are impacted by the development of Indonesia's expanding political and economic power in this century.

b. Knowledge of effective communication — Students will study the Indonesian language, known as Bahasa Indonesia, both before and during the course experiences abroad. In particular, vocabulary and phrases related to libraries and educational institutions will be the focus of the foreign language study, to help prepare students for their partner experiences. From both the readings and the pre-trip orientation session, students will be provided an opportunity to learn about cross-cultural communication, with particular emphasis on differences between US and Indonesian communication styles.

c. Understanding of the diversity found in the world — This program offers a rare and unique insight into the vast ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity that exists across Indonesia. Students will study about the culture and history of this highly diverse country, comprised of hundreds of ethnic groups, languages, and local dialects. In addition, students will study and experience the diversity of religious traditions and beliefs, through participation in a field trip to investigate the many diverse groups and beliefs that coexist in Yogyakarta, as well as a unique look into the influence of religion in education, through a visit to an Islamic boarding school.

 

 

B. Attitude a. Tolerance for ambiguity and unfamiliarity — Through an immersive

experience in the Indonesian culture — including homestay activities, language training, and placements with Indonesian peers — students in this study abroad program will develop a tolerance for ambiguity and unfamiliarity. The safe and supportive classroom environment provided by this course will provide students with a way to discuss and reflect on new experiences, including new sites, sounds, tastes, and customs.

b. Sensitivity and respect for personal and cultural differences — Through a partnership with Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta, students will be provided cultural learning activities in order to better understand the culture, arts, and traditions of Indonesia. In addition, working alongside peers in our partner schools and libraries, students in this course will have a unique vantage point from which to observe the daily lives of Indonesians.

C. Skills a. Technical skills to enhance the ability to learn about the world — Students

will use a variety of technical skills and technologies to enhance their ability to learn about the world, including research skills to locate factual data about Indonesia, its culture, traditions, and its people; video and photography skills to document the sights, sounds, and experiences while in Indonesia; and online media skills to publish their project activities, cultural experiences, and reflections on the study abroad program through blogs and social media networks.

b. Communication skills — A requirement of this course is to study and master some basic elements of the Indonesian language, known as “Bahasa Indonesia” — particularly words that students will use in implementing projects in their partner libraries and schools. It is expected that students will be able to master simple greetings, daily expressions, and vocabulary relevant to professionals in these fields, and be able to engage in short daily conversations by the end of this study abroad course.

Required Readings

Textbook: Forshee, J. (2006). Culture and customs of Indonesia. Westport: Greenwood. Selections from the following (on electronic reserve): Eiseman, F. (2009). Bali: Sekala & niskala. North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle Publishing. Pringle, R. (2010). Understanding Islam in Indonesia: Politics and diversity. Honolulu:

University of Hawaii Press. Taylor, J. (2004). Indonesia: Peoples and histories. New Haven: Yale University Press.

 

 

Vickers, A. (2005). A history of modern Indonesia. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Description of Educational Activities

As the only Indonesia study abroad program of its kind, focusing on library and educational professionals in the U.S., this program offers a rare and unique insight into the vast ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity that exists across the Indonesian archipelago. We work closely with Indonesian colleagues to compare how these issues impact social and educational systems in our two countries. The educational activities, therefore, are designed to provide opportunities for students in this course to develop an understanding of the country; its culture, language, history, and traditions; libraries and educational institutions in Indonesia; and to develop skills needed to successfully collaborate with Indonesian peers.

Pre-trip Orientation and Activities This course will meet for three sessions prior to our trip to Indonesia.

• The first session (4 hrs) will be a face-to-face meeting, which will introduce students to Indonesian culture, history, traditions, and general social systems. The session will also provide information about the trip itself, including passport, visa, and health issues.

• There will be two online sessions (3 hrs each), prior to our departure for Indonesia. These sessions will focus more intensely on culture and language, as well as development of a project for implementation in one of our partner schools or libraries in Yogyakarta.

Readings and Reflections Blog Each participant in this course will be provided an online blog space in order to reflect upon the readings, as well as information regarding customs and cross-cultural communications, prior to departure. In addition, each participant will continue this blog throughout the trip, culminating with a final reflection after the conclusion of the overseas activities. Information regarding setup and use of this blog will be provided students prior to/at the orientation session. The blog will be a fundamental requirement of this course, containing all reflections on readings and discussions; activities related to project development implementation and evaluation; reflections on cultural activities, including photographs, videos, and other media; and the general comparison of issues related to education and library studies in the United States and Indonesia. Partner Projects In our two partner libraries and schools in Yogyakarta, one elementary and one middle school, students in this overseas study abroad course will work with a peer teacher, the school’s technology specialist or media and library specialist, or community librarian.

