MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

 

COURSE: FOED 1110

 

Instructor:  Dr. Tammie Brown         Office Hours:  M-W-F (8:00 am to 9:30 am)                                         

E-mail:  tsbrown@mtsu.edu                                    T-Th Laboratory

Phone:  898-2325, 898-2128                                                      Experiences (and by appointment)

            896 – 4550,585 3062

Office:  LRC 173

 

 

Website: www.mtsu.edu/~tsbrown

                            

Text:  Text:  Foundations of American Education (L. Dan Webb, Arlene Metha, and K. Forbis Jordan) Fourth Edition – Meet Class First

Educating Esme:  Diary of a First Year Teacher (Esme Raji Codell) – Required

 

The course introduces students to the “Teacher as a Reflective Decision-Maker” model outlined and described by Ernest Boyer.  This experience will assist the prospective teacher in evaluating personal qualifications in relation to professional demands.

 

The student will be able to:

1.         Describe general programs in the student’s area of emphasis and express educated opinions regarding educational issues through written and oral communication, which is supported by technology.

2.        Demonstrate an awareness of the characteristics generally associated with successful teaching and make a personal assessment of their own qualifications as a prospective teacher.

3.         Demonstrate an awareness of the scope of the teacher’s responsibilities in the public school setting and/or the relationship of the teachers’ work to the community at large.

4.        Demonstrate knowledge concerning operation of the American public school system, particularly in regard to its involvement in American society, the goals it seeks to attain, and the methods by which it is organized, governed, and financed.

5.        Demonstrate an awareness of the organization and operations of schools in Tennessee, teacher preparation programs, certification requirements, and career opportunities in the teaching profession.

6.        Demonstrate awareness of the multicultural and diverse nature of American society and implications for teaching, to include concern for differences in students owing to socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural background.

7.        Construct an initial and basic philosophy toward the various aspects of teaching, including discipline, classroom management, and methods of instruction.

8.        Demonstrate an awareness of federal/state/local involvements in governance of education and of financial support at these levels.

9.        Demonstrate an awareness of professional organizations for school personnel.

10.   Understand the educational heritage, which America gained from other national and cultural settings.

11.   Understand broader cultural and societal influences on education.

12.   Understand current educational issues by placing them in proper historical perspective.

13.   Understand the problems of education and educational issues at the regional, state, and national level.

14.   Understand the role, which schools of social, religious, philosophical, and scientific thought have had on education.

15.   Understand the contributions made to education by individuals of significant historical importance.

The course is designed to provide an “overview” of the education profession, which means that many issues and topics are presented and covered by skimming the surface.  Depth to each topic is provided in subsequent courses throughout the certification and degree process.

 

Major Topics

1.     Teaching as a Profession

2.     Structure of Schools, Public School System, and Issues/Trends

3.     Overview of School Law, Governance, and Finance

4.      Foundations of Education-Historical and Philosophical

 

Themes

1.      Education is basically a state responsibility.

2.     The quality of education varies greatly from state to state and community to community.

3.     The federal courts greatly influence the operation of public schools.

4.     Schools reflect the problems of society.

 

If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible.  Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.


Activities Required of Students

1.     Teacher Interview Paper (Field Journal) (15 points) ______

2.     Mini-lesson/Oral Presentation (15 Points)_________

3.      Attendance and Active Participation in Class Discussions, ten articles, and special assignments. (15 points) ____________

4.       Participation, completion of Web-enhanced course assignments, and the Meta Analysis Paper based on Educating Esme (25 points)_______

5.        Exams (30 points) ________, __________, ____________

(One Exam will be the outline and review of  “At The Essence of Learning: Multicultural Education”)

Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class.  If you arrive late, it is your responsibility to make sure the instructor has counted you present.  Students showing up late or leaving early without permission of the instructor will not be counted as present for that day.

Evaluation and Assessment Procedures

1.      Exams

2.      Class Projects/Interview

3.     Active Participation (class discussions and presentations)

4.       Mini-lesson (with lesson plans)

5.      Web-enhanced assignments/ articles

6.      Special Assignments

Course Requirements

1.      Each person must give an oral report before the class on a topic assigned by the instructor.  The length of the report will be about eight (8) minutes.  The report will be graded according to content, organization, poise, clarity of expression, appropriate use of notes, and time management.  You must use the overhead or Power Point and have one visual aid.  Reading of the presentation will result in immediate termination of the report.  This should be regarded as an experience in teaching the class about your topic.  Try to explain it in your own words.  This is not a speech!  When teaching the class you should speak clearly, establish eye contact, have an interesting opening, put vital information on the board, speak at a moderate rate, show enthusiasm, stress key points, have a good conclusion and a avoid slang expressions or the usual---“you know,” “you see,” “uh,” and “say like.” Check the Internet and textbook, the Education Index, Education Week, Kappan Fastbacks as possible sources.  The reports and dates will be assigned the second-class meeting and you are responsible for giving your presentation on the date assigned you. 

