Introduction To Education

  EDF 1005

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Prof. Joseph D. McNair

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Please Read:

Course Syllabus

This course is designed to introduce you to teaching and to maximize your interaction with educational technology.  You will be assigned articles to read for each class.  This frees up class time for enhanced student-teacher interactions. You are expected to "react" or "reflect" on each article or set of articles assigned.  A reflection paper consists of twenty-five word processed lines, one inch ("1") side margins (no larger than a 12 point font size) and submitted in Microsoft Word document format..  As such you will be required to do or observe the following:

  1. Submit your reflection papers by uploading them into into your personal blog that you will maintain for this class. . Check the paper first for plagiarism by submitting them to Turnitin.com. You must submit the paper to Turnitin and get a score of 10% plagiarism or less before the paper will be accepted. Scores in excess of 10% will receive a 0 and must be resubmitted.
  2. Write your reflections in your own words. Plagiarized reflection papers will be returned with a zero (O) grade.  
  3. Reflection papers are due on the date stipulated in the learning management system or WEBCT. Uploaded reflection papers will be determined late according to the date they were received. You should keep a copy and a back-up copy of each reflection and other required assignments on a jump drive or CDRor RW.  
  4. Maintain a portfolio of all of your work either in LIVETEXT or on a CDRW. You must update your changes and resubmit after each change you make in the portfolio.   The portfolio constitutes your final exam and must be complete. All quizzes, reflections and assignments must be in the portfolio. Any missing quiz, reflection or assignment or artifact, etc., renders the portfolio incomplete and will result in a failing grade for the portfolio.
  5. On the first day of class you will be registered into blogger.com, LIVETEXT and turnitin.com.
  6. You will take all of your quizzes online. All quzzes must be taken during the time the quiz is open. If you miss a quiz, you will fail the class.
  7. You will download the a copy of each of your completed quizzes and save tyhem in your LIVETEXT Portfolio or your CDRW portfolio.
  8. Your digital portfolio will contain minimally 19 reflection papers, and as many as ten (10) quizzes and any other assignments and artifacts as required. 
  9. You must attend 85% of scheduled classes to receive an "A" in the class.  You must attend 75% of scheduled classes (34 MWF classes, 24TR classes, and 13 single night or day classes) to confirm and validate any earned grade e.g. if you have earned a "B" through your work, you will get a "B" if you have attended class 75% of the time.  Attendance will influence borderline performances. In a Tuesday and Thursday class, you must be present for twenty-four (24) classes.  In a Monday, Wednesday, Friday class, you must be present for thirty-six (34) classes.  In a class meeting once a week, you must be present thirteen (13) classes. If you miss 3 classes in a night class, your grade will be lowered one grade
  10. You must be in class before fifteen (15) minutes past the start time has elapsed. You will not be admitted after fifteen (15) minutes unless you have received prior permission by the professor. 
  11. Perform a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of community outreach activities as required.
 
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Week One

  • Register in blogger.com
  • Register in Turnitin.com  
  • Presentation of Website

The purpose of this week's readings and activities is to

  1. introduce the education student to the concept of becoming a teacher
  2. The student will study the evolution of cultural behavior, and how several pre-historic, pre-literate and so-called "primitive" cultures organized their societies and taught their children. 
  3. The student will compare prehistoric/ preliterate enculuration with the modern school curriculum.
  4. Quiz on Readings due August 29, 2009

Assignments: 

  1. Reflection Paper#1: Describe the evolution of teacher preparation programs from colonial times to the present day. Be sure to discuss the reform efforts of the 1980s and the controversial role of Teach for America in the preparation of teachers.
  2. Reflection Paper#2: Read in "Frames, Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts" the section on paradigms and paradigm shifts. Discuss the article's position on how man's various inventions have changed the way he thinks, learns and sees the world. What do you think?
Readings

Week Two

  1. introduce the education student to the different ways of learning.
  2. The student will also focus on Hominids and the enculturation of prehistoric preliterate, and selected "modern" peoples through "Rites of Passage" ceremonies.
  3. Quiz on Readings due September 5, 2009

Assignments: 

  1. Reflection Paper#3: To what extent was your elementary and secondary education “multicultural”? Would you consider your experience indicative of the contributions approach, the additive approach, the transformation approach, or the social action approach? If you could go back to elementary and secondary school again, which approach would you want your teachers to take, and why?
  2. Reflection paper#4:   Discuss what you have learned from reading the articles Early Human Phylogeny, Hominids, the Story of Lucy and African Eve. How has this affected what you believe?

 

 

Week Three

  1. introduce the education student to the concept: Teacher Effectiveness
  2. The student will compare prehistoric/preliterate enculturation with the modern scuool curriculum.
  3. Quiz on Readings. Due on September 12, 2009

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#5: What do initiation rites and rites of passage ceremonies have to do with teaching and learning
  2. Reflection Paper#6:Why was the invention of writing so crucial to the establishment of the world's great ancient civilizations.

Week Four

  1. introduce the education student to the the purposes of the School
  2. The student will study the concepts of initiation and rites of passage and compare them to their counterparts in formal schooling.
  3. The student will compare home schooling, apprenticeship and formal learning in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to modern practices.
  4. Quiz on Readings. Due September 19, 2009

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#7: Describe the threefold approach to education in the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia e.g. homeschooling, apprenticeship and temple education
  2. Reflection Paper#8:: Briefly describe the three waves of educational reform outlined in the text. In your opinion, why has one of these waves been so dominant?

Week Five

  1. introduce the education student to the concept of student life in schools
  2. The student will study the concepts of initiation and rites of passage and compare them to their counterparts in formal schooling.
  3. The student will compare home schooling, apprenticeship and formal learning in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to modern practices.
  4. Quiz on Readings. Due September 26, 2009

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#9: Compare the article entitled the First Schools with Ancient Egyptian Education. What are your thoughts on teacher effectivenss today in comparison?
  2. Reflection Paper#10:: “The teacher is the gatekeeper.” Discuss the meaning and impact of this statement.

Week Six

  1. introduce the education student to the concepts: Curriculum Standards and Testing
  2. The student will study the The Greek Legacy to education in the western world.
  3. Quiz on Readings.October 3, 2009

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#11: What is the impact of the ideas of Socrates e.g. the elenchus, the examined life, happiness is moral excellence, etc. in modern western education?
  2. Reflection Paper#12:: What kind of revolution in curriculum took place after Sputnik? Why and how did the launching of Sputnik affect U.S. education?

Week Seven

  1. introduce the education student to the concepts: The Philosophy of Education
  2. The student will continue to study the The Greek Legacy to education in the western world.
  3. Quiz on Readings Due October 10

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#13: What is the impact of the ideas of Plato e.g. the forms, idealism, reminiscence etc. in modern western education?
  2. Reflection Paper#14:: What is the impact of the ideas of Aristotle e.g. the great chain of being, the four causes, the unmoved mover etc. in modern western education?

Week Eight

  1. introduce the education student to the concepts: The Philosophy of Education
  2. The student will study the The Roman Legacy to education in the western world.
  3. Quiz on Readings. Due on October 17

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#15: Describe the differences in ancient Athenia education and Roman Education.
  2. Rection paper 16: What is Rhetoric and its relationship of Roman Education?

 

 

Week Nine

  1. introduce the education student to the History of American Education
  2. Quiz on Readings. Due October 24

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#17: Contrast the following aspects of colonial New England education with present U.S. education: role of religion, teacher training, length of expected school attendance, and discrimination.
  2. Reflection Paper#18:: “In America, education has always been viewed as a vehicle for improving the society at large.” Do you agree? Discuss and provide specific historical and current examples.

Week Ten

  1. introduce the education student to the concepts: The History of American Education

Assignments:.

  1. Reflection Paper#19:  Trace the development of U.S. education from the dame schools of colonial times to public high schools.
  2. Required Article Review and Reflection (FEAPs 2, 3, 8)
    Description: Professionals read and keep current in their fields by reading journal articles and relating them to their practice.

