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Phoebe G. Lifton
Advisor: Shanti Vidya
Spring 2010 - COS

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Learning Plan

Phoebe G. Lifton
Spring Semester 2010
Advisor: Shanti Vidya

In Che Guevara’s motorcycle diaries he wrote about travel in a way that I can relate to, he said he’s “in transit to another conception of the world”. As I have been exposed and immersed in Costa Rica culture while looking broadly at Latin America I now see the world in a new way. I want to continue to challenge myself in this manner. Explore more of how the world operates in one place but also on a global scale, to help me on my search to find where I fit in.

A personal goal that I have is to incorporate more art into my life this semester, for my personal health and sanity. I am going to force myself to make time for art whether its part of an assignment or not. Academically I am always interested in improving my writing and intend to look at my writing critically and I will be supported in this while taking the Writing the College Essay class.

Field Work Project - Credits 2
For my fieldwork project as of right now I would like to volunteer at the Waldorf School outside of Puerto Viejo for a week. Then travel to the beach for the remaining week. Throughout these weeks I will be conducting interviews with locals asking one question: “What makes you happy?” I would like to explore the idea behind Costa Rica being the ‘happiest place on earth’. My goals are to video the interviews and make a creative compilation for presentation.

Introduction to Global Issues in Latin America - Credits 3
In this class I will learn about current global issues and look at the issues from different sides. It looks like there is also the opportunity in this class to develop how I see the world and how my actions may be dictated through that accumulation of knowledge. I want to be careful in this class while looking at issues when I am an outsider because it is hard to make judgments or find “solutions”. Going to class with this consciousness will help me to look deeper into the conflicts of the world.        

Electronic Portfolio Construction Seminar - Credits 2
Global College goal # 15: Proficiency in Digital Literacy
For my generation I would say I am average when it comes to the skill of using digital/technical systems and toys. As the world systems change and things progress in technology I think it is important to stay up to date in those advancements. So for this class I would like to increase my overall proficiency in technical aspects and utilizing my computers programs. I am particularly interested in graphic production, which I have no experience in and would like to know more about. Also I have used imovie and have been satisfied with the small productions I have made but I would like to be able to use imovie artistically for larger projects. With the change of the portfolio to electronic I am interested to see what the process will be like and what the final product will look like in comparison to the hard copy.

Beginner Spanish - Credits 3
I am taking this class for mainly practical reasons. I know the basics and get around pretty well with the Spanish skills I have now but would like to continue to go deeper to be able to have more meaningful conversations with people who don’t speak English. I feel comfortable in the present tense and understand the past tense but am not as quick to use it in conversation. I would like to broaden my vocabulary and work on knowing my numbers. I do love Spanish and like to speak it but I know that it takes me longer to learn languages so I think with these small goals I can improve and be satisfied with myself.

Fieldwork Method for Independent Study - Credits 2
Last semester I was told that Global College was teaching me how to teach myself. I think that this class is a positive step forward in this area. The focus is qualitative research but other objectives of this course include learning better interviewing techniques, cross cultural analytical skills and presentation of learned information. I find that all of these areas are very important for me to learn and improve on and I will work in this class to achieve the objectives.

Contemporary Indigenous People in Latin America - Credits 2
Studying Contemporary Indigenous Peoples will intrinsically include looking the politics and the rights of indigenous peoples, cultural diversity among different groups in Latin America, creative contributions, movements, and future challenges. As we go and visit different communities I will observe how my visit and tourists/outsiders are having an effect. I want to look at the indigenous people in the global context as well, what is their part, how do they contribute or don’t to the diversity of the world.

Writing the College Essay - Credits 2
Like in every perfected art fundamentals are at the core, the backbone, the pumping heart, the gum in the middle of the lollypop or the triple threat position in basketball. In this writing class I will learn the basics of writing by practicing through writing with an objective for example to summarize or to make an argument. I prefer creative writing to all other forms, they are too formal, confining and boring. But I think you learn from doing things that you don’t like to do. What is important to take from this class is going over the basics of writing an essay. Form, organization, clarity, grammar, drafting are all things that I am going to focus on improving.

Independent Study - Credits 1
In partnership with the Holistic Health seminar I will be creating a small book of health solutions to have with me for the future. I will attend every Holistic Health class, do all the readings and participate in class discussions. The difference in me taking the course and making this my Independent study would be how I present what I have learned. Because I am mostly interested in health solutions that benefit my body, this is the information that will be recorded in my book.

Assignments will be determined by what I find to be appropriate and relevant for the health of my body, mind and spirit. Each week and after class I will collect what I want to put in my book of what I have learned from the seminar and readings. I will be doing some of the assignments from the seminar such as getting to know two healing herbs well and the integrative essay. Things like this will improve my generally understanding of how to use herbs and things to improve my health.

            I would also like to take time during Semana Santa to do a juice cleanse. On my Service Learning last semester I went to the community Ceibo-Bokis. After I came back I felt the best health wise I have felt in a long time. I have learned a little bit about this way of detoxing your body as a form of preventive care and would like to experience it myself. So with the guidance of the book that Ed wrote from the New Dawn Center I will do the juice cleanse for a week. I will record how I feel before, each day participating in it and after the whole experience in my journal. I am hoping this will help with my Gluten allergy, getting rid of all that I have consumed and give me a fresh, clean start to a new healthy lifestyle.

 
Writing the College Essay                                           Credits 2                                              

Contemporary Indigenous People in Latin America      Credits 2

Fieldwork Method for Independent Study                Credits 2

Beginner Spanish                                                           Credits 3

Electronic Portfolio Construction Seminar                Credits 2

Introduction to Global Issues in Latin America        Credits 3

Field Work Project                                                          Credits 2                                                     

Independent Study                                                        Credits 1                       ___________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                       = Credits 17