University of Minnesota Duluth 

 

Syllabus for Educ 1101: Education in Modern Society. Three credits--Fall, 2008

Class meets: M-W-F 2-2:50 , section 1 OR T 4-6:50

Final examination: Section 1: 10-11:55 Monday, December 15 OR Section 2: 12-1:55 Friday, December 19

                                         


Location: Montague 80

Instructor: Frank Guldbrandsen, Ph. D, D.Sc.


Office: 252 Montague Hall

Professor Guldbrandsen's Office Hours: M-W-F 1-1:45 or by appointment

Email: fguldbra@d.umn.edu

Telephone: 218-726-8172


Course description:
This course provides a survey of educational institutions and practices used in different sectors of society. Historical and philosophical foundations of American education are also explored.

Course overview:
Education in Modern Society is a category 7 offering of the Liberal Education Program at U.M.D. Category 7 is made up of courses focusing on historical and philosophical foundations. This course will introduce students to the history of education from the pre-Socratics to the post-modern world. Students will have a grounding in what it means to be an educated person; what are the philosophical roots of education; what are some of the most prevalent philosophies of education; differing approaches to curriculum; the nature of learning; the nature of the teaching profession; the history of American education; problems of equity in education; social and moral education; educational reform; and building educational communities.

 

Register your "clicker" here: http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/classroom/srs/responsecards.html

Required text:
Teaching on Principle and Promise: The Foundations of Education

Mary-Lou Breitborde and Louise Boyle Swiniarski

Book Website Link: http://college.hmco.com/education/breitborde/teaching_principle/1e/students/index.html

Tech support:  http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/helpdesk/

Principles of instruction:

Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Principles
UMD Education Department Conceptual Framework Themes
1. Knowing subject matter

2. Human development and learning
Social Justice  
3. Diversity in learning

4. Variety of instructional strategies
Reflection  
5. Motivation and management

6. Communication skills
Empowerment  
7. Instructional planning skills

8. Assessment
Collaboration 
9. Reflection and responsibility

10. Relationships and partners
Technology 

Course outcomes:
The Education Department of the University of Minnesota Duluth provides prospective teachers with a nationally a accredited program that is guided by learning standards. The following Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards and departmental themes are included in this course.

Course outcome

INTASC Principle and Standard of Effective Practice

UMD Education Department conceptual framework theme
Assessment of outcomes and standards
Demonstrate an understanding of schools as organizations within the larger community 3.14 Understand how to recognize and deal with dehumanizing biases, discrimination, prejudices and institutional and personal racism and sexism This outcome and series of standards will assist you to come to a better understanding of diversity.

Class quizzes

Comprehensive final examination

 

3.14

Understand how students' learning is influenced by individual experiences, talents and prior learning as well as language, culture, family and community values

   
Identify, describe, and explain the organization, operations, and rationale of a variety of education systems.
3. Diversity in learning
This outcome will assist you in making decisions, and therefore help you become more empowered

quizzes

Comprehensive final exam

Explain the historical and philosophical foundations of education.
9. Reflection and responsibility
This objective will require reflection and collaboration in studying diverse perspectives.

quizzes

Comprehensive final exam

Demonstrate an understanding of schools as organizations within the larger community.
 
10. Relationships and partners
This objective will require reflection and collaboration in studying diverse perspectives.
 

3.15

Understand cultural and community diversity and know how to lean about and incorporate students' experiences, cultures, and community resources into instruction

   
 

10.12

Understand how factors in student's environment outside of school may influence student life and learning

   
 

3.21

Understand that all children can and should learn at high levels and persist in helping all students achieve success

   
  .

Dispositions:
This course will help your develop and strengthen the following professional dispositions--or characteristics of mind, affect, and body.
1. Attendance and punctuality    2. Self initiative and independence    3. Reliability and dependability    4. Oral expression    5. Written expression    6. Critical thinking skills    7. Tactful judgment    8. Collegiality    9. Reflective response to feedback     10. Interaction with students, peers, teachers, others    11. Desire to improve own teaching performance    12. Commitment to the education profession    13. Positive attitude toward others     14. Professional ethics and demeanor.

Instructional strategies:
You will be working alone, in pairs, in cooperative groupings, in large groups, and as a class. Alone, you will read in preparation for class. As a group, we will look into the required readings in order to understand these from a scholarly perspective. We will also work together in pairs, cooperative groups, and as a class in order to examine, discuss, and interpret our materials and their implications for education in modern society.

Diversity:
Your diversity will be respected here. Your respect for diversity is necessary and expected. This course will involve a variety of perspectives in order to better understand education in (post) modern society

Participation expectations:
Participation is expected in all appropriate activities--except in the case of an emergency.

Assignment expectations:
All written work must be professional in nature. This means:

Assessment:

Item
Quantity
Points
Total
1. Journals 4
50
200
2.Quizzes

 

3
100
300

3. Discussions

10
30
300

4. Comprehensive final assessment

1
200
200
Total possible points:

1000

Grading: by percentage

A=915-1000
A-=900-914
B+=885-899
B=815-884
B-=800-814
C+=785-799
C=715-784
C-=700-714
D=600-699
F=<600

IMPORTANT
I INVITE ANY OF YOU WHO HAVE A DISABILITY, EITHER PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY, OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MIGHT AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM IN THIS CLASS TO INFORM ME SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN ADAPT METHODS, MATERIALS, OR ASSIGNMENTS AS NEEDED TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION.