Hello and welcome to forms of identity.
My name is Heather Mayer and I'm
going to run a taster for you
for this module that I convene.
This module is generally a for
undergraduate students who are in
their second and third or fourth year,
so I'm going to spend the first.
This session should probably
take about an hour.
I'm going to spend the 1st 15 minutes
going through what the module is all about,
and then the remaining 45 minutes
will be a series of taster activities
that would give you a snapshot of
what the the module is all about.
So for those first 15 minutes,
I'll just move this over here.
Uhm, I'll introduce you to myself
and give you the opportunity
to introduce yourself,
and that will allow you to reflect on
your position within the context of this
module under the theme of identity.
I'll give you some information
about the module quite broadly so
you gain an understanding of what
the key features of an I.
I adalaide interdisciplinary
modules all about.
We'll look into why why we're
even doing interdisciplinarity,
so you'll have the opportunity to
observe how the theme of identity can
be investigated in interdisciplinary
way and what the value is in that.
I'll also go over through go over what
you can expect from a module like this,
and I'll I'll tap into how assessment works.
And then,
as I mentioned,
will then go onto another platform
or will go through a series of
taster activities together so you
get an idea of what it's like. Now.
This is kind of a unique situation.
Normally we would do this
collectively as a class,
so the taster activities today have
been specifically designed for
autonomous asynchronous learning,
because you're likely watching
this on your own independently.
So I've kept that in mind.
So First off, I'll just introduce myself,
uhm, my name, as I mentioned,
is Heather.
I am a teaching fellow in Yaddle
and I convened two modules
throughout the academic year.
The first one is this one forms of identity,
which is available.
In term 1.
And then I do a module
called Global Connections,
which is an option for two term
two and again in your second,
third or fourth year.
I haven't interdisciplinary background.
I studied theatre as an undergrad.
I taught German for many years.
I looked into sociolinguistics for awhile.
And then I went into global studies.
Which is very interdisciplinary,
and then ultimately my PhD
was on social imagination,
looking at global and local
contexts within educational spaces.
So when I'm teaching an
interdisciplinary module,
I see myself very much as a facilitator
and I'll get to that in a little bit.
Basically,
an interdisciplinary module
might be something different to
what you've experienced before,
in that you you're not entering
the classroom,
and I'm not going to talk at
you like I'm doing right now.
I'm not going to be doing that,
I want to hear about you.
I want to hear about your into
your disciplinary expertise
and how your experiences and
your background contribute to
the learning on all of these.
Modules, so it's a very collaborative
environment and I I see myself
as a facilitator of that.
So for the first activity I would
like to get to know you a little bit,
so I thought we'd do this together.
I'd like you to take out a piece of paper
and trace your hand like I've done.
And in each of the fingers,
I've numbered them just like I've done here,
and each of those fingers I'd
like you to think of an identity
marker that describes you.
I'm not going to give you too much detail,
it just would like you to choose
one word to describe your identity.
For each of this.
So you'll have five different words here.
Right now, I'd like you to pause the video,
do the activity,
and will reconvene.
OK, so it's. You might have
something similar to this,
or might be completely different.
Show you mine.
I've chosen the categories American.
You could probably tell
I'm American for my accent.
Uhm, chosen to write that I'm married.
I identify as female.
I'm an academic,
that's my professional identity,
and I've chosen a hobby I
consider myself to be a runner.
I've been running since I was a teenager.
I really enjoy it.
So these are the identity identity markers
that I've chosen for this particular context.
Now, if you're looking at your hand and
the identity markers that you've chosen,
it's very likely you've chosen
similar social categories.
Social identity markers and this is
because for purposes of this activity,
this is how you would introduce
yourself to a class,
something that everyone can relate to,
can understand.
And it's something that's quite simple.
And again,
relatable.
So this leads to kind of the
central features of the course.
Uhm, and it, it highlights one of the
main features of identity which meet.
Which is it's.
In some ways we have agency over
how we perform our identities.
In some ways,
and so for purposes of this activity,
it's likely you've chosen a social identity.
You may have referred to your religion,
your ethnicity, your gender, race,
profession as I did your academic discipline.
If you're a chemist or an engineer,
maybe you wrote that maybe you have a
particular interest group or familial status.
Maybe you wrote that your son and daughter,
niece, nephew, etc.
And these are things that we can easily
understand within within a class.
If we were going around I would
be able to understand it.
Less likely for this
particular time in space.
You probably did not refer
to a personal identity,
though may perhaps you did.
Personal identity is more of a philosophy,
philosophical psychological
approach to understanding identity,
and this is something that's
featured on this module as well,
so will tap into these disciplines.
Within this, for personal identity,
it's a little bit more complicated.
We look at how we are defined as a person.
Sometimes we use the word self
to understand what this is.
So perhaps on your one of those fingers
you described an experience or alluded
to an experience that make that makes you.
You makes you unique who you are and this
is something that we could break apart.
It also is linked to memory and narrative.
Also,
you might have referred to your
biological identity,
so this is this a more scientific
approach towards understanding
identity or the theme of identity.
It looks at what we are.
What are we as persons made of a person?
Exploring how DNA and genetics
approached notions of identity.
So here you might have referred
to your genealogy.
Maybe you wrote that your
your national identity.
But then juxtaposing that against
perhaps you have a heritage in and
out completely at opposite ends of
the world that you find particularly
relevant to your to your identity.
And these are things that we can discuss.
Obviously there are many, many,
many more angles and disciplinary
perspectives on the theme of identity.
So we'll take it one step further.
