Introduction to Education: Understanding and Evaluating Education

Calendar and Assignments

Full citations for the readings listed below can be found in the Readings section.

WEEK	TOPICS	READINGS	ASSIGNMENTS	KEY DATES
1	Introduction Classroom pre-practicum Current events overview Blogs and portfolios Goals, expectations, and assignments Activity 1: teaching without words (PDF)	“Introduction to Portfolios” How Students Learn (Chapters 1, 5, 9)	Assignment 1: observations in MIT classrooms (PDF)
2	Misconceptions Activity 2: how students learn jigsaw Preconceptions Facts and conceptual understanding Self assessment Videos: “A Private Universe”  “Minds of Our Own” Misconceptions discussion Current events	“Misconceptions Reconceived” (PDF) “More Than Misconceptions” " Assessing Student Learning"	Assignment 2: conquering your misconceptions (PDF)
3	Classroom observations MIT observations discussion Writing introductions Current events&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2/9/2009%20to%202/9/2009)			Assignment 1 due
4	Formative assessment In-class activity: formative assessment Current events
5	Standards and standardized tests Texas standards and standardized tests TEKS - High school science standard     - High school math standard     - Middle school science standard TAAS     - 11th grade science standard     - 11th grade math standard     - Biology standard Massachusetts state framework-comparison Current events Discussion of first classroom observations	“Knowing What Students Know” “Assessment in Practice” “Teaching Standards, Tests Found Not Aligned”		Assignment 2 draft due
6	Differentiated instruction and multiple intelligences Brainstorming ways to differentiate instructions Readings jigsaw Differentiating math instruction Classroom observations Current events	“Differentiated Instruction” “Multiple Intelligences” “Multiple Intelligences After 20 Years” Multiple Intelligences Test Laboratory Styles Mixed-Ability Classrooms Grading for Success	Assignment 3: position paper on differentiated instructions (PDF)
7	Catch up and writing Writing activity Discussion of classroom observations Current events
8	Educational technology and teaching with media Physics lab (PDF) Discussion of classroom observations Current events Current events	“Impact of Educational Technology on Student Achievement” (PDF). Oversold and Underused Web 2.0 Teacher Survey (PDF)	Assignment 4: comparison of media (PDF)	Assignment 3 due
9	Educational technology and math education Math educational technology Labyrinth Discussion of classroom observations Current events
10	Math education and writing Special guest: Robert Gerver Town hall preparation Writing work Current events and observations Introduce final assignment - Planning final projects	“Guided Inquiry in the Science Classroom.”	Final assignment (PDF)
11	Standards town hall Town hall meeting-standards (PDF) Final portfolio info		Final portfolio (PDF)
12-14	Final projects Design and teach a lesson	“Putting Principles into Practice: Teaching and Planning.”		Assignment 4 due Final assignment due Final portfolio due