Program Schedule

Quest For Knowledge Study Abroad

The following list provides brief descriptions of the itinerary for the 1998 QFK Study Abroad program in Greece.


Week 1: Athens


Day 1 - Athens

Evening: Orientation Meeting at St. Georges Hotel

Accommodations for first week at St. Georges Hotel in Athens.

Day 2 - Athens

Classes; Visit National Archaeological Museum with Guest Lecturer (Steven Diamant) speaking on the Introduction to Aegean Civilization.

Day 3 - Athens

National Holiday; Day at Liesure

Evening: Welcoming dinner and entertainment at traditional Greek taverna.

Day 4 - Athens

Classes; Visit Acropolis with Guest Lecturer (Steven Diamant) speaking on the Origins of Classical Greek, and Guest Lecturer (Stelios Zachariou) speaking on the Historical Overview of Modern Greece.

Topics: importance of place and setting in learning, agency, engagement, and representation (mimesis)

Day 5 - Athens

Classes; Visit Agora with Guest Lecturer (Steven Diamant)

Topics: Plato's Academy, knowledge, tutoring, mentoring, discourse, dialogues, case-based reasoning, the ideal education, and life-long learning (Theatetus, The Republic)

Day 6 - Athens

Classes; Visit Cycladic Museum

Day 7

Day at Leisure. Optional activities: Visit Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon.

Topics: learning as quest, discovery, and change (metamorphosis); myth and case-based reasoning (Homer's Odyssey)

Day 8

Day at Leisure. Optional activities: Site of Aristotle's Lyceum

Topics: division of knowledge, logic, rhetoric, poetics, memory and reminiscence, peripatetic learning.


Week 2: Mainland-based Field Trips


Day 1 - Corinth, Mycenae, and Nafplion

Activities: Return to Athens and depart on Classical land tour of Greece.

Activities: Scholarly Tour of Corinth, its canal and ancient sites.

Activities: Scholarly tour Mycenae, the citadel of Mycenae near the plain of Argolis, the Cyclopean walls, the Lions Gate, the Grave Circles A and B, and the Mycenaean Palace, Megaron. Planned Guest Lecturer: Dr. Liz Langridge

Topics: importance of place and setting in learning.

Evening in Nafplion.

Day 2 - Epidaurus, Argos, and Tyrins

Activities: Scholarly Tour of Epidaurus, site of the best-preserved ancient Greek theater, and the Sanctuary of Asclepius and Museum.

Topics: drama, theater, mimesis, interpretation, rhetoric

Activities: Visit Argos and Tyrins

Day 3 - Mystras

Activities: Scholarly Tour of Mystras

Topics: Explore the traces of evanescent Byzantium and consider its relationship to Renaissance thinking and culture.

Day 4 - Olympia

Activities: Scholarly Tour of Olympia, site of the first Panhellenic Games (776 B.C.), the Altis (sacred enclosure) with temples of Hera, Zeus, the Gymnasium Palaetra, stadium, and its museum with its pedimental sculptures from the Temple of Zeus.

Topics: relationship of mind and body; learning physical skills

Day 5 - Delphi

Activities: Scholarly tour of Delphi and its Sanctuary of Apollo, the Lower Sanctuary of Athena Pronaea, and the museum.

Topics: mimesis, prediction, interpretation, reflection, elaboration, importance of place and setting in learning

Day 6 - Delphi to Athens

Activities: Continuation of Delphi visit and return to Athens

Day 7 - Aegina

Activities: Scholarly tour of the Temple of Athena Aphaea, the museum, and the old city of Palaeochora.

Topics: importance of place and setting in learning; image and cognition


Week 3: Island-based Field Trips (Odyssey At Sea)


Day 1 - Piraeus and Mykonos

Embark on ship at Piraeus for island field trips. Meeting on ship for orientation and discussion of Homer's Odyssey and its relevance to our jouney of discovery.

Day 2 - Kusadasi, Ephesus, and Patmos

Morning Activities: Scholarly tour of Archaeological Site at Ephesus, its library, ampitheater

Topics: importance of place and setting in learning; cultures of learning

Afternoon Activities: Scholarly Tour of Monastery of St. John at Patmos (for manuscript and icon collection)

Topics: visual language, icons, symbols, manuscripts as palimpsests, annotation, reflection and revelation

Evening Activities: Meeting on ship for review and dicussion

Day 3 - Rhodes and Lindos

Morning Activities: Scholarly tour of medieval city of Rhodes

Topics: importance of place and setting in learning

Afternoon Activities: Field Studies at Lindos, its acropolis, Temple of Athena Lindia, frieze of ancient ship

Topics: importance of place and setting in learning

Evening Activities: Meeting on ship for review and discussion

Day 4 - Crete and Santorini

Morning Activities: Scholarly tour of Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, Crete. Scholarly tour of Minoan ruins at Knossos

Topics: cultures of learning, the myths of Theseus and the Minotaur, the labyrinth, paradox, and problem-solving.

Afternoon Activities: Field Studies at Archaeological Site (Akrotiri) and Museum on Santorini (Thera)

Topics: importance of place and setting in learning; cultures of learning

Evening Activities: Meeting on ship for review, dicussion, and report planning

Day 5 - End of Study Abroad Program

Activities: Departures from Athens

Updated as of May 10, 2006
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