2.      (Field Journal) Each student will interview a public school teacher and turn in a written analysis of the results.  The interview questions will be developed in class and the submitted report should be three typed pages, stapled and without a coversheet or plastic cover.  You may not interview a relative, first year teacher, and retired teacher or college instructor.  The report will be graded on the quality of writing and the ability to analyze the interview results.  The source of the interview must be kept anonymous.  In writing the report avoid a long summary of the teacher’s views and omit listing or repeating the questions.  You should concentrate on what influenced the teacher’s thinking and what issues were of importance to that person.  You should determine if the teacher appeared informed, clear thinking and consistent.  Attach a list of your questions to the end of your paper.  Conditions that might influence a teacher’s attitude would be working conditions, the students, faculty, parents, and other responsibilities.   

 

3.   Important information regarding a WEB-ENHANCED course

The course requires students to develop an awareness and understanding of what it takes to be a professional educator and to form opinions regarding educational topics and issues.  This is a web-enhanced course- web assignment classes will be days not met in class but sent on the web which must be completed by the designated time and date and submitted via e-mail to the instructor and/or in class as designated on the syllabus. (tsbrown@mtsu.edu) The web assignments will be counted as both attendance and as assignments.  The assignments must be posted on the designated date and cannot be made up at a later date-no assignments--web-based or class-based-- will be accepted late.  In addition, students must actively participate in in-class discussions and seminars- a good portion of the final grade will be based on in-class participation and attendance.  Due to the fact that the course is web-enhanced- this makes attendance on scheduled days Essential to successfully completing the course. 

 

 (All students must pass a 25 question multiple-choice test on the teacher education program.  Failure to do so will result in an incomplete in the course.  You may take the test as often as necessary to pass.)

 

GRADING SCALE:  Due to the nature of the web-based course, points will be accumulated throughout the semester. 

 

Total number of possible points= 100

A = 100 – 92

B = 91 – 84

C = 83 – 76

D = 75 – 60

F = Below 60

 

SUGGESTIONS:

1.                 In order to give students an opportunity to better control their own schedules and to utilize web-based learning environments classes will not meet within the structure of a classroom for web assignment classes.  However, if the web-assignments are not completed as scheduled, a student will be unable to earn an “A” for the course (Calendar of Due Dates).  REMEMBER:  Keep up with web assignments and adhere to the submission dates of assignments. (Web Assignments) Adhering to the ATTENDANCE POLICY is necessary for successfully completing the course.  Because of the abbreviated meetings it is also easy to “Forget” to come to class on the days we do meet.  I strictly adhere to the attendance policy because the course is a professional education core course required for state licensure.

2.                 Keep up with your total points throughout the semester.

3.                 If you have a question regarding a grade, speak with or email the instructor as soon as possible (tsbrown@mtsu.edu)

4.                 Adhere to assignment deadline.

5.                 If you have a question regarding an assignment or need clarification, please speak with the instructor as soon as possible – not the day the assignment is due.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORAL REPORTS-TEACHING THE CLASS

 

1.      Absenteeism

2.      ACT-SAT – are they fair?

3.     Affirmative Action Programs for Women and Minorities

4.     Aids (disease) and school attendance

5.     Alcoholism Among Youths

6.     Alternative Schools

7.     American Federation of Teachers - a Teachers’ Union

8.      America’s Drug Problem

9.     Attendance Problems – dropouts

10. Attention and behavioral disorders – use of Ritalin

11. Autistic Child

12. Bilingual Education – ESL Programs

13.  Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka – The desegregation case of 1954

14. Buckley Amendment – Student records – Privacy Act

15. Title One – Disadvantaged students – federal law

16.  Child Abuse – Physical

17. Child Abuse – Emotional

18.  Code of ethics for teachers

19.  Colonial education in America

20.  Corporal punishment 

21.  Gangs, Drugs, and Other stuff in a Diverse Environment

22.  Culture Groups in the United States            

Other topics may be considered