Summer I, 2005

Instructor: Dr. Ludmila Smirnova Ph.D

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to involve students in critical analysis and examination of the cultural, social, economic and technological trends and developments affecting pupils, schools and their staffs. Issues addressed will include: the breakdown of the nuclear family, latch-key children, alienation, psychological evaluation, multiculturalism, poverty, equity, the development of a sense of community and respect for one another, and excellence for children with and without disabilities. Examination of historical, cultural, legal, and sociological contexts will illuminate the complexities and conflicts in initiating change in schools and an entitlement program such as special or remedial education. (MSMC Catalogue, 2002-2004, p. 64)

PRE-REQUISITES : None

SOURCES for the online course:

Teachers, Schools, and Society , Myra Pollack Sadker, David Miller Sadker. 6-ed, 2003 McGraw Hill

Readings and Internet resources will be assigned while the students are preparing their weekly assignments. Readings will focus on research, theory and practice, emphasizing international, historical, cultural and alternative approaches to schooling.

GENERAL COURSE OUTCOMES

 Upon successful completion of this course, students will be expected to:

Teaching and Learning strategies used to reach outcomes :

Inquiry-based teaching and learning.

Standards, Project-based instruction.

The instructor invites active participation of all the students through questions, comments, reactions, and the sharing personal educational thoughts, experiences, intentions, and values.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are responsible for:

1.      Doing the readings assigned from the online textbook chapters’ overview and

INTERNET resources.

2.      Presenting weekly Summary of Learning Outcomes in the Reflective Journal.

Reflections should be focused on any assigned readings, topics discussed in group,

and in an on-line class sessions, etc. and they must be substantive in response,

demonstrate skills of critical analysis, synthesis of any given and discussed course

topics.

3.      Researching for and completing 10 assignments to each topic of the course,

submitting responses through the webct.

4.      Preparing for class on-line discussions by reading and doing the assignments

posted for every week and participating in every week Discussion Forums.

• Participating in 15 hours of group on-line discussions outside the class sessions, to be documented and saved in text files.
• Presenting the final Educational Change Project (a critical analysis that shows a clear understanding of content researched and discussed in the paper, the ability to relate that content to previously learned material, and insight into how the student will apply that information to teaching practices in the future as an educational change agent. (Follow the guidelines and the Rubric).
• Rubrics and samples of the best students' projects are provided on the webct course site.

Extra Effort Assignments . During the course the students will be offered different assignments and projects and encouraged to use extra efforts, creativity in completing those assignments. In the first class in person meeting the students will learn how to use the discussion format in WebCT. In this discussion forum everybody can post comments and reactions about the content of the sessions with the peers in the class. The students will be given points for each quality Forum discussion they will initiate. Quality discussion postings should reflect higher order thinking skills and in-depth reflections. If a student makes at least one quality Forum discussion posting and start all the other sessions then s/he can earn 2-3 extra credit points. If any assignment of the course is completed on an average level it will be graded accordingly. The students who will accept the challenge to use extra efforts and creativity in all assignments’ design their efforts will be evaluated with extra credit points. Today’s schools need creative teachers. This is a chance to develop your creativity.

Availability of Instructor

Instructor is available via webct course mail and in emergency: smirnova@msmc.edu milasunshine@hotmail.com 845-294-0751 (home)

GRADING

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

Responses to each of 10 assignments (each of a different value)

posted on the WebCT = 35 points

Participation in groups as documented in WebCT Discussion

Forum, group saved text files and in Self evaluation Form (10/10) = 10 points

Educational Change Project = 40 points

Summary (3 Entries) in the Reflection Journal = 15 points

Grading Scale :

ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend and actively participate in all scheduled on-line classes, be required to meet with assigned groups for a total of 15 hours on-line in addition to the schedule and post reflections on class topics on the Discussion Form Posting Board every Thursday.