BCSC 262: Syllabus
Spring 2018
Monday and Wednesday 9-10:15
Meliora 205
Personnel
Instructor: Greg Carlson
Email:
Instructor: Michael Tanenhaus
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Course Description and Goals
This course has three goals. The first goal is to explore the brain and cognitive processes that underlie reading, learning to read, and developmental and acquired dyslexia. Along the way we will explore some basic issues in (a) writing systems and how they map onto spoken language; (b) speech perception and spoken language comprehension; and (c) properties of the visual system that place constraints on reading. The second goal is to use the science of reading as a case study in the complexities of using cognitive science to inform educational practice. Reading is an excellent case study because pedagogy and research into reading have a long and complex history. The third goal is to use the Seidenberg book as an example of popular science writing, how it relates to the primary literature, and how to approach popular science as a sophisticated consumer.
Primary Text
Seidenberg, M. (2017). Language at the speed of sight: How we read, why so many can’t, and what can be done about it. Basic Books: NY, NY.
Expectations and Grading
For this class to be successful, students must be active participants. For most classes we will ask you to distribute two discussion questions the day before class. We also expect you to email us if you cannot attend a class. There will also be an occasional assignment. Participation will account for 25% of your grade.
Each student will participate in leading a discussion (perhaps with one or two other students) of a popular science article about reading and the science it is based on. We’ll guide you in how to choose articles, and a script for structuring a PPT presentation and leading the discussion in class. This will account for 25% of your grade.
There will be one take-home essay exam after we complete the first two sections of the Seidenberg book. This will account for 25% of your grade.
There will be one 5 to 10 page paper that will address an issue in reading, which will require reading several primary source articles about issues that are controversial within the field. This will account for 25% of your grade.
The first class will introduce who we are, why we are teaching this class, and some background about, Mark Seidenberg, the author of the book we are using, and the structure of the book.
Next week we will begin discussion of PART 1, which includes Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Please read at least Chapter 1 for class next Monday (1/22) Chapter 2 for Wednesday (1/24) and Chapter 3 for Monday (1/29). Discussion of Chapters 2 and 3 might take more than one class, depending upon how much background we need to provide. We will then assign a recent popular science article on dyslexia and the primary source article it is based on, and critique both articles. We will use this exercise to introduce the kinds of questions one needs to ask to be a sophisticated consumer.
The majority of classes will focus on the six chapters in PART 2. We will provide a more detailed schedule for this section of the course later this month. We will also discuss the dates for the exam.