    Directions: You will select, read, and review a journal article that relates to a major topic covered in the course competencies for EDF 1005. This includes history, finance, ethics, and governance.

  • Select a journal article written within the past five years that discusses a major topic covered in EDF 1005. 
  • The article must be a minimum of three pages in length.
  • You must use APA format to cite any ideas and reflections in your summary that are represented in the article.
  • Your article summary and reflection should be no longer than three (3) pages.
  • Attach a copy of the article with your review/reflection.

Week Eleven, Twelve & Thirteen

  1. introduce the education student to three contemporary models of teaching and learning, mental discipline, natural unfoldment and apperception
  2. Five (5) competing interests for control of American schools
    • Humanists
    • Developmentalists
    • Social Efficiency Educators
    • Social Meliorists
    • Progressives/John Dewey
  3. Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Froebel, Herbart, Dewey, Counts, Bagley, Taylor, and Adler
  4. Quiz on Readings due November 7

Assignments:.

  1. REQUIRED ASSIGNMENT:

    Assignment #1: Educational Philosophy Essay (FEAPs 2, 3)

    Description:  A teacher’s educational philosophy guides his/her practice in the classroom and is their guide for decision-making.

    Directions: You will write a well-developed and though-out essay that discusses your personal philosophy of education and theorists that have influenced your philosophy. Write a well-thought out and complete essay that includes the following:

    1.     Personal Information

    2.     Use APA format in writing the essay and cite any references that are used.  Essays should be two typed pages.

  2. Assignment #2: Teacher Interview/Role of the Teacher (FEAPs 2, 3, 11)

    Description: Veteran teachers can provide preservice teachers with invaluable information: advice, practical tips, and guidance. 

  • Directions: You will interview a veteran classroom teacher, one who has been teaching for a minimum of five years.  After completing the interview the student will write a two-page critical reflection/summary paper based on the answers the teacher gave to the questions asked during the interview. Sample Teacher Interview Questions can be found at the end of the syllabus.
  • Develop a list of questions (you may use the sample below) to ask a veteran classroom teacher.
    • Write a two-page critical eflection/summary paper which includes the following:
    • Summary/reflection of the information elicited during the interview process

Week Fourteen and Fifteen

  1. introduce the education student to behaviorism and constructivism as functional philosophical approaches to education.
  2. Quiz on Readings due November 18
  3. Quiz on Readings due November 24

Assignments:.

  1. Field Experience/Service Learning Journals (FEAPs 1-12)

    Description:  Chronicling your experience will allow you note your growth and progress as you move through the Teacher Education Program.

    Directions: You will create and maintain a field experience/service learning journal that includes a minimum of six entries.  Each entry will describe and reflect on the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs) as they relate to the field experience and observations at the field site.

    1.         Create a journal that you will use for the semester to memorialize your experiences.  The first entry in your journal should include an overview and demographic description of the field experience/service learning school site and any other relevant information about the school that would assist the reader.

    2.         Each the remaining entries in your class journal should include the following:

    a.         Date

    b.         Description of the activity in which you were involved

    c.         People involved in the activity

    d.         FEAP

    e.         How the activity relates to the FEAP

    f.          Your reaction to the activity

    3.         Each entry must be a minimum of three  paragraphs.

  2. Reflection Paper#20:: Support the following: “The acceptance of the public high school in the mid-nineteenth century affirmed democracy.” How did these U.S. high schools differ from the European high schools of the time? In what ways did these U.S. high schools still fall short of democratic principles?
Week Sixteen:

This week is devoted to finishing up your portfolio.

The portfolio must be submitted in LIVETEXT or on a CD-RW by December 15, 2009

It must include:

  • Nineteen (19) reflection papers
  • Four Required Assignments
  • All Quizzes
  • A cover page (if on a CDRW) with links to reflection papers, articles and tests (or quizzes), 

Turn in the evidence of your community service s hours (at least 15 hours; 30 hours or more for grade enhancement)

Kudos to those of you who have "endureth" until the end.  You have really accomplished something!