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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,241 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
... sorry, it ran out of space on the title section  Anyways, I said I'll be back! And now, I'm planning to open a numismatic decal here at Berkeley. I kinda have the schedule ready, and I was just wondering if you guys had any advice for me like what to teach. The class will be geared towards students who have never collected coins before. So... here's the tentative schedule. I'll be posting the powerpoint lecture slides as I do them (maybe once a week, maybe more!  ) Syllabus is here if you're interested... http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0A...ms0aG0&hl=enQuote:Tentative Numismatic DeCal Schedule Week 1 Overview of the course How did this start as a hobby The definition of Numismatics What is coin collecting? Why to collect coins or anything Week 2 Coin and banknote resources How coins are designed and made Pre-US ~1700s coinage, first US coins The US coinage system (copper, silver, gold) First US coins Week 3 Classic US coins Week 4 Modern US coins Commemorative coins Trials and pattern coins Week 5 Error coinage Counterfeit coins Fakes and copies Third Party Graders Week 6 Midterm ( US coinage) Week 7 The first coins Ancient China + Cast coins Greek + Roman Empire, Western Coins Week 8 World coins Different designs Different security features Week 9 1800s silver and gold coins WWI, WWII and coins Odd designs, bimetallics The Euro (coins) Week 10 Banknote collecting start The history of banknotes US banknote history Old issues ~1923 Week 11 Executive order 6102 Modern US banknotes Star notes, low numbers, BEP Sheets Error banknotes Week 12 World banknotes Old European notes, Interesting notes The Euro Security features Week 13 Final Test Anyways, thanks to all who help. I love coincommunity, and I have never forgotten about the help you guys have given me when I had a question, and especially to the Forum Mom and Dad for creating such a great place! ...so here goes... the first numismatic decal at Berkeley... wish me luck! **Edited for new syllabus Edited by wd1040
02/09/2010 12:50 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
619 Posts |
Sounds great! I could use that class.
Could you explain the term "decal"?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
DeCal stands for democratic education at Cal, but beyond the name, it's an opportunity for students to create a class, make their own lessons, and teach other students on campus. The students taking the class can also get units for the course, which makes the class even more enticing to students who need the units. I'm planning to have a history lesson with each coin design, after explaining the basics, so it'll be like a history course and a coin collecting course. By the way, are you at Cal? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
If you're at Berkeley that's beyond my sphere of assistance. How did a nice guy like you end up in a place like that.  Your curriculum looks comprehensive. The only recommendation I would make is the order of presentation. I would move week two further down and get week three into the two slot. The history and production of U.S. coinage is fascinating and sets the groundwork for your following offerings. Without the history and production knowledge up front, your students may lose some perspective. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
How many credit hours will the course be?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Since I was a teacher not long ago, I thought I'd throw in my 2 CENTS. Week 1. Overview of Course. 1A. How did this start as a hobby and/or investment 1B. What is coin collecting 1C. Why collect coins or anything Week 2. Place counterfeiting & things to watch for much later in the course since much will not make much CENTS this early. Week 5. Move Modern US coins, Designs, Commemoratives to 4. Week 4. Error coins, Counterfeiting coins, fakes and copies, Purposes of TPGS's. Who they are and some of the advantages. Week 6. Midterm Not just for US coins but for all coins in general as discussed in Week 1 to 5. Sounds like a fantastic type of subject for any school. Not sure how this will end up but I suggest you video tape this semester. Might be something numerous other schools would like to show. I know your probably going to teach on a University level but the simpler you make this course, the greater the possibility it could spread to other schools. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Wow! Thanks for the list just carl! I don't know much about how I should approach US coinage, but thanks for all that help! I need to change the course plan after this. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Not meaning to be critical but here is few more just suggestions.
For Week 1. Add a definition of Numismatics
Week 7 & 8. Change 7 to 8 and 8 to 7.
Week 9 I'm confused. Was that supposed to be Coins of WW1, WW2?
I noticed for Week 10 to 12 the topic switched from Numismatics to currency of the paper variety, basically. Such a change may warrant changing the name of the entire course to something more on the order of Numismatics and the Monitary Systems.
Of course the Euro is also in coinage and should be noted somewhere in the first part of the program.
Are you planning on making a pamphlet or such for that class? Could end up being a book on the subject.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Wow! Thank you soooooo much for all the help!! I would have never been able to plan it out so well myself! As for the class, I will have powerpoint lectures for each week. haha, if it gets to a book, I will be so happy! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
One more thing is if you plan on handing out any free samples, let me know and I'll sign up for your class.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1801 Posts |
If you need some scans of examples of some of the Pre US coins that circulated in the colonies and all over the new world in the 1700's, et me know and I can send you some. Spanish Colonial Cobs, Pillar Dollars, Gold Doubloons etc. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
560 Posts |
This looks like it will be a very fun and informative course. You've already gotten lots of great suggestions for improvement so far. Powerpoints are great but it might also be good to have some more hands of sections. Maybe tied into coin or note grading? You could also incorporate a "lab practical" into the exams to test how well students understand grading standards (although you might want to allow a cheat sheet for this).
Starting with what motivates coin collectors is a good hook. Are you in this for investment or to build a collection? A short bit on hoarding in general might be fun and interesting for the class to look into. I really liked the suggestion to expand the historical aspect of the course. This is a great way to organize the course and you can probably do a couple early lectures on this. You have several topics whole lectures that may be hinted at in the historical lecture and then expanded on in later parts of the course.
The only other suggestion that I would make is to think very hard about the scope/scale of the course. How many students do you anticipate having? You want to strike a balance between giving a good overview of coin/note collecting and enough detail on each topic to hold the classes interest. Some of your students may want more detail - is there a way that can be incorporated? Maybe by swapping out a test for an in-depth paper?
In any case good luck with it. And keep me posted when/where it will be. I'm on campus and would be happy to help if I can.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
haha just carl, I think I will be giving away a new cent (if I get any) to everyone who comes to the first class, just as an incentive jfransch, if that's not too troublesome or you, that'll be great! Although right now I'm just trying to get the rough plumbing ready. When I need examples, I would love to get some scans for you! Hi patrick, I've been thinking about hands-on pieces, too! Right now my current plan is to have some extra credit questions at the beginning of class to identify coins, but I guess I can do that with grading, too! or wait! I can put up assignments on bspace! Or will that be too much work and no one will come to my DeCal? :( I'll have to think about actual handouts... college students are lazy! hmm... I've never thought about the kids who are deeply interested in numismatics. My original idea was to give them a general overview on numismatics and then if they are interested, they could go here or other forums... maybe I can even make this into a group on campus! Anyways, thanks so much everyone for you support! Coincommunity is the best! Sorry I wasn't very active on the forums last semester! Anyways, here is my syllabus for the class with the tentative schedule. I erased my name and email address. Sorry just carl for basically copying what you said! I just think your schedule is so much better than mine! http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0A...ms0aG0&hl=enSo... I guess the next step would be to develop presentations with more information for the course. I might have one done this weekend... thanks everyone!! |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
You can cover the subject of debasing the coins value by changing it's metal composition and turn one days class into a lecture on government theft by debasement. It is my theory that the original coin collectors of centuries ago were simply protecting themselves by keeping the gold and silver coins and spending the debased nickel, brass and copper money.
Additionally you need to have at least one day where the assignment is going through $5.00 in pennies. Each student brings in the pennies and searches them and they can discuss what you find. Perhaps even bring in a couple of your best "roll searching finds" when you do so. I have been amazed at some of the coins found recently and with California having such financial problems the chances are high some good coins are waiting to be found in rolls. Sincerely, John Leckrone
Edited by 925dealer
02/05/2010 09:53 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Continuing on. Your opening Grading is a little confusing. 40% for Mid Term, 60% for Final. HOWEVER, if there are 3 extra credit items per class, and each one is worth 1%, what is that 1% of since 40% and 60% is 100% or isn't it? And if all 11 classes have 3 extra credits, and 11 possible classes, you now have 33% more than the 100% most of the world goes by. Under Assignments and Tests in the beginning, probably should add coin web sites such as coin forums like Coin Community Forums, Coppercoins, etc. Or add these and others to Week 2. for resourdes. Week 3. For sure here or somewhere you must add Coin Collecting Paraphenalia. Bring examples or slides or photos of: 2x2's, 1-1/2x1-1/2, and 2-1/2x2-1/2 inch flips, plastic flips, plastic rolls, 3 ringed binder with those plastic sheets that hold 20 flips, Albums, Folders, etc. Might be a good place to include Books such as the Red Book. Unfortunately this means squeezing US coins from your Week 3. into Week 4. Something you may also want to consider. In all the college classes I've instructed the students are so much more interactive as part of the classes than High School or earlier. This means you will have to state either no questions during the class or ask as many questions as you want during the class. My personal experiences are that for the most part if a question is asked as soon as thought of, it will be asked. If waiting for the end of the class or end of that topic, it could and usually does get forgotten or just becomes a no one cares sort of feeling. And always remember that if you don't know the answer to a question, admit it with a Now there is something I have to find out myself. Nothing like a feeling for a student that the instructor doesn't know everything. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
I will be going over the debasement of money in the introduction to US currencies part, because it fits in with the original system of copper-silver-gold and cent-dollar-eagle. I think other significant debasement history can be covered in later areas. As for the grading, I haven't really thought about any assignments, and that's why they're just tests. I think if there are assignments, maybe not as many students will come, and getting students to come is the first priority. As for the extra credit, each of them is just 1pt of the 100 total final points, so they will get 1 point up? It's hard to explain, but extra credit is good and 1 point isn't all that much. I'll be making the slides this week or weekend depending on how many things I need to do, but coin collecting paraph will be in the 2nd week along with the resources section. I think there are way too many things (both coin designs and history of the US at that time) to cover during the US coins section. and of course, coincommunity will be one of the resources! ah.... I went to SF this weekend, so I haven't done much.... :( By the way... I really like the idea of CRH'ing during class! Maybe I'll do that instead of a midterm or something... Edited by wd1040
02/09/2010 12:51 am
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,241 |
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Posted 02/02/2010 02:28 am
