FYS: Knitting (INDS 193)

Instructor: M. Kate Kearney
E-Mail: kearney@gonzaga.edu
Office Number: Bollier 225
Office Hours:
• 2:00-3:00 Mondays (math lab)
• 2:00-3:30 Wednesdays (zoom or in person)
• 2:00-3:30 Fridays (zoom or in person)
or by appointment.

Homework: Post on Blackboard discussion board


Course Announcements:

Useful links:
Syllabus
First Year Seminar:
The primary purpose of the First-Year Seminar (FYS) is to promote a cultural shift in students as they make the transition to college by emphasizing that learning and knowing are active, constructive processes. Organized around a unique topic, each small seminar will encourage intellectual engagement and curiosity through personal contact and dialogue with other students and faculty. The FYS introduces students to the first-year core question, "How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?" by examining the fundamental and central questions in different disciplines and the methods used to explore those questions. The FYS also emphasizes an appreciation for Gonzaga University's Jesuit heritage and the core curriculum, and their overall importance in providing a meaningful and unifying educational experience.

Course Description:
In this First Year Seminar, we will explore knitting from many different viewpoints. Our many different cultural backgrounds and areas of study affect how we see the world. We will learn about knitting as it connects to disciplines including history, political science, chemistry, and mathematics. We will also explore how our personal experiences affect the story we see in knitted work.

Learning Outcomes for this course:

• To recognize a variety of perspectives on knitting and fiber arts.
• To express one's own connection to knitting.
• To creatively express oneself through knitted work.

Learning Outcomes for a First Year Seminar:

• Differentiate the ways in which knowledge is constructed across multiple disciplines.
• Articulate how your own personal and cultural perspectives affect your discovery and generation of knowledge and understanding
• Integrate the principles of Gonzaga's mission with your academic, personal, and spiritual aspirations


Reading Lists:
We will have a variety of short readings that will be posted on blackboard. Books will also include:
Making Mathematics with Needlework, Sarah-Marie Belcastro and Carolyn Yackel
Knitting Around the World: A Multistranded History of a Time-Honored Tradition, Lela Nargi

Grades will be assigned based on the following:
Participation 30%
Discussion board posts30%
Final project40%

Participation
You will be expected to complete readings and discussion board posts prior to each class meeting. You should come prepared to actively engage in discussions of the reading in each class period.

Discussion Board
Following each reading, a discussion board will be open for the given topic on Blackboard. You are expected to post at least once per reading (and may post more if you like). A post should consist of either a question about the reading or a response to a question posed by a classmate or your Professor. The intention of the discussion board is to serve as a starting point for in-class discussions on the reading. You should come to class having read your classmates' posts.

Final Project
You will learn some knitting skills throughout the semester, with the intention that you can produce a knitted work as your own, as part of a project to represent your own connections to knitting as well as to your future scholarly pursuits. Alongside their knitted work, you will be asked to produce a written document explaining your work, including appropriate background material. Depending on the area of interest this may take many different forms (it may be a research paper or poster, or may be more creatively structured), but should be the product of a deeper dive into a subject of choice, and should include connections to their knitted project. This project is intended to be a chance for you to explore and describe your personal connection to the subject of your choice, and to demonstrate your awareness of your personal lens and how it affects your studies.


Topics List and Approximate Schedule:
Week Topic
1 Introductions and knitting basics
2 History - Where does knitting come from?
3 History - connecting to cultural history through knitting
4 Mathematics - understanding Knitting Patterns
5 Mathematics - designs based in math
6 Biology - Where does our yarn come from?
7 Chemistry - Fibers and dyes
8 Politics - Knitting as protest
9 Sociology - Knitting communities
10 Computer science - knitting as coding, virtual communities
11-14 Working on Projects
15 Presentation of Projects

*Pandemic Note: We are still living in a global pandemic. Although I am vaccinated against COVID-19, I have children at home who are too young to be vaccinated. In the event that I or my children need to be in quarantine I will most likely move classes temporarily online in an attempt to disrupt our schedule as little as possible. I also recognize that exposure of yourself or your family may cause students to need to miss class at some point during the semester. I do not plan to record lectures, but I will make class notes available on OneDrive and will be available regularly for virtual office hours. If you need flexibility on timing of assignments or exams beyond what normal class policies allow, please contact me and we can discuss an appropriate solution.

Please follow the ZagOn webpage for up to date information about University guidelines related to the pandemic. Please be considerate to your community by wearing a mask in class and washing your hands regularly. I will be wearing a mask when I meet with you and prefer to meet on zoom when possible.



Academic Integrity
While collaboration and good use of resources are important for the learning process, you are expected to complete all your work on your own. You may talk with other people about how to solve homework problems, but your write-up should be done individually. Quizzes and tests are strictly your own work and any evidence of sources outside your own brain will be considered cheating. Sharing your work inappropriately with another student is also considered cheating.

Any cases of cheating will be dealt with seriously. You will be asked to meet with me and the math department chair. Severe cases may result in failure of the course and will be reported to the Dean.

Please refer to the student handbook for a description of the University's Academic Honesty policy.


A NOTE ON HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT:

Consistent with its mission, Gonzaga seeks to assure all community members learn and work in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Title VII, Title IX and Gonzaga’s policy prohibit harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. Gonzaga encourages anyone experiencing harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct to talk to someone from the Campus and Local Resources list about what happened so they can get the support they need and Gonzaga can respond appropriately. There are both confidential and non-confidential resources and reporting options available to you. Gonzaga is legally obligated to respond to reports of sexual misconduct, and therefore we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of a report, unless made to a confidential resource. Responses may vary from support services to formal investigations. As a faculty member, I am required to report incidents of sexual misconduct and thus cannot guarantee confidentiality. I must provide our Title IX coordinator with relevant details such as the names of those involved in the incident. For more information about policies and resources or reporting options, please visit the following websites: Equal Opportunity and Title IX

NOTICE TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES/MEDICAL CONDITIONS:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides reasonable accommodation for their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability/medical condition requiring an accommodation, please call or visit the Disability Access office (room 209 Foley Library, 509-313-4134).

CLASS ATTENDANCE:

I follow strictly the university's standard policy on absences: the maximum allowable absence is two class hours (100 minutes) for each class credit. For a three-credit class meeting three times a week, the maximum number of absences allowed is six. For a three-credit class meeting twice a week, the maximum number of absences allowed is four. The grade for excessive absences is "V", which has the same effect as "F" (Fail) and is counted in the GPA. (See also "Class Attendance Policy" on page 68 of the University's online catalogue)

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

Academic honesty is expected of all Gonzaga University students. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, and theft. Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty is subject to disciplinary action, which may include, but is not limited to, (1) a failing grade for the test or assignment in question, (2) a failing grade for the course, or (3) a recommendation for dismissal from the University. (See also "Academic Honesty" on page 67 of the University's online catalogue)

COURSE EVALUATION:

At Gonzaga, we take teaching seriously, and we ask our students to evaluate their courses and instructors so that we can provide the best possible learning experience. In that spirit, we ask students to give us feedback on their classroom experience near the end of the semester. I will ask you to take a few minutes then to carry out course/instructor evaluation on-line. Please know that I appreciate your participation in this process. This is a vital part of our efforts at Gonzaga to improve continually our teaching, our academic programs, and our entire educational effort.