Conference Faculty
Andrea Bonnicksen, Ph.D., Washington State University
Keri Burchfield, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Ross Corbett, Ph.D., University of Toronto
Rosemary Feurer, Ph.D., Washington University
David Gunkel, Ph.D., DePaul University
Christopher Jones, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Jack King, M.P.A., Northern Illinois University
David Kyvig, Ph.D., Northwestern University
Jim Thomas, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Artemus Ward, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Has America reconciled 21st century knowledge with
our 18th century credo, the Bill of Rights?
Join us at this fall’s New Ideas in History conference and gain a better understanding of how to make the new conform to the old. Learn from NIU experts about how conceptualization of “freedom” is changing in the 21st century.
Whether you are a first-time New Ideas participant or a returning colleague, this professional development day will provide you, a key teacher in an Illinois middle school, high school, or community college, with opportunities to explore new subjects, refresh your teaching resources, and collaborate with others.
TENTATIVE PROGRAM
7:30-8:00 a.m. Check In and Registration
8:00-8:30 a.m. Welcome
William Minor, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Kenton Clymer, Ph.D., Chair, Department of History
Christopher Jones, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Political Science
Kay Forest, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Sociology
8:45-9:45 a.m.
1A “Security or Liberty First?: Making American Foreign Policy in the Post-9/11 Era.” Christopher Jones, Ph.D., Chair, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
This session will explore the tension between the demands of national security and democracy in formulating contemporary American foreign policy. The presentation will draw on the realist and liberal traditions of international relations theory and a range of current events that highlight this tension. Educators will be introduced to how theory provides a useful and accessible means for understanding and acting within the real world.
or
1B “Education and Undocumented Immigrants: Challenging Our Institutions/Upholding Our Values.” Jack King, M.P.A., Internship Coordinator, Department of Sociology
This presentation highlights the challenges and opportunities facing our schools, educators and undocumented students and their families as they search the land of opportunity to find their piece of the American dream.
10:00-11:00 a.m.
2A “Web 2.0: Freedom of Expression, Credibility, and the Democratization of Information.” David Gunkel, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Communication
This presentation will provide an overview of the Web 2.0 technologies and applications (i.e. P2P, social networking, mashups, folksonomies, semantic web, etc.) and address some of the ethical/legal aspects of these innovations.
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2B “Who is Gaining Constitutional Freedom? U.S. Presidents or the American People?” David Kyvig, Ph.D., Distinguished Research Professor, Department of History
This session will discuss how constitutional restraints on the presidency have been loosened by the impeachment episodes in recent decades and what the consequences are for the American public.
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2C “The U.S. Supreme Court and 21st Century Freedom.” Artemus Ward, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has become increasingly willing to decide the most contentious political issues facing America. With the Court sharply divided between liberals and conservatives, the man in the middle—Anthony Kennedy—currently casts the tie-breaking votes. With this as background, we will discuss the past term, current term, and the future of American freedom as defined by the nine justices.
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
3A “Innovations in Stem Cell Research: Building a Workable Policy.” Andrea Bonnicksen, Ph.D., Presidential Research Professor, Department of Political Science
How should policy makers handle innovative but potentially controversial technologies in stem cell research? The presentation addresses this question with reference to guidelines from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science.
or
3B “Mother Jones, America’s Most Dangerous Woman: Teaching Key Points of American Working Class History with a Short Documentary.” Rosemary Feurer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of History
Mother Jones was one of the most famous labor organizers a century ago. Feurer will show the new documentary on Mother Jones, as well as present key means of using the documentary to generate class discussion about important topics in gender, labor, immigration and political repression.
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3C “The Whole World is Watching: How to Screw up Your Life, Lose Friends and Jobs, and go Broke on the Internet!” Jim Thomas, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology
This session will focus on "future-think" and how what we do at 15 (such as typing, getting our pics taken at parties and such) can haunt us at 25. Issues of "watch your back," "privacy," "assume the whole world is watching" is no longer something we attribute to paranoid wing-nuts, but simply a sound survival practice.
12:30-1:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch with NIU Faculty
1:30-2:30 p.m.
4A “The Role of Neighborhoods in Crime Prevention and Control.” Keri Burchfield, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
In today's fast-paced and mobile world, we do not need communities so much to satisfy our private and personal needs. Nonetheless, local neighborhoods remain essential as sites for the realization of common values, including public safety and civility. This presentation will focus on how neighborhoods and their residents organize to control and prevent crime.
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4B “Concealing the Exceptional Within the Legal.” Ross Corbett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
The law regarding emergency powers and civil liberties reflects a tension within the American political tradition regarding the proper way to deal with justifiable exceptions to the law. The tension rests on whether to highlight or conceal deviations from the legal norm.
What teachers have said about past “New Ideas” programs:
“Each seminar was fast-paced and filled with practical exercises/exercises for the high school classroom.”
-Ronald Neurauter, Westmont High School, Westmont
“Overall, this was a wonderful experience. The presenters were informative, energetic and refreshing.”
-Susan Fassler, Unity High School, Tolono
“Finally a workshop right up my alley.”
-Ellain Gallis, Waukegan High School, Waukegan
“Lively speakers. I thought I knew a lot . . . wow was I surprised. I’m excited to return to my classrooms.”
-E. Marie Schaver, Belvidere High School, Belvidere
Why Attend?
This program gives you an opportunity to meet with colleagues from other educational institutions, to learn about successful teaching projects, and to hear about the latest research findings from thought-provoking Northern Illinois University scholars. NIU research professors and other professionals working in the academic disciplines will share new ideas to supplement your science classroom curriculum.
You will:
1. Gain information and perspectives about freedom and rights in the 21st century.
2. Experience effective teaching methods that help students learn.
3. Receive materials from the faculty to use as a ready reference when you return to your school.
4. Network with other attendees as you explore new ideas and expand your professional horizons.
Plus . . . Recertification – CPDUs: You will receive a report documenting 6 Continuing Professional Development Units for your participation. Northern Illinois University is an approved provider of professional development activities. This documentation will assist you in your individual recertification plans.
General Information: Enrollments are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If reservations exceed conference limits, a waiting list will be established. Late registrations will be accepted if space is available. Registration confirmed by payment. If the conference must be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a full refund. All facilities are accessible to the handicapped.
Location: Holmes Student Center, located on campus. NIU is in DeKalb, 65 miles west of Chicago (one mile north of I-88); 45 miles southeast of Rockford. A map is sent with your confirmation.
Parking: A visitor's parking lot ($5.00) is located close to the Holmes Student Center. A campus map is sent with your confirmation plus a FREE parking pass (upon request).
Some of the Schools represented at past New Ideas Conferences: Batavia High School; Central High School, Crystal Lake; Christ the King School, Lombard; DeKalb High School; District 205, Rockford; Elmhurst College; Evanston High School; Freeport Catholic Schools; Glenbard West High School; Guilford High School; Highland Community College; Hononegah High School; Huntley High School; Joliet West High School; Lake Forest High School; Libertyville High School; Naperville North; North Boone High School; Sandwich High School; Sycamore High School; Streamwood High School; Streator Township High School; Sts. Peter & Paul School, Cary; Wheaton North High School; and many more.
Four Easy Ways to Register:
1. PHONE 1-800-345-9472 or (815) 753-0277 to register with a credit card.
2. FAX your form to (815) 753-6900 to register with a credit card.
3. MAIL your completed registration form with check to:
University Outreach Services, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2860
4. ONLINE at http://niu.edu/CLASEP