Course provides an overview of teaching as a profession in the U.S. educational system. Course examines the historical, social and philosophical development and current state of U.S. public education. Issues, policies, and trends in education are explored, including diversity and equity, organizational structure, governance, finance, law and ethics. Students will investigate the role of teacher as advocate and identify ways in which schooling might be structured to build equity and social justice. Fifteen hours in local, K-12 school settings are required.
Course provides opportunity for observation in a local school for students planning on transferring to a four-year College of Education. Content includes thirty hours of required in-school experiences in a local K-12 school. Students will explore and reflect on various educational philosophies and pedagogical strategies in relation to their observation. Students will write a personal philosophy of education statement. Apart from the in-school experiences, this course is conducted on-line.
Course introduces students to key historical, sociological and political contexts of education and asks students to critically examine the role of education in a diverse and pluralistic democracy. Students will develop an awareness of race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, and other lines of difference, and identify ways in which schooling might be structured to build equity and social justice. Students investigate aspects of their own cultural identity and biases, as well as learn strategies for culturally-responsive, anti-bias, anti-racist teaching practices.
Course focuses on application of psychological principles to educational practice. Content includes exploration of children's and adolescent's cognitive, socio-emotional, and linguistic development, learning processes, and motivation. Students will examine learner-centered instruction, culturally responsive teaching, and assessment strategies that acknowledge learner differences and student diversity. Students will investigate the role of teacher as advocate and identify ways in which schooling might be structured to build equity and social justice. Twelve hours in local, K-12 school settings are required.
Course provides hands-on experience in using technology for education majors. Students will identity, explore, and evaluate digital resources and tools for learning. Students will analyze the role of technology in education in society, develop strategies to compensate for the digital divide among students, and apply accessibility guidelines and requirements for digital content. Focus is on increasing technological fluency, and developing creative and meaningful integration of technology into teaching in today’s inclusive classrooms.
Course surveys historical, philosophical and legal foundations of K-12 special education. Content includes an overview of characteristics of individuals with disabilities, strategies for meeting the needs of all students within general education classrooms and specialized settings, and assessment strategies. Students examine laws that protect the rights of all children to access free, appropriate, public education programs, in particular, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Students will explore the diversity of exceptional learners, as well as the intersectionality of ability with race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation and gender identity. Twenty hours in local, K-12 school settings are required.
Course explores selected topics in educational foundations. Content included varies, and may focus on particular aspects of history, sociology, and philosophy of education, and comparative education. Course may be taken for credit up to four times on different topics. Fee Varies.