That is also very relevant to this module,
which is the role of mediation,
and this is where the arts kind
of come in a little bit stronger.
Where we look into how identities
are created,
reproduced and mediated.
And here we look particularly
at institutions.
Media has a huge influence on how we
understand our social world and how
we understand ourselves within it.
Education education shapes us and
so these are discussions as well
that will come up in on the module.
So that's just a kind of an introduction.
That kind of highlights some
of the features of the module.
So now moving on to why interdisciplinare.
Why do we do it?
We can see here that identity is fluid,
it's dynamic. Sometimes it's
referred to as liquid identity.
It impacts all aspects of our social life.
It's embodied, it's social, it's personal,
it's biological, etc, etc etc.
And again, it's linked to time and space.
Identity is therefore really,
really complex,
and it can be observed as we've seen
beyond just one single disciplinary angle.
Of course, the disciplinary angle is
really important in understanding
the benefits and drawbacks and
understanding the term itself.
But we can also look at it from an
interdisciplinary perspective on when
these start converging and combining,
and it's inevitable it does happen.
So, for example,
that the example that I've chosen here
is the nature versus nurture debate.
Which answers the question to what
extent am I who I am because of my
environment or because of my biology?
Or perhaps a combination of those?
And these are the kind of discussions
that we'll have in our class.
So the module based on this I'm
just going to move this over here.
Based on this, the module is set up to have
to incorporate a variety of disciplinary.
A specialists that will come in
each week to discuss a disciplinary
perspective on the theme of identity.
So we'll have an expert come in who will
look at social constructions of identity.
This might include gender,
national identity and how it's linked
to migration, ethnicity, race, religion,
education will get those philosophical
and psychological approaches.
Biological identity will look at
media perspectives, and again,
how that's mediated and
organizational identity and branding.
So we'll get a variety of perspectives
from specialists in those fields.
Part 2 each week is with me,
and this is where again when I refer back
to my role as a facilitator is when will
have these interdisciplinary discussions.
How do these these combine with not only
the the disciplinary content that you've
received in that week or the week prior,
but also with your own experiences,
your own disciplinary excellence?
And experiences as you've gone
through life and so this is where this
collaborative element will come into play.
So in terms of expectations,
the module is designed to make
you a contributor to the learning
environments and the modules content.
We all want to learn from you.
We each bring something unique to the
table and and and so that collaborative
element is really important.
Interdisciplinarity relies on collaboration,
so you'll have the opportunity
to meet others outside your
subject area and discipline,
which is also a plus.
Come now on this module you'll also be given
the space to explore your own interests,
and this is really important to me.
Everybody is is taking the module
or is interested in the module
for a very particular reason,
it's likely related to your own
identity and I want you to want to give
you the opportunity to experiment,
really take risks,
go outside your comfort zone
and develop your own assessment.
So moving into these assessment,
I get a lot of questions about assessments,
so I thought I would cover it here quickly.
This has been on this module,
like many interdisciplinary modules
through I Adelaar are designed so
that you can shape and create the
direction that you'd like to go.
The main question is where do you
want to go and you design it.
So instead of me giving you a
topic to research or telling you
that it has to be an essay,
you choose what it is so far.
There are two assignments on this module.
The first one is a critical response
to any object item of your choice.
It's a critical reflection,
so you'll be writing in the first person.
Uhm, and you'll be reflecting
on a piece of music and art.
Perhaps it's a news article
if you're interested in that.
Maybe it's in a literal object in
your house somewhere that reminds you
of of a theme that we've discussed.
Or a theory that we've discussed in class.
It could be an event,
a book that you've read, a film.
It could be even something very abstract,
like a memory from your past.
Whatever you'd like to explore,
you can do it as long as it links
to the theme of identity.
The final project of the of the module
is called the student devised assessment,
and there's more information on
the welcome week platform in YADDLE
and also on the idle website.
But basically what this is is you
and I will sit down and we'll have
a discussion about how you would
like to pursue your research.
Will negotiate a format or a medium for
you to explore this research project.
So for example,
if you're very interested in poetry,
maybe you want to write a poem to
reflect your thoughts on identity.
Maybe you'd like to create a video or
interview someone and analyze the interview,
or do a participant observation.
Do ethnographic work at a cultural event.
Compose a piece of music,
sculpt something,
analyze a painting.
It can be whatever you want it to be
and will make sure that everything falls
within the learning outcomes of the modules.
So will have roughly 2 hours
together to discuss that.
You can then shape whatever it is that
you would like to investigate further
so you can explore your own interest areas,
and that's really important for this module.
So really quick, I want you to stop right
here and do a quick personal reflection.
Considering your own academic career
right now, you're in the very beginning.
How might an interdisciplinary module
like this one supplement your studies?
I'll give you a couple
minutes to think about it.
It would be useful to jot down those ideas
and hold on to them until you start,
perhaps potentially choosing
interdisciplinary modules
after your first year.
So pause your video here and
reflect on this quickly.
OK, so this concludes the very
first part of our session together,
but now we'll get onto the tasks.
So this is these are tasks that I've
designed with autonomous learning in mind,
though perhaps in the back of your mind.
Think about having the class with
you so we have to imagine that a
little bit if you wouldn't mind
going over to the link up there.
It's I've planned out a padlet for you.
The password is identity.
It'll ask you for a password.
Just type that in all lowercase.
What you'll find is something like this.
This is a snapshot.
Of the class.
What I like to do is design
pad let's to guide the class,
kind of like a PowerPoint except not.
And what you'll do once you get over
there is click on the first video and
you'll get instructions on how to continue.
Thanks very much.
I'll see you over there.