The course will address local to global issues (Renaissance Italy to the rest of the world), historical issues (situating Leonardo within a particular context), and critical and creative thinking. Student reflections, class discussions, and final projects will provide both low and high stakes opportunities to communicate clearly and effectively. In class discussions also allow the development of a community and participation. Group trips to local galleries and performances will allow further engagement in communities beyond the campus. The goal of thinking critically and creatively is not new. One of the most notable and profound practitioners was Leonardo DaVinci. This course will briefly look at DaVinci's life, times, and art and then examine seven patterns of thought that he typified. Each student will select a cross-cultural issue, and respond to it in journal entries. For each two-week session, the instructor will work with students to identify a current day practitioner who exemplifies the method regarding a local to global issue. The students will present candidates for this from their topics of interest. These might include, but will not be limited to: the movement of refugees into the United States, providing clean water to developing nations, sharing rather appropriating indigenous culture art, and the idea of "international charity."
NOTE: This course is offered as a hybrid but is primarily lecture (less than 50% online). This course is only available to App State Hickory Students.