Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description
Reading Minds: The History and Science of Literacy
Instructor(s): Rebecca Johnson, Psychology
The ability to read is a miracle. Although humankind invented reading only a few thousand
years ago many of us effortlessly and quickly extract meaning from small visual characters
presented on a page. But, what would life be like without the ability to read? How
do reading skills develop and how should reading be taught? What parts of the brain
enable us to read? What causes reading disorders such as dyslexia? With the advent
of e-books, what does the future of reading look like? Students will explore the answers
to questions such as these as we investigate the history and cultural importance of
reading as well as the scientific research behind how the mind and brain process written
text. Students will also participate in literacy-related service learning opportunities
in the community.
Offered