 

 

Students will be paired with their partner several weeks before the trip, in order to allow communication between both parties, in order to begin developing a project plan that can be implemented in the school during the in-country component of this course. Examples of projects might include the development of an information literacy model, which could be adopted by elementary students in SD Budi Mulia Dua School, and utilized whenever students there are working on a project that requires online research. In this example, the student in this course would go through several phases in developing this project, for instance designing the initial model in English, working with the Indonesian language instructors at our partner university in translating it to Indonesian language, implementing it in the classroom together with their peer teacher, and evaluating the students’ understanding and use of this model. Another example could be the development of a multicultural literacy project, involving the classrooms for both the student in this course and their partner classroom in Yogyakarta. Service-Learning Workshops Students in this course will work in small groups to develop and implement technology and media workshops, to be offered to library and educational professionals. In this service learning experience, teachers and librarians from many different types of schools and libraries in and around Yogyakarta, including rural and impoverished regions, can discover and learn about new uses for technology and media. Students in this course will reflect on their development, implementation, and assessment of the workshops in their course blogs. Education in Indonesia School Visits In addition to our partner institutions, students in this course will visit additional educational institutions and libraries within Indonesia, in order to gain a better understanding of the social and educational system in this country. Possible school visits could include an Islamic boarding school in Yogyakarta, and the Green School campus on the island of Bali – a world-famous K-12 school known for its natural, holistic, student-centered learning environment. Students in this course will use their blog to reflect upon the differences in pedagogy, and the primary focus of education in these institutions. Indonesian Language for Professionals While English is spoken widely in the tourist areas of Indonesia, a requirement of this course is to study and master some basic elements of the Indonesian language, known as “Bahasa Indonesia” — particularly words used for daily greetings, politeness, and working together in the partner schools and libraries. This element of the course is known as “Indonesian for Professionals”. Students will be introduced to the language through online learning materials and the orientation prior to departure. In addition, there will be three “Indonesian for Professionals” classes held during the first week at our partner university, to prepare for partner collaboration and school and library visits, and to practice language skills in context.

 

 

Bahasa Indonesia is quite easy to learn. It is simple in its structure and grammar; therefore, learning the basics will come quite easily. Students in this course will not be expected to be fluent, and may only be able to have simple short conversations by the end of the study abroad. However, learning some basic elements of the language will help immensely in our collaboration with teachers, staff, and students at partner institutions in Yogyakarta.

Description of Other Culturally Oriented Activities

In addition to the educational activities, students in this study abroad program will have many opportunities to experience firsthand the unique culture arts and traditions of this unique country. The Indonesian archipelago is comprised of 17,000 islands extending over 3,000 miles from east to west, and harbors a rich cultural heritage and a fascinating postcolonial history. Ethnically the country is highly diverse, with hundreds of ethnic groups, languages, and local dialects. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, yet maintains a tradition of religious freedom that is upheld in its constitution and reflected in the national motto: “Unity in Diversity”.

The principal study abroad site for this trip is Yogyakarta, regarded as the educational capital of Java – the most populous island in Indonesia, and center of the country’s political, economic, and cultural life. To help us more fully understand and appreciate the arts and culture of Indonesia and the city of Yogyakarta, we participate in several cultural activities and field trips, such as sampling the local cuisine, learning about batik textiles and visual art forms, as well as experiencing traditional music, dance, and storytelling.

We will visit many of the famous landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in and around Yogyakarta, such as the Sultan’s Palace, the Prambanan Hindu temple complex, and the spectacular Borobudur temple — one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world. Here we also have the opportunity to investigate the many diverse groups and beliefs that coexist in this ancient capital city.

Some of the activities planned for Yogyakarta and Central Java include:

• Tour of the Yogyakarta Palace, known as the “Kraton”, and home to the monarchy

(sultan) and a museum of Javanese Culture

• Experience traditional music (e.g., gamelan), dance, storytelling, and/or a Javanese puppet performance.

• Tour of the Taman Sari Water Castle, site of the royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta.

• Neighborhood tour of Kotagede, to observe traditional Javanese life, including a visit to the local market and a comparison of traditional and colonial architecture.

• Tour the Prambanan Temple compounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia.

• A dinner party to sample the rich variety of Javanese cuisine.

 

 

• A tour and a hands-on class to learn the processes of making batik – a traditional art form that uses wax and dye for decorating fabric. Yogyakarta is widely known as a center for the finest Batik textiles in Indonesia.

• A shopping tour of Yogyakarta, including the Jalan Malioboro street markets, and Mirota Batik, a famous shop in Yogyakarta for purchasing batik and other Javanese handicrafts.

