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HAVERGAL COLLEGE
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Uncalendar 2016–2017
GRADE 12
IDC4U
– Education for a Changing World, Grade 12, University Preparation
1 CREDIT
We often hear talk of the “fast pace of our changing world” but what does this mean? What types of
changes are occurring? What types of changes do we want? How do we effect change? How do we
react to change? At Havergal, we have taken as our motto the statement, “Preparing young women to
make a difference.” This motto of course implies change, and this interdisciplinary course, Education
Toward a Changing World, explores the concept of change in depth. As such, this course is linked to
the work of the Havergal Institute which is currently helping to guide our understanding of change
and action by posing the question, What kind of world do you want? The course is structured into four
integrated units: Philosophy of Education, Sustainability and the Environment, Identity and Diversity,
and Global Connections. Some questions and concepts that are explored in this course are: What
is education for? Can we learn goodness? What is the nature of sustainability? How do we envision
our environment? What happens when we encounter difference? How can we best live in a culturally
diverse world? How should we act? The course takes an interdisciplinary approach: that is, it draws
on multiple disciplines to explore the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of things,
people and ideas. At times, more than one teacher, representing diverse disciplines, team-teach in
the classroom together. Classes are conducted using a model whereby students and teachers engage
in discussions, or “learning conversations”, based on close, textual study of key readings or other
materials. Students are expected to prepare in advance for each class. In addition to classroom study,
students design and take part in action projects that range in scope from our own campus to regions
and groups well beyond. To this end, experiential components to this course are built in each year.
The course draws on multiple disciplines to explore the interconnectedness of things, people and ideas.
Prerequisite: Any University or University/College preparation course