Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

EDUC2110

Investigating Critical and Contemporary

Issues in Education

 

Spring 2008

Bowen Hall

 

 

 

INSTRUCTOR:          Mrs. Amy Warren                                             OFFICE:  217, Bowen Hall

OFFICE HOURS:       MW 9:30-11:30 & 3:30-5:00

                                    TR 9:30-11:00

                                    Moultrie Hours: TR  3:15- 4:50

  PHONE:        229-391-5093 or  229-391-5080 (Division Office)

              FAX:             229-391-5081

              E-MAIL:       awarren@abac.edu

 

TEXTBOOK:   Sadker, David M. & Zittleman, Karen R.  Teachers, Schools, and Society a Brief Introduction to Education,  1st Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2007. 

 

OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS:           

-- Proof of liability insurance (Professional organization options)

            -- Verification of criminal records check ($3.00)

            -- Thumb drive, jump drive

             

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course engages students in observations, interactions, and analyses of critical and contemporary education issues. Students will investigate issues influencing the social and political contexts of educational settings in Georgia and the United States. Students will actively examine the teaching profession from multiple vantage points both within and outside the school. Against this backdrop, students will reflect on and interpret the meaning of education and schooling in a diverse culture and examine the moral and ethical responsibilities of teaching in a democracy. Ten hours of field experience in an approved educational setting are required.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of EDUC 2110, the student will be able to 

1.       Investigate and describe contemporary schools and the interplay of school and society via selected social, historical, political, economic, philosophical, and cultural issues that influence those schools.

  1. Discover, explore, and describe current issues and trends in schools (ie. Bullying, curriculum mandates, vouchers, privitazation, testing and evaluation, federal and state policy, reform initiatives, standards, and changes in curriculum)  using disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields and the lenses of analysis, critique, and interpretation.
  2. Analyze their legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities as future teachers.
  3. Explore their core values and reflect on how their values influence their beliefs about “good” teaching and schooling in democratic contexts.
  4. Develop and refine a philosophy of teaching for contemporary schools by exploring who they are as a potential teacher (eg. Examining  their own agenda and prejudices as they relate to teaching and learning) and what dispositions they have for teaching diverse students in current Georgia and U.S. school contexts.
  5. Analyze the implications, benefits, and challenges concerning the use of technology in contemporary Georgia and U.S. classrooms.

 

 

The above outcomes will be achieved through a combination of class lecture/note taking, discussions, small group work, cooperative learning projects, field observations, readings and written assignments, in class assignments, online discussion and responses, videos, independent and small group research, case study analysis, and tests. 

 

 

GRADING POLICY:                                      in class (IC), out of class (OC), and WebCT Vista (WV)

Assignments

Completion Category

Outcome Correlation

Total Points

1. Scavenger Hunt: Milestones in Education

OC

1,2 & 6

125

2. Professional

Portfolio:

 

 

 

IC / OC

 

 

“All About Me” Ppt or Movie maker

 

4

40

+

Philosophy of Education

 

3, 4 & 5

40

+

Letter To Yourself

 

3 & 4

20

+

Letter of Recommendation

 

 

5

+

Outside Activities Summary

 

 

15

+

Scan Diploma

 

 

5

+

        Total Portfolio Points:

 

 

125

3. Issues and Trends in Education Debates

IC/OC

2 & 6

100

4. Field Experiences

OC

State Requirement

50

5. Discussion Board Postings on Field Experiences

WV

 

50

6. Final Portfolio Evaluation

 

 

25

7. Class Participation

IC

 

25

8. In Class Activities and Homework

IC / OC

1,2,3,4,5,6

100

9. Pop Quizzes (10 Points Each)

IC

 

50

10. Final Exam

IC

 

100

Total Course Points:          

 

 

Note:  Perfect attendance:  Add one point to your final course grade!!!

 

 

THE RULES for EDUC 2100:

1.      Come to class every day, on time and alert.

2.      Participate in class activities, discussions, and assignments.

3.      Be respectful of other students by listening when someone else is talking, having an open mind, and responding when appropriate.

