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Arthur Dirks        Professor of Theatre Arts, Bridgewater State College


Academic Projects and Papers


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The listing is in reversed chronological order and file sizes are given. Generally, one page of single-spaced text is about 3.5 kb.


Historical Development of the Arts in Higher Education   January 1999

    A straightforward summary of the development of arts programs in the academy. [19 kb]

Arts Participation in America   January 1999

    A straightforward summary of NEA arts participation data. Half of the adult population attends at least one art event each year. Participation correlates highly with arts education, level of education, and level of income. Age appears to be a matter of increasing concern. [19 kb]

The New Definition of Scholarship: How Will It Change the Professoriate?   December 1998

    This paper follows attempts to redefine scholarship in the context of faculty work, concluding that redefinition of scholarship is a viable means of realigning faculty work to public goals for higher education, and that it does so within existing organizational structures.[49 kb]

Higher Education in Marketing Theory   August 1998

    Higher education exists in a market environment as it serves students, attracts donations, serves grant and contract funders, seeks approval and general support from the community, fiscal and general support from society, and exchanges with suppliers and personnel. This study looks at general theories of marketing, exchange theory, and the nature of the exchanges with these six constituencies.[108 kb]

Intellectual Property and the Internet  May 1998

    A presentation for the Center for Advancement of Research and Teaching (CART), May, 1998. Outlines the guidelines for fair use of multimedia, notes concerns in protecting intellectual property in course development, surveys concerns for plagiarism in student papers, and provides links to comprehensive information on intellectual property. [14 kb]

Critical Thinking and Analogical Thinking: A Model  May 1998

    This paper suggests a model or structure for understanding analogical thinking, or conceptualizing by analogy. It can be a powerful tool for thinking about and communicating concepts and experiences, or it may operate at a much more habitual or unconscious level.[27 kb]

Constructivist Pedagogy, Critical Thinking, And the Role of Authority  April 1998

    This paper examines the process of knowledge construction, particularly as it involves principles of critical thinking, and the role of the teacher. I pose two contrasting examples of matter to be learned and consider the operation of knowledge construction in each case.[31 kb]

Reshaping Faculty Productivity   December 1997

    This paper is a policy analysis that examines faculty productivity factors and suggests actions to realign state and higher education activities to better serve the social interest. It considers some of the pressure for reform and the issues most closely associated with faculty productivity. [53 kb]

State Policy Impact on Undergraduate Curriculum  December 1997

    This paper attempts to identify the kinds of state-level decisions that affect the undergraduate curriculum in publicly controlled institutions, and to describe their implications. I suggest that higher education is not supported primarily as a value for the individual, but as a value to the state's larger interests, which are economic development, basic skills, citizenship, and values education.[22 kb]

The Liberal Curriculum and the Canon   June 1997

    This paper provides a thorough survey of the political arguments surrounding the curricular content of the humanities. It argues that the conservative perspective has risen in the national agenda for the time being, that it has provoked thoughtful self-examination, that it is based upon an obsolete paradigm of knowledge, and that to embrace it uncritically is to inhibit cultural advancement. [75 kb]

Organization of Knowledge: The Emergence of Academic Specialty in America   December 1996

    This study explores the development of the academic disciplines as a controlling feature of American higher education. The present day structural and professional character is generally considered complete by the first World War, with the dominance of the university structure. The discussion begins with the idea of discipline. [66 kb]

A Brief History of Bridgewater State College  September 1996

    Review of the founding, conflict and opposition, and ongoing issues regarding the institution. Historical periods: 1840-1860==The Teaching Normal School. 1860-1890==The Psychological Normal School. 1890-1909==The "Modern" Normal School. 1909-1921==The Professional Normal School. 1921-1960==The Teachers' College. 1960-1975==The Multi-purpose Liberal Arts College. 1975- . . .==The Comprehensive I College. [11 kb]


All original content protected by copyright © Arthur L. Dirks, Taunton, MA., 2005.