New course offers students the opportunity to “choose their own adventure” outside their home program


While the Mac campus usually feels a bit empty once exams are over in April, 2020 will be different.

That’s because INSPIRE 1A03, a unique interdisciplinary and experiential four-week course held in May, will be open for Mac students from all faculties and programs.

All students enrolled in INSPIRE 1AO3 will participate in a weekly two-hour core class where they will discuss topics such as the health of cities  and explore questions related to student life such as mindfulness.

As well, prior to the start of the course, students will choose three interdisciplinary modules — the equivalent of a one-unit course — that could occur in studio, workshops or lab, both on and off campus, allowing students to “choose their own learning adventure.”

Current modules that are planned on being offered include:

  • Social Inequality and Stand-Up Comedy
  • Electronics for the Rest of Us!
  • How to Lie with Maps
  • *You are Here: Engaging Public Spaces through Digital Storytelling
  • Exploring Local Water Issues in Hamilton
  • Communication and Facilitation for Emerging Leaders
  • Drones and 3-D Modelling

None of the modules require any prior knowledge of the subjects. 

The course is currently being developed by John Maclachlan, an industry professor in the Faculty of Science, Kim Dej, associate vice-provost (faculty) and several MacPherson Student Partners.

INSPIRE 1AO3 is part of the Intersession Learning Initiative, which aims to offer a suite of new courses in May, offering students experiential and community-engaged courses outside of the fall and winter terms.

“Intersession is a unique approach to looking at how students learn during the Spring and Summer term. We are aiming to provide new and exciting courses that will allow students to explore interdisciplinary topics outside their home program,” says Maclachlan, who is director of Intersession Learning.

“By providing a broader diverse learning opportunity, students who want to take a course in a compressed fashion can do so and thereby easing their course load during the fall and winter terms. We are aiming to provide avenues to relieve student stress and provide new ways for students to manage their time,” says Dej.

While course registration for INSPIRE 1AO3 will not occur until March, students can pre-register for the course at intersession.mcmaster.ca. The website also has more information and will post periodic updates.

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