4.      Complete field experience hours as agreed upon with the site-based teacher(s).

5.      Do the work assigned to the very best of your ability.

6.      Read the assigned information.  Class will be much more meaningful if you do so.

7.      Turn in work on due dates at the beginning of class unless otherwise instructed by the instructor.  Assignments turned in late will not be graded.

8.      During field experiences, represent yourself and ABAC in positive ways.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY: The instructor will adhere to the attendance policy of the college. More than four (4) unexcused absences = FAILURE.  It is the student’s responsibility to keep all excuses for absences, and submit them to the instructor only if more than four absences occur.  Instructor maintains the right to verify excuses provided for absences at any time. Missing an exam will require a valid written excuse, submitted when the student first returns to class, regardless of the number of absences.  At no time will a student be able to make up a pop quiz that is missed due to either tardiness or absence regardless of the reason or excuse.  Any pop quiz missed will result in the student receiving a 0 (zero) for that assignment.  E-mails are not accepted as valid excuses. Three tardies = one unexcused absence.  Role is taken at the beginning of each class.  Students are expected to attend all class meetings scheduled for the course.  “Absence from class, for whatever reason, does not excuse a student from full responsibility for class work or assignments missed… Whenever a student is absent, whether for official or personal reasons, the student must assume responsibility and provide notice to the instructor, preferably in advance, for making arrangements for any assignments and class work missed because of the absence. However, final approval for make up work remains with the individual instructor. February 28, 2008, 4:30 p.m. is the final date for withdrawal from this course without penalty.   Withdrawal from the course is the responsibility of the STUDENT.   (Additional information on the college’s attendance policy can be found in the ABAC Catalogue.)

 

SPECIAL NEEDS STATEMENT:  ABAC, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, will make accommodations for students who require special assistance because of a disability.  If you require modifications, it is your responsibility to provide documentation of your needs at the beginning of the semester, and you must also notify the Vice-President and Dean of Student Affairs on the second floor of the J. Lamar Branch Student Center.  The instructor is not responsible for individual accommodations until proper documentation is provided by the student.  Any course grades received by the student prior to the presentation of proper documentation to the instructor will not be re-evaluated.

 

CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK:  Many local school systems require that persons working in schools on a regular basis must have a criminal records check.  All students enrolled in the course must complete this in order. Students must go to the Tifton Police Department, 527 Commerce Way, and ask to have a basic records check.  You will need to provide the police department with your Social Security Number and $3.00.  You will be given a completed verification form, which must be shown to the instructor before you begin field experiences; the form will then be returned to you.  Ability to proceed in the course will be determined on a case by case basis for students whose criminal record check does not come back clean.

 

GUIDELINES FOR OBSERVING IN SCHOOLS

1.        Arrive on time.  DO NOT enter a class after it has begun, or leave before it is over.  (This does not apply to primary, self-contained classrooms.)  Enter and leave quietly.

2.        On the first day of observation, report to the office, introduce yourself and state your purpose for being there.  Wear your ABAC identification; the school may issue you a nametag as well.

3.        Ask about parking, then park where you are told to park.

4.        Dress professionally.  Slacks, blouses and skirts or dresses for females; jeans, sport shirts or golf shirts for males; NO T-SHIRTS.  NO HATS.  NO SHORTS. Low necklines, exposed abdomens, and low riding pants create very negative impressions in local schools.  Dress like a teacher, not a student!

5.        After the first day, always sign in at the office, both on the school form and on the ABAC form, which will be kept at the school. 

6.        On the first day, give your introductory letter to the teacher; write down his/her e-mail address. Ask where to sit.  Send each teacher’s e-mail address, name, school name and county to your ABAC instructor. 

7.        Participate in the classroom activity if you are invited to do so by the teacher.

8.        Take notes on the environment and classroom activities; comment on all aspects of the setting, including situations you do not understand/would like to discuss.

9.   Students will submit a journal entry  for each hour of observation  

   REMEMBER:  YOU REPRESENT ABAC.  CONDUCT YOURSELF IN A MANNER THAT WILL REFLECT POSITIVELY ON THE INSTITUTION, AND ON YOU!


