Introduction to Education: Looking Forward and Looking Back on Education

Calendar

WEEK #	TOPICS	ASSIGNMENTS
1	Introduction Course overview and rationale Observations Moodle site (assignments, blogs, portfolios) Assignments and Grading
Section I: Schools and Classrooms Images of schools Classroom environments School issues Education reform
2	What are schools like? What do we think schools are like?
3	Education reform: Waiting for Superman wrap up Brainstorm: What are the major problems in education? See the class' list of problems Definitions of education reform Waiting for Superman response
Section II: Math and Science Education Collaboration and competition Constructivist theory of learning Long-term retention Transfer
4	Schooling America presentation Straw Towers Activity Writing Activity Current Events	Due before the next class: Straw Towers, Classroom Environments, and Personal Experiences
5	Math education Theory and practice teaching and learning math handout Tinkering Toward Utopia presentation Current events	Due: First blog entry—first observations
6	Physics-pulleys Schooling America Current Events	Due: Straw Towers final version
7	Math Education II Math games Design a math game Tinkering Toward Utopia Current Events
Section III: Technology in the Classroom Constructivist/Constructionist technologies The state of technologies for learning
8	Schooling America Current Events Technology centered environments activity	Due: Lego Pulley Activity
9	Introduction to modes of teaching Technology posters presentations Town Hall Debate Preparation Town Hall Debate	Due: Blog focus (student observations) Due: Technology in Education poster Due: Technology Centered Environments Paper draft
10	Math Games presentations Schooling America Current Events	Due: Test run of math game
Section IV: Modes of Teaching Practice teaching Compare and contrast modes of teaching a topic: lecture, demo, hands-on
11	Modes of teaching: Probability demo Probability lecture I Probability hands-on Probability lecture II	Due: Math game in Moodle
12	Modes of teaching: Punnett square demo Punnett square lecture	Due: Technology Centered Environments Paper final version
13	Tinkering Toward Utopia/Schooling America presentation Current events Modes of teaching: Punnett square hands-on Projectile motion hands-on
14	Modes of teaching: Projectile motion lecture Projectile motion demo Differentiation hands-on Differentiation demo
15	Modes of teaching: Differentiation lecture Wrap up	Due: Portfolio and Final Paper