• A unique tour of religions and beliefs of Indonesia, taking in sacred sites of the officially acknowledged religions: Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism – as well as the unofficial, but nevertheless very much alive, traditional beliefs of Java.

• A cooking class with a local chef, to learn how to create a delicious Indonesian meal, incorporating traditional spices and herbs, tropical vegetables, fruits, rice, and side dishes.

• Tour Borobudur, a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple and one of the most outstanding Buddhist temples in the world.

In addition to Java, we visit the picturesque island of Bali, exploring its unique Hindu culture, exotic landmarks, temples, World Heritage Sites, and natural splendor. Some of the activities planned for this trip on the island of Bali include:

• Tour the stunning Tanah Lot Temple, built on the rocks at the edge of the Indian

Ocean.

• View the Subak terraced rice fields of the island, a recently designated UNESCO World Heritage area, like those showcased in the movie, “Eat Pray Love”.

• Tour of a coffee and spice-growing plantation, and view the process of creating “Kopi Luwak“ – the most expensive coffee in the world.

• Tour the Royal Water temple of Pura Taman Ayun, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Mother Temple (Paibon) to the Mengwi Kingdom.

• Visit the town of Ubud, long known as the arts and cultural center of Bali. Explore the streets filled with boutiques specializing in Indonesian art, jewelry, carvings, furnishings, pottery, clothing, and more.

Course Evaluation Methods and Assessment of Learning Outcomes Grades will be assigned as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory and will be based on the successful completion of this program. Successful completion is defined as:

• Attending and participating in all pre-trip sessions.

• Participation in the pre-trip readings and discussions.

• Students will apply new knowledge, skills, and attitudes/dispositions to the creating of a project in their field of study to be carried out in one of our partner schools and/or libraries in Yogyakarta.

 

 

• Development and implementation of a service-learning project for teachers and librarians from Java.

• Travel to Indonesia with the class and participating in each of the scheduled educational and cultural activities.

• Continuous participation on a course blog, through which students will reflect on the overall experience.

• Attending and participating in all daily class meetings during the in-country experience, for the purposes of debriefing and reflection on the day’s event and experiences, and planning project and workshop activities.

• Study and mastery of basic elements of the Indonesian language both before the trip and in scheduled classes at our partner institution in Yogyakarta, Sanata Dharma University.

• Completion of a course evaluation provided in the form of a survey to assess students’ perceptions of the experience. Questions will be developed to address students’ transformation in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Description of Outside Work Required for the Class

Pre-departure (90 hrs)

• Readings from the textbook and supplementary texts (15 chapters x 2 hr/each = 30 hrs)

• Reflections on course blog of readings and activities (one entry/week @ 2 hrs x 8 weeks = 16 hrs)

• Language study of Bahasa Indonesia basics (10 lessons @ 2 hr/each = 20 hrs)

• Development of partner project and workshop activities (3 hr/wk x 8 weeks = 24 hrs)

During the program (12 hrs)

• Daily blog reflections on course activities, projects, cultural activities and tours (1 hr x 12 days = 12 hrs)

Post-program (4 hrs)

• Final reflections on blog of course activities, projects, and cultural activities (one entry/week @ 2 hrs x 2 weeks = 4 hrs)

Total outside work required for the class: 106 hours

 

 

Program Schedule and Activities

2014 Date Activity Description Contact Hrs.

Prep Hrs.

Pre-Departure Activities and Meetings

Apr-12

Saturday

Orientation Meeting

Information session on travel details and requirements, overview of culture and history of Indonesia, discussion of projects and expectations, blog setup and use.

4 30

May-7

Wednesday

Pre-Departure Meeting 2

(online)

Discuss readings on social and educational systems of Indonesia.

2 30

Jun-4

Wednesday

Pre-Departure Meeting 3

(online)

Discuss readings on diversity, Bahasa Indonesia language basics.

2 30

Jun-25

Wednesday

Pre-Departure Meeting 4

(online)

Present project and workshop plans, provide peer feedback, Bahasa Indonesia language review.

2 30

10 90

Overseas Program Activities and Meetings

Jul-10

Thursday

Depart from Charlotte

Depart from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on our travel to Jakarta (JKT), Indonesia; spend most of this day flying and making connecting flights.

Jul-11

Friday

Flying We fly across the Pacific Ocean and cross the International Date Line, with a connection in Asia to the flight into Jakarta.

Jul-12

Saturday

Arrive in Indonesia

We arrive in Indonesia, and make a connecting flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta (JOG); in the late afternoon, we check-in to accommodations.