 

  

GACE Basic Skills Tests:

 

 GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators): One of the teacher certification requirements in Georgia is passing a basic skills exam; the Praxis I or PPST was used until Summer 2006.  Beginning in Fall 2006, the GACE Basic Skills Test replaced Praxis I.    For details, go to the Professional Standards Commission website:  http://www.gace.nesinc.com/index.asp.  To check future test dates you can access the websire.  Cost is $20 registration fee, plus $25 for each of the three components (reading, writing, and math) of the Basic Skills Test = $95.00. You may want to take two tests on one date, and the third on another date.

 

 IMPORTANT!!!  The Praxis I or GACE Basic Skills Test must be exempted or passed for admission to Teacher Education programs in the University System.  FAILURE TO SIGN UP, TAKE, AND PASS THE TESTS WILL DELAY YOUR ACCEPTANCE INTO TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS!!  Praxis I Passing scores are:  Reading – 176; Math – 176; Writing – 174: Composite 526.  GACE Basic Skills Test passing scores, when determined,  will be posted on the Professional Standards Commission website.  Passing scores are required in each of the three areas of the Basic Skills Test.  A scaled score of 220 is required to pass a test; the scaled score is not reported if the student passed, but is shown if the student did not pass one of the areas. 

EXEMPTIONS:  Praxis I or the GACE Basic Skills Test may be exempted if high enough scores are obtained on the SAT, ACT or GRE. Exemptions scores are as follows: SAT exemptions: minimum combined verbal and mathematics score of 1000; GRE exemption: minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 1030;   ACT exemption: minimum combined English and mathematics score of 43.

NOTE:  You might want to consider taking the SAT or ACT to try to exempt the GACE Basic Skills Test  since those tests are somewhat less expensive and can be taken on the ABAC campus.    Talk with Dr. Maggie Martin in the ABAC Student Development Center about registering for the SAT or ACT; testing dates can be viewed at http://www.abac.edu/studentdevelopment/RegentsExam/Testing%20Schedule.htm


 

ABAC ATTENDANCE POLICY

Courses at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are provided for the intellectual growth and development of students.  To attain maximum success, students must attend all their classes, be on time, and attend all scheduled course activities including, but not limited to, field trips, seminars, study sessions, individual conferences, and lectures.  This interaction with instructors and other students is an important element of the learning process, and a high correlation exists between class attendance and course grades. A student must understand the importance of regular participation in classroom and laboratory activities. The absence of any student affects not only his or her performance but the performance of the class as a whole. Absence from class, for whatever reason, does not excuse a student from full responsibility for class work or assignments missed. Students must accept this responsibility.

 

Instructors will keep accurate attendance records and must report the individual number of absences with midterm and final grades. Students whose number of unexcused absences is more than twice the number of class meetings per week (the equivalent of two weeks of instruction) will receive a grade of “F” for the course.  Fewer absences than twice the number of class meetings per week may result in grade penalties at the discretion of the instructor.  Specific attendance requirements applying to labs, clinics, accelerated classes or Learning Support will be adapted to the unique situation by the appropriate division.  Final determination of what constitutes an excused absence rests with the classroom instructor.  In implementing this Policy, faculty will not include in a student’s unexcused absences those absences incurred due to authorized and approved College sponsored events (or in the case of joint-enrollment students high-school sponsored events) in which the student represents the institution as part of a group or under the direct supervision of a faculty or staff member.

 

Whenever a student is absent, whether for official or personal reasons, the student must assume responsibility and provide notice to the instructor, preferably in advance, for making arrangements for any assignments and class work missed because of the absence. However, final approval for make up work remains with the individual instructor.

 

A student who stops attending class without officially withdrawing from the course is subject to this attendance policy and will receive a grade of “F” for the course. At the beginning of each semester, instructors will explain clearly to their students specific attendance requirements (including possible penalties). Additionally, they will publish the attendance policy on their syllabi and web-sites.A student penalized for excessive absences may appeal through the grade appeal process, as stated in ABAC’s college catalog and student handbook.      (7/28/05)