Course Syllabus

Course description:

Somos is a free, virtual, 5-week summer course offered to high-school students on Latinx Studies in partnership with Congress of Communities. This course aims to educate and empower its students from across the U.S. by introducing them to topics that impact the Latinx community and connecting them to guest speakers, each with expertise in distinct areas within Latinx Studies. Throughout the length of the course, Somos scholars will learn a variety of topics, including Latinx history of activism and achievements in the United States, pop culture, and key issues on equity and inclusion within education, politics, and media. By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of the community’s deep roots in the U.S., the diversity of identity and experiences within the Latinx community, and how this learning directly impacts the way students’ navigate the world today.

 

Somo scholar objectives: 

  1. To develop and increase knowledge of the Latinx history, activism, and culture amongst Latinx high school students and incoming college students
  2. To understand the history of the intersectional and multi-faceted identities among the Latinx community
  3. To build an understanding of how Latinx history is related to how Latinx students navigate and experience their day-to-day lives

 

Curriculum: 

This course will meet twice a week for 5 weeks. Each session will cover a different topic in Latinx studies. Scholars will not receive letter grades or credit, but they are expected to engage positively and actively participate in all course sessions and assignments.

Pre- and post-assessment surveys:

Somos scholars will be required to complete two assessment surveys that will help coordinators understand different levels of engagement with the Latinx identity and knowledge on areas of Latinx studies. One survey will be administered before the course begins. The second survey will be administered at the conclusion of the Somos course.

Weekly surveys:

Somos scholars will be asked to complete a mandatory survey at the end of each session. This survey will help Somos scholars convey what they have learned and their initial reactions to the presentations and speakers. 

Final project:

Somos Scholars will create a written or creative project that tracks their families’ migration and history in the United States. The project should be personal and include the experiences of participants and their families. The goal for this assignment is for students to learn about their heritage, reflect on their experiences, and connect class themes to their family’s migration story. Regardless of the format scholars choose for the final project, they will be required to do a 5-minute presentation during our final class period on August 5th.

Office Hours:

Somos Scholars will be required to attend office hours once a week with their assigned Somos coordinator. The time for office hours will be assigned prior to the beginning of the course and will last around 1 hour. During this time, students will have an opportunity to review the material learned in class, check-in with other scholars and their Somos coordinator, and work on their final project. 

Expectations:

Be prepared to engage in all group discussions during course sessions and office hours. It is expected that Somos scholars will come prepared with any materials or completed assignments that have been asked of them before the start of each class. Each scholar is personally responsible to maintain a productive timeline to complete their final projects at the deadline. 

 

Attendance:

Somos scholars are expected to attend every course session and their assigned office hours. If scholars have a time conflict and are unable to attend a session for any reason, they will be required to submit the absence form and specify the date and reason for absence. If scholars are unable to attend their office hours for any reason, they will reach out to their respective Somos coordinator at least 24 hours in advance unless it is an emergency.

 

Zoom Etiquette:

All Somos course engagements will take place virtually on Zoom. Engaging virtually warrants expectations unique to a virtual learning environment, therefore, we encourage scholars to maintain Zoom etiquette throughout the course. While Somos coordinators understand that this may not always be possible, we ask that scholars make their best efforts to respect Somos spaces and adhere to the following etiquette expectations:

  • Log on to Zoom link 5 minutes prior to course start time 
  • Mute mic while the speaker is presenting
  • Unmute mic during group discussions
  • Keep camera on at all times
  • Remain on Zoom window during course sessions, i.e., no other tabs should be open unless the speaker/presenter has shared something for you to review
  • Refrain from phone use during all Somos course engagements
  • Aim to attend course sessions from a quiet space with minimal distractions/background noise