Organizing+Genius

Classes are groups and they range from the teacher-centered class where students ask an occasional question and the professor actively “professes” to those where students do more of the talking. This class is a seminar, so we’ll mix up the process and dynamics, with short presentations, student-led discussions, and an occasional break-out session.

For this assignment, pairs of students will facilitate each session to help the other class members better understand the topic under examination in that particular session. The topics will be: Clinton Campaign Crews Disney Studios Manhattan Project PARC (and Apple) Skunk Works Sports Teams ||
 * > Black Mountain College

To facilitate the class session, you must be //familiar// with the assigned material. Familiar does not mean you know ever nook and cranny of the concept or the reading. You have studied it—as have the other students in the class—and so all you must do target key ideas, explore ambiguities, and draw our attention to key points.

To get started, work with your partner to identify key concepts, major points, and—most important—questions that other students may wish to discuss.


 * 1. Write out a short summary**—if you are nervous at the start of class, just read it! You can even spend some time delivering a structured presentation if you like.
 * 2. Key Concepts**: Prepare by listing and briefly define any terms and concepts that are central to the reading. If the author has used some odd term, focus on it, and check with the class to make certain everyone understands it.
 * 3. Key Point(s):** It is often a good idea to develop, in your notes, a series of short statements that identify the major point to the reading and any subpoints that should be noted.
 * 4. Key Passages**: Because the author’s “voice” should be heard, identify a few passages that you can consider, in more detail, with the class. All you need to do is say something like “I found this passage, on p. 17, particularly interesting…”
 * 5. Links:** Keep focused on the relationship between the reading and the general focus of the class or the other readings.
 * 6. Questions**: The key to a good discussion is asking questions that are open-ended—that promote discussion. Sometimes, these questions just come up on their own accord, as different people see the topic from a different perspective. But it’s essential to have a few questions, at the ready, which will stimulate the discussion.

Don’t forget that discussion has two basic goals. First, by discussing a topic we clarify the ideas and information in the text. We need to know what the author saying, first and foremost. Second, we also wish to analyze, critically, the content. If there are places that lack clarity, illogical or unsubstantiated we will need to dig them out.

Mike Ray, Sarah Flaherty || Ryan McEvoy, Joe Han || Lindsay Palmisano, Alex Pena || Scott Shim, Johnny Franceski || Chris Poff, Tyler Lipositz || Seung-Hwan Kim, Pat Somers || Carew Bartley, Jeremy Huang || Li Lai, SiOn Kim ||
 * Crews as described by Ginnett, R. C. (1989). Airline cockpit crew. In J. R. Hackman (Ed.),Groups that work (and those that don't). Pp. 427-448 (plus pp. 471-477) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass || available in Blackboard, under readings || Sept 23
 * The Manhattan Project || p. 171-195 in Bennis & Biederman || Sept 23
 * Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)/Apple, which first made computers easy to use and accessible to nonexperts || p. 63-86 in Bennis & Biederman || Sept 25
 * The 1992 Clinton campaign, which put the first Democrat in the White House since Jimmy Carter || p. 87-116 in Bennis & Biederman || Sept 25
 * Sports teams as discussed by Kahn, W. A. (1989) University athletic teams. In J. R. Hackman (Ed.),Groups that work (and those that don't). Pp. 250-264 (plus pp. 280-287). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass || available in Blackboard, under readings || Sept 30
 * Walt Disney studio, which invented the animated feature film in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs || p. 31-62 in Bennis & Biederman || Sept 30
 * The influential arts school and experimental community known as Black Mountain College || p. 142-170 in Bennis & Biederman || Oct 2
 * The elite corps of aeronautical engineers and fabricators who built radically new planes at Lockheed's top-secret Skunk Works || p. 117-141 in Bennis & Biederman || Oct 2