Scholar Weekends at Duke
Dates and Course Descriptions
Spring 2008
March 1-2, 2008
Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Ethics (9th-11th Grades Only)
This challenging course will provide students an opportunity to learn the language of anatomy and explore the physiology of major human organ systems through a variety of pedagogical techniques. During this two-day discovery, students will examine cells, tissues and models of organs; observe and interpret clinical data; and delve into the principles of medical ethics with a discussion of topics such as stem cell research, genetic discrimination and euthanasia. Conjointly, students will review select books, film and documentary clips addressing key clinician and patient issues in an effort to understand medicine as an art form as well as a science.
Social Ethics and Modern Art
Does art reflect societal ethics? Should governments fund art and does such funding restrict artistic expression? We will examine the relationship between the ethics of a society and its art, identifying compelling social issues and examining competing value systems that fuel debate and controversy. After a brief pictorial survey of 1000 years of art history, students will be challenged to construct meaning from an array of contemporary art, using both cultural context and information about the artist. We will also visit Duke University’s new Nasher Museum to further our understanding. The course will challenge those who love debate, who are keenly interested in questions of morality, and who wish to challenge both the meaning and the funding of modern art.
Criminal Trial Advocacy
Students in this course will have the opportunity to prosecute or defend a criminal case from start to finish. After learning the applicable substantive law of the crime itself and some basic procedural rules, students will analyze and evaluate physical evidence. They will then learn how to examine and cross-examine eyewitnesses, forensic experts and police officers, as well as how to admit evidence at trial. Each student will work to perfect the art of storytelling before a jury in making opening statements and closing arguments.
Fairy Tales
Students in this course will explore the construction, meaning, and purpose of several of literature’s most captivating fairy tales. We will first delve into technical literary terms to gain an understanding of what elements form the basis of such enduring tales. We will then examine different versions of Cinderella (pre-Grimm, Grimm, Disney, and the cinematic version Ever After); discuss the role of the male hero in stories such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood; investigate 1980's and 1990's "girl power" movies such as The Little Mermaid; and finally move on to how these stories have been rewritten from the villain's point of view. In a culminating project, students will have the opportunity to create their own fairy tales.
Psychology
Beginning with brief historical, literary, and religious conceptualizations of the mind and behavior, this class will focus primarily on the quickly maturing science of human behavior as it has progressed in the last 100 years. Landmark studies such as the Milgram obedience experiments and the Stanford prison experiment will be reviewed. We will discuss how discoveries from developmental, social, and experimental science inform the treatment of emotional and behavioral difficulties in clinical psychology. Why do I think what I think? Why do I sometimes do things I don’t want to do? How am I able to overcome obstacles I previously believed were impossible to overcome? These and other questions will be explored through discussion and presentations on student created research designs.
The Neurobiology of the Senses
The neural processes underlying our ability to sense various stimuli in our environment have been widely studied. The Nobel Prize was recently awarded for elucidating the mechanisms of olfaction, or the ability to smell. In this course students will explore the cellular mechanisms of neurons, neural circuitry and basic neuroanatomy in a variety of species, including using their own senses to test basic principles. Students will critically examine the latest research and divide into groups to think through their own models for these complex systems based on their new knowledge of neuronal function. Coursework will include dissection, activities, research and presentation.
April 5-6, 2008
Criminal Trial Advocacy
Students in this course will have the opportunity to prosecute or defend a criminal case from start to finish. After learning the applicable substantive law of the crime itself and some basic procedural rules, students will analyze and evaluate physical evidence. They will then learn how to examine and cross-examine eyewitnesses, forensic experts and police officers, as well as how to admit evidence at trial. Each student will work to perfect the art of storytelling before a jury in making opening statements and closing arguments.
Hematology (9th-11th Grades Only)
Hematology is the study of the blood. Blood tests are often the preliminary step in medical diagnosis. The blood is the system into which the cells of the body empty wastes, nutrients and gases, and release products such as hormones. Therefore, the analysis of blood can reveal a great deal about what is happening in a patient’s body. In this course, we will look at how disease and injury can affect blood, and how various tests can provide a profile of overall body function. Class work will include lecture, independent research, videos and microscope work and labs.
Science Fiction: An Alternate Reality
The major theme of this course might best be expressed by putting a question mark at the end of this course’s title. How does science fiction, through the creation of an alternate reality, provide a lens through which we can examine and question our own reality? During the weekend, we will look at science fiction from an historical and critical perspective, reading short stories, analyzing popular films, and proposing our own fictional worlds in order to formulate some of the key questions behind works of science fiction: How does technology define the human? In what ways can we define the genre? How does what we call “science fiction” interact with other genres of literature?
Rhetoric and Reason: The Art of Argument
Arguments are everywhere. Whether you’re reading an academic paper or a newspaper editorial, watching television or engaging in friendly conversation, you’re creating or reacting to persuasion. But what makes an argument valid or invalid? Drawing upon the principles of logic, students will analyze the rhetorical strategies of both literary texts and visual arts in an effort to discern rhetorical goals and effects. We will investigate the argumentation found in ancient philosophical texts—such as the Platonic dialogues—and the persuasive rhetoric used in contemporary cultural texts—such as “The Daily Show.” Students will have a chance to hone their own critical reasoning skills in lively classroom debate.
Robotics (8th Grade Only)
Have you ever watched a science fiction movie and asked yourself “could robots actually do that?” The real-world answer may surprise you! Robots are becoming more and more sophisticated every day. After a guided introduction to the world of programming and logic, students will gain hands-on experience with specialized Lego Mindstorms NXT robotics kits. We will investigate the capabilities—and limitations—of the robots as we tackle engineering challenges. In conjunction with construction projects, students will also learn how to use the NXT programming software to create detailed instructions for each robot’s various sensors.
Java for Video Games (8th Grade Only)
Discover how mathematics and problem solving skills can help you design and write your own games! In this course we will explore programming basics in the Java programming language, modify several video games, and consider topics such as graphics, networking, dimensional simulation, and projectile motion. Students will take home a CD containing their work from the course.