1

Jul-13

Sunday

Yogyakarta Culture, Arts, and History Tour

A day of visiting cultural landmarks in and around Yogyakarta, and experiencing Javanese art forms; we tour the Kraton Palace, take in a music and/or dance performance, tour the historic Kotagede neighborhood, visit the Prambanan Hindu Temple, and enjoy a traditional dinner party to sample the local cuisine.

1

Jul-14

Monday

Meet Partner Schools, Libraries, and University in Yogyakarta

In the morning we visit each of our partner schools and libraries in Yogyakarta, to meet administrators, peer teachers, and students. After lunch is the first “Indonesian for Professionals” class at Sanata Dharma University, followed by a panel discussion on education in Indonesia. The afternoon finishes with our daily class meeting, to reflect on the day’s activities.

8 1

Jul-15

Tuesday

School Partnership Day 1

In the morning, students will work in their partner school/library with peer teacher, librarian or specialist, to develop project plans. After lunch is our daily class meeting, followed by the second “Indonesian for Professionals” class.

6.5 1

 

 

In the afternoon we have a tour, information session, and hands-on activity working with batik textiles.

Jul-16

Wednesday

School Partnership Day 2

In the morning, students will work in their partner school/library to further develop, or implement, their peer projects. After lunch is the daily class meeting, followed by the final “Indonesian for Professionals” class. In the afternoon we visit Jalan Malioboro, a famous market street in Yogyakarta, to experience daily Javanese life.

6.5 1

Jul-17

Thursday

School Partnership Day 3

In the morning, students will complete their projects in their partner school/library. After lunch is our daily class meeting, followed by a tour of religious sites around Yogyakarta, representing Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism – to see first-hand the rich diversity of religions, beliefs, ethnic groups, and cultures that exist in Indonesia.

5 1

Jul-18

Friday

Education in Indonesia - School Visit

This morning, we visit an Islamic boarding school, to experience a unique style of school environment that exists in Indonesia. After lunch is the daily class meeting, followed by a cooking course with a local chef, to learn how to prepare a traditional Javanese meal.

5 1

Jul-19

Saturday

Workshops for Educators from Central Java

This morning we implement the service-learning project, facilitating workshops on educational technology and media for library and educational professionals from the Central Java region. After lunch is the daily class meeting, to reflect on the workshop activities, followed by free time in the late afternoon.

5.5 1

Jul-20

Sunday

Tour of Borobudur Temple

This morning we tour Borobudur, a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist Temple complex located outside of Yogyakarta. Borobudur is one of the most outstanding Buddhist temples in South-East Asia, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch is our daily class meeting. We will then catch a flight to Bali (airport code: DPS) in the late afternoon, arriving to check-in to our hotel there in the early evening.

2 1

Jul-21

Monday

Bali History, Agriculture, and Education Tour

Today is a full day tour of Bali, visiting famous landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Tanah Lot Temple, the Subak terraced rice fields of the island's interior, the Royal Water temple of Pura Taman Ayun, and the town of Ubud, long known as the arts and cultural center of Bali. In addition, we visit a coffee and spice-growing plantation, and continue our exploration of education in Indonesia with a guided tour of the Green School campus – a world-famous K-12 school known for its natural, holistic, student-centered learning environment.

2 1

Jul-22

Tuesday

Depart Indonesia

The morning is free time to engage in an optional tour, or to finish some last-minute shopping. We then meet as a class in the early afternoon, to share and reflect on our experiences on the island of Bali. In the late afternoon, we fly to Jakarta (JKT), and depart Indonesia in the late evening.

1.5 1

Jul-23

Wednesday

Arrive in Charlotte

Today is spent flying across the Pacific Ocean, on our way back to the United States. We should arrive back in Charlotte (CLT) in the afternoon or evening.

1

 

 

42 12

Post-Program Activities and Meetings

Jul-30

Wednesday

Post-Program Meeting

(online)

Post-program meeting for a final reflection on the course and activities.

3 4

3 4

Total Hours: 55 106

Student Conduct Code Overseas Please refer to the entire section 8 of the Participant Agreement included in the student application packet for information related to standards of conduct while traveling with the program, including sub-section 8.(e). stating: “If I am excluded from the program, I consent to being sent home at my own expense with no refund of tuition, fees or expenses […]. If I am excluded from the program, I understand that I may receive failing grades for the study abroad credit.” and section 8. (f). stating “I also recognize that if my behavior is determined to be detrimental to or incompatible with the interest, harmony and welfare of the University, or program or program students, my acceptance of responsibility, my waiver of process and my consent of being sent home also apply if I engage in such detrimental or incompatible behavior.”