Online courses directory (363)

This course provides an introduction to the history of technology for the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) major. The course surveys major technological developments from ancient to modern times with particular attention to social, political, and cultural contexts in Europe and the United States. You will also think critically about the theory of technological determinism, the ways in which technology has defined “progress” and “civilization”, and the major ethical considerations surrounding today’s technological decisions. This course begins with discussions of the promotion of technology in centralized states of the ancient and medieval worlds: the Roman Empire, Song and Ming China, and the Islamic Abbasid Empire. After a period of relative decline, the states of Western Europe centralized and flourished once again, having benefited from the westward transmission of key ideas and technologies from the East. The focus of the course then shifts to the West, to the technologies of the Renai…

The SAT is a timed standardized test, taken by most students in their junior or senior year of high school, often required for college admission.  In the increasingly competitive college admission process, students today are looking for any and all ways to improve their candidacy.  One element of your college application that can definitely be improved on to help your chances of admission is your SAT score. The test is made up of 10 sections, drawn from three subjects: reading, mathematics, and writing.  All of these subjects review topics you have already learned in school: critical reading skills, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, grammar, and essay writing.  You already have basic knowledge on these subjects.  However, you can gain an extra edge and improve your score by reviewing the specific material that will be covered on the test and by becoming familiar with the rules and strategies specific to correctly answering SAT questions. Doing well on the test provides important information about you as…

This course is designed to equip you with the basic academic, professional, and personal skills you will need to be successful in college.  You are probably already familiar with some of the skills and topics covered; others will be brand new ideas.  For example, perhaps you have already learned some effective test-taking strategies that work well for you, but you have never heard of the concept of learning styles.  Or, maybe you do know your learning style, but you want to improve your listening skills.  Each student will have a different skill set when they start this course.  In addition, some of the skills this course presents may take a lifetime to master!  The point of the course is to give you, a new college student or a person considering a college education, a purposeful, thorough review of the many tools and skills needed for success and to help you understand how you can improve each of the tools and skills over time.  Keep in mind that the terms “tools” and “resources” can refer to…