I. Principal requestor and contact person: Charles F. Urbanowicz

II. Budget: .20 Reassigned Time for Fall 2000 and Spring 2001.

III. Title: Proposal to Continue With "Project Darwin"

IV. Purpose: #1. Quality and productivity: Having briefly discussed this project with Ms. Kathy Fernandes and Ms. Donna Crowe in January 2000, the purpose of this proposal is to receive ".20 Reassigned Time" in Fall 2000 and Spring 2001 to work several hours a week with individuals of TLP (Technology and Learning Program). Together, we will produce a "Charles R. Darwin CD-ROM" (or a "Charles R. Darwin DVD-ROM") for classroom (or individualized) use. Should this proposal be funded by CELT (the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching), I bow to TLP's decision on the appropriate transmission medium: either CD-ROM or DVD-ROM (or if some "newer" technology becomes available). If possible, it would also be nice to collaborate with IMC (Instructional Media Center) personnel/student interns on finishing Tapes #3 and #4 of "Urbanowicz as Darwin" and also make them available of the WWW (as are videotape #1 & #2).

My interest to "humanize" Charles R. Darwin (1809-1882) dates from (at least) October 10, 1990, when I made my "first person" presentation at an Anthropology Forum at CSU, Chico. On February 10, 1993, while teaching over what was then called ITFS (Instructional Television For Students), I "was" Darwin and this tape was incorporated into courses (and guest presentations) for several years. In Fall 1995, Ms. Crowe and I began working on a "Darwin script" and over Spring break of 1996 (April 1-4), I "was" Darwin in the IMC Studio and we videotaped eight hours. In Spring 1997 the editing for videotape #1 was completed (with extensive graphics) and in 1999 videotape #2 was completed (both of which are available with "REALPLAYER" from http://mole.csuchico.edu:8080/ramgen/archive/darwinreflections.rm and http://mole.csuchico.edu:8080/ramgen/archive/darwinvoyage.rm).

Over 1997-1998, Ms. Crowe and I worked with Mr. Vahid Rahbari (TLP) and Mr. Chris Ficken (IMC) on a Darwin CD-ROM and this material is available for PROJECT DARWIN 2000-2001. This project obviously builds on a great deal of effort and energy by numerous individuals to date. Below is a January 2000 Darwin Self-Test #1(http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/SelfTesting/DarwinTestOne.htm) which can contribute to the proposal as well as numerous WWW documents, the edited (and "raw") Darwin first-person videotapes, PowerPointPresentations, slides, etc., which can all be incorporated into this CELT project. (Note: I have also been working on similar "Self-Tests" for the ANTH 13 course that I teach, Human Cultural Diversity, and these "Self-Tests" can be viewed at: http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/SelfTesting/ANTH13SP2000TESTOne.htm as well as http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/SelfTesting/ANTH13SP2000TESTTwo.htm. This most recent self-test also incorporates "feedback" for the user.)

#2. & #3. Problem, solution, and rationale: Darwin's ideas have an impact on contemporary thought, from Anthropology and Art through History and Psychology and the world of Business. PROJECT DARWIN 2000-2001is an attempt to complete work a decade in the making: (#1) numerous individuals contributed their expertise and time to my interpretation of Darwin; (#2) I have been to Darwin's home in England twice (1991 and 1999), at my own expense, and in July 2000 (again, at my own expense) I will go to the Galápagos Islands. The Department of Anthropology and College of Behavioral and Social Sciences could possibly provide me with "Reassigned Time" to complete the project but I truly need the endorsement, encouragement, and expertise (as well as personnel, questions, resources, support, and tools) of TLP to complete the project. Total CELT funding to date (~$750) for my Darwin work has been minimal (yet important): a modest "honorarium" for Ms. Martha Acuña in April 1996 for her costume and make-up work, "consumables" used during the videotaping, and Student Assistant funds for a student to assist Ms. Crowe in editing.

#4. Timeline: I will work with assigned TLP personnel several hours a week throughout the 2000-2001 Academic Year to complete the project (and will also conduct independent work).

