IDS 100 - Foundations of Inquiry

Welcome to Foundations of Inquiry (FOI) course. FOI is the first of a series of courses that comprise the inner core of the general education curriculum at Illinois State University. Foundations of Inquiry provides the intellectual cornerstone for the undergraduate educational experience at Illinois State University; it actively engages new students in the educational process and provides them with an understanding of how their education will be supported by the diverse resources and opportunities of the University.

It gives students an opportunity to investigate what it means to be educated and to develop a desire for learning, a sense of the value and importance of acquiring knowledge. It asks students to question the roles and responsibilities of both the individual and the University in the educational process, and to consider how the individual is empowered through education.

The course will allow students to develop an understanding of the ethics and values of scholarship, and to become aware of differing educational goals and strategies. Students will be exposed to the shared cultures and values of the academy and will examine the differing foundational assumptions of disciplinary knowledge. It provides the starting point for the liberal, multidisciplinary, and global education that is the goal of the baccalaureate experience at Illinois State.

• To assist the first year student in adjusting to the academic and social community;
• To provide an introduction to the intellectual life of the university;
• To assist first year students in developing competencies, including intellectual confidence and skills in reading, in the use of technology, in research, in written and oral expression, and in analytical reasoning skills;
• To initiate a process of life-long learning and active inquiry; and
• To introduce students to the approaches that a variety of disciplines take to discussing issues and generating knowledge.

There will be two examinations in addition to the final (which will be comprehensive).  If you are unable to attend an exam due to illness or another valid reason, you should notify your instructor prior to the date and time of the exam to make arrangements for making up the exam.  If you are unable to reach me personally, leave a message on my voice mail or email.  No makeup examination will be administered unless these guidelines are followed. These exams are tentatively scheduled for:

Your grade is computed as a weighted average on the percentages above. Computing your grade as a simple average (your total points divided by the total number of points possible in the course) does not accurately compute your grade. The grading scale for this course is: