So one section of this course might be talking about health hazards from pollution while another section is doing library research on gun control. Each faculty member is a unique individual, who brings to the classroom a rich set of personal experiences and a huge background knowledge. The course is designed to take advantage of those differences between faculty members. Each set of students is also unique. Instructors frequently make adjustments in their course plans to deal with particular strengths or weaknesses their students are displaying.
Foundations is different from courses students have experienced in the past.
It is not a course about some particular subject. Instead, it is a course about the processes of thinking straight. Many students have never considered before the possibility that it is actually possible to develop careful thinking as a skill. This means students taking this course are being asked to stretch, to leave their zone of comfort, and to move beyond merely memorizing a set of facts so they will do well on the next test. Initially this often makes students uncomfortable, but in the end, if you catch on, you will find it exciting.