#5. Measure outcomes: Following TLP's recommendations, suggestions, and timelines (based on what was learned from Professor Vic Fisher's TLP CD-ROM Geology project of 1998-1999), we will distribute and test the Darwin product (which will also be available for use with on-campus CSU, Chico colleagues). It would be nice to have PROJECT DARWIN 2000-2001 completed before I retire so the information/product will be available for future use at CSU, Chico (and within the CSU).

#6. Replication: PROJECT DARWIN 2000-2001 will create a template that that may be used with other content areas. I will also be submitting a proposal for the Sixth Annual CELT Conference for September 21 & 22, 2000 to document and describe the activities concerning activities with Darwin since 1990 and I will also be presenting an invited paper, "Teaching as Theatre: Some Classroom Ideas, Specifically Those Concerning Charles R. Darwin (1809-1882)" at a session in November 2000 at the national meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, CA. This presentation builds on a year 2000 publication (http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/TeachingT.html) entitled "Mnemonics, Quotations, Cartoons, And A Notebook: 'Tricks' For Appreciating Cultural Diversity" (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall). I am more than willing to share my experiences (and mistakes) in incorporating pedagogical techniques in the classroom!

V. Endorsements: Letters of support from California State University, Chico, colleagues (appended to original CELT submission) were submitted by Dr. Frank Bayham (Chair, Department of Anthropology), Dr. Roger Lederer (Dean, College of Natural Sciences), Dr. Thomas McCready (Department of Mathematics & Statistics), Professor James McManus (Department of Art and Art History), Dr. Robert Stewart (Department of Philosophy), and Dr. Walt Schaefer (Interim Dean, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences). Below you will find selected WWW sites (which I created) dealing with Darwin (as well as Technology); note, the items are presented in "reverse chronological" order: 

#1. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Darwin2000.html [Teaching as Theatre: Some Classroom Ideas, Specifically Those Concerning Charles R. Darwin (1809-1882)]. This is an invited paper for a session in November 2000 at the national meetings of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, CA; please see:
#2. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/TeachingT.html [published 2000 by Prentice-Hall].
#3. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/LeadershipChicoMarch2000.htm [March 15, 2000} "Leadership Chico - Education Day].
#4. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/SelfTesting/DarwinTestOne.htm [January 2000 Darwin Self-Test #1]. This self-test, and obviously new ones, can be incorporated into the Darwin CD-ROM/Darwin DVD.
#5. http://mole.csuchico.edu:8080/ramgen/archive/darwinvoyage.rm [1999, 22 minute video available on your desktop with REALPLAYER; this is tape #2 of the proposed four-part series: it takes "Darwin" from England to South America.].
#6. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/DarwinMiscSep99.html [1999 Darwin Misc September]} "Generic" Darwin handout for a variety of Fall 1999 classroom presentations, including Anthropology and Philosophy; previous guest lectures on Darwin have also been given for Art and Mathematics.].
#7. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/DarwinSp99Presentations.html [1999 Spring Handout for ART 197 and PHIL 108 presentations.].
#8. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/DarwinPhil108.htm [1998 Fall Handout for PHIL 108 Presentation].
#9. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/F98Homecoming.html [1998 Fall Handout for Homecoming Presentation].
#10. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/ANTH300.html [1998 Fall ANTH 300 presentation].
#11. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/DarwinArt197.html [1998 September presentation for ART 197].
#12. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/PowerPoint/DarwinModernismSep98/ [1998 September PowerPoint Presentation for Art 197].
#13. http://rce.csuchico.edu/rv/Darwin.html [1998 May: 15 Minute Videotape Report for the Office of the Provost} prepared as part of my "Master Teacher" Report.].
#14. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/FApril30-98.html [1998 April Anthropology Forum Presentation} One Anthropologist Looks At The Future Of Education And Technology].
#15. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Darwin_Folklore.html [1998: Folklore Concerning Charles R. Darwin. For the Southwestern Anthropological Society Meetings] also please see:
#16. http://orion.csuchico.edu/Pages/vol40issue2/n.darwin.html [1998: Chantal Lamers, Darwin's Insight Evolves To CD-ROM. The Orion, Vol. 40, Issue 2, February 4, page 1 and page 8.].
#17.http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Jan'98_Millennium_Paper.html [1998 January Presentation dealing with Technology and the Future].
#18. http://mole.csuchico.edu:8080/ramgen/archive/darwinreflections.rm [1997, 18 minute video available on your desktop with REALPLAYER; this is tape #1 of the proposed four-part series: it "sets the setting" of Darwin in England].
#19. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Forum/Darwin_Sep'97.html [1997 Fall Anthropology Forum Presentation].
#20. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Forum/darwin.mov [1996 Fourteen Second Darwin "Quick Time" Movie].
#21. http://www.csuchico.edu/anth/CASP/1996.html [1996 publication, including chapter on Darwin by the Chico Anthropological Society].
#22. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Forum/Nov7-96.html [with Donna Crowe & Kathy Fernandes} 1996 Fall Anthropology Forum presentation].
#23. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Darwin/DarwinSem-S95.html [1995 January ANTH Seminar paper].
#24. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Darwin116.html [1993 November Darwin presentation at the American Anthropological Association Meetings].
#25. http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/Forum/Feb11-93.html [1993 Fall Anthropology Forum Presentation].

