Instructor Insights

Instructor Insights pages are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.

Instructor Insights

Below, Professor M. Amah Edoh describes various aspects of how she taught 21G.026 Global Africa: Creative Cultures.

Academic work isn't separate from life, and it's not something that's only accessible to some people. We are always theorizing. Making sense of our experience is about theorizing.

— M. Amah Edoh

 

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course, but French language concentrators should have taken 21G.028 African Migrations or have the permission of the instructor.

Requirements Satisfied

Offered

21G.026 was offered for the first time in Spring 2018.

The Classroom

  • A small room with chairs around the edges and a blackboard on one wall.

    Room 1 of 1

    Seminar

    This course was taught in a small classroom equipped with tablet chairs, a chalkboard, a whiteboard, and A/V equipment.

 

Assessment

Grade Breakdown

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by reading questions and problem sets. 20% Reading responses (weekly, 10 total)
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by projects. 20% Presentation of readings
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by midterm exam. 20% Paper
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by final exam. 30% Final project (20% project, 10% presentation)
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by class participation. 10% Class participation

Student Information

12 students took this course when it was offered in Spring 2018.

Breakdown by Year

About 2/3 sophomores and juniors; about 1/3 first-year students and seniors

Breakdown by Major

Many engineering and computer science majors; a few humanities majors

Typical Student Background

About half the students were Africans from the continent or first-generation Americans of African background. Many of the non-African students were going to be working in Africa during the summer or had recently spent time there.

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

In Class

3 hours per week
  • Met once per week for 3 hours per session; 12 sessions total; mandatory attendance.
  • Students participated in active discussions, listened to weekly samples of African music, and delivered presentations of their final projects.
 

Out of Class

9 hours per week
  • Readings in preparation for class sessions
  • Attending theatrical performance and film screenings
  • 10 weekly reading responses
  • 5-page analytical paper
  • Creative final project
 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class meeting. Class outing to theater.
2 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled.
3 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled.
4 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. Class outing to theater.
5 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
6 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled.
7 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled.
8 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
9 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled, but assignment due.
10 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled, but assignment due.
11 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled.
12 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No session scheduled.
13 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting and project presentations scheduled. No session scheduled.
14 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
15 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled, but assignment due. Class meeting. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class meetings are held. Class meeting
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate due dates. Paper or reading response due
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class outings are held. Class outing to theater
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate project presentations are held. Project presentations