Summary & Conclusions: For the 1997-1999 Academic Years I was designated a "Master Teacher" by this institution and for 1998-1999 I was awarded .20 "Reassigned Time" by CELT to provide assistance to the Learning Productivity Projects (http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/1998-99LPP.html) which resulted in a final report (http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/1998-1999LPPFinRept.html). Please consult my complete résumé (http://www.csuchico.edu/~curban/resume.html) to evaluate this PROJECT DARWIN proposal, based on my work at California State University, Chico, since August 1973. It may be safely assumed that I am a dedicated and productive individual/teacher and, perhaps, somewhat of a "scholar" in certain areas; indeed, a week doesn't go by that I don't respond to an e-mail query from someone somewhere about Charles Darwin based on my "Darwin" work on the web.

Howard Gardner (Harvard University), who has written extensively on "multiple intelligences" (and uses Darwin as an example of an individual who exemplifies the intelligence of a "naturalist"), has written the following (which is quite appropriate to begin ending this CELT proposal):

"As educators, we face a stark choice: ignore these differences or acknowledge them. Sometimes they are ignored out of ignorance, sometimes they are ignored because educators are either frustrated by the differences, or convinced that individuals are more likely to become members of a community if they can be more alike. But those who ignore the differences are not being fair--and are typically focusing only on the language-logic mind.... To the extent that the student and the teacher share that focus, the student will do well and consider herself [or himself!] smart. But if the student has a fundamentally different kind of mind, she [or he] is likely to feel stupid--at least while attending that school [or that particular class]. What is the alternative? One possibility is individually configured education--an education that takes individual differences seriously and, insofar as possible, crafts practises that serve different kinds of minds equally well. ... The crucial ingredient is a committment to knowing the minds--the persons--of individual students. This means learning about each student's background, strengths, interests, preferences, anxieties, experiences, and goals, not to stereotype or to preordain but rather to ensure that educational decisions are made on the basis of an up-to-date profile of the student [stress added]." Howard Gardner, 1999, Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences (NY: Basic Books), pages 150-151.

The Charles R. Darwin CD-ROM (or a Charles R. Darwin DVD-ROM, based on TLP recommendations), will allow individual students to learn about Darwin at their own pace, based on their backgrounds, interests, and personalities. For years, in every-single-one-of-my-classes, I consistently strive to know "the minds--the persons--of individual students" and my teaching experiences since 1972 will be incorporated into this project. If I am succesfully funded by CELT for the 2000-2001 Academic Year to work with TLP/IMC on PROJECT DARWIN, I have no doubt of the outcome: we will produce a Darwin CD-ROM (or DVD-ROM). It is my wish to (#1) create a "template" which may be utilized by other "content" experts, (#2) share this item within the CSU, and (#3) use this finished product as a sample to seek funding for a larger project (to take a California State University, Chico "team" to England and South America and the Galápagos) to do a DARWIN PROJECT #2, leading up to 2009: the bicentennial celebration of the birth of Charles R. Darwin and the sesquicentennial of the first edition of On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.