Trends and Issues in Teaching and Learning

Course Details

Course Number: EDUC 6013  Section Number: x10

Fall 2011

Classroom Number: Online

Days & Times:

Online

Course Attachments

Syllabus  6013fall11TrendsandIssuesa.doc

Textbooks

Best Practice  ISBN: 0-325-00744-6

Taking Sides  ISBN: 978-0-07-351520-5
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Robert Redmon   
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Course Objectives

Objectives 

  1. Candidates relate contemporary issues concerning teaching and learning to their teaching practice.
  2. Candidates explore the philosophical and theoretical foundations of contemporary school reform efforts.
  3. Candidates investigate recent school reform movements.
  4. Candidates learn the role of educational research in school reform.
  5. Candidates learn the role of teachers and educators in school reform.
  6. Candidates participate in professional dialogues focusing on "trends and issues in teaching and learning."

 Dispositions 

  1. Candidates actively engage in scholarly discourse.
  2. Candidates demonstrate openness to diverse perspectives and new ideas.
  3. Candidates demonstrate scholarly habits and persistence in the pursuit of learning.
  4. Candidates reflect upon their professional practice and the impact of the application or adaptation of new teaching methods.

Course Expectations

Read the assigned texts thoroughly and take notes. Reflect on the ways the assigned reading either inform or are informed by your professional experience. Apply this to participation in the online forum discussion and completing the study questions. 

Online Discussions and Study Questions involve informed participation in a series of graded online forum discussions throughout the course. Discussion topics and study questions are the same.  The questions are first discussed in the forum and then candidates prepare a formal, written response to each to be submitted to the instructor. Discussions for each module end at the same time the study questions are due.

Online Discussions are semi-formal exchanges of ideas, more similar to class discussions than chat room discourse. (Write in complete sentences.) The object of these discussions is engage each of the topics in a thoughtful and scholarly manner. Candidates read all of the posts of fellow students and respond to both the assigned discussion prompts and the comments of other students. To receive full credit for this activity, participation should be frequent and engaged. Contributions to the discussion and study question answers should both be related explicitlyt o the text and to personal experience and reveal thoughtful reflection.. 

The Book Report invites in-depth inquiry on an issue or trend of particular interest to the candidate.

Using the text as a guide to appropriate topics, candidates select a book that addresses a teaching or learning related issue or trend and then prepare a 3-5 page formal written report that summarizes the content of the book and relate that content to their professional experience, relevant journal articles, and the online discussion. 

Article Summaries inform both the online discussion and candidate's response to the study questions.  Articles related should have been published in professional educational journals and are accessed through Moffett Library's EBSCO electronic database. A one page summary of the article is then prepared including an APA reference statement, a brief content summary, and a commentary that relates the article to the issue under discussion and the candidate's professional experience. 

The Position Paper documents a candidate's informed position on some trend or issue of particular importance to the candidate. They are 3-5 page essays supported by at least 5 properly documented, peer reviewed sources. Candidates choose one of the many current trends or issues addressed by the course.


Submission Format Policy

All written work should comply with APA rules for manuscript style and documentation. All papers and the study questions are submitted electronically in MSWord (*.doc or *.docx) format.



Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

Late work is not accepted.


Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Although this is an asynchronous online course, students should participate in the discussion forums regularly.


Other Policies

Other Class Policies

 As the faculty of the West College of Education, we are dedicated to helping meet the needs of our students with disabilities and are eager to provide the accommodations to which such students are entitled.  If you have a documented disability and are registered with the Office of Disability, please let your instructor know to expect a letter from that office describing the accommodations to which you are entitled.  If you have a documented disability but are not registered with the Office of Disability, please contact that office immediately to register.

Plagiarism Statement

 "By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a 'limited right' in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course. The 'limited right' shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student's work product in order to verify originality, authenticity, and educational purposes." (Student Handbook)

 Plagiarism is defined as claiming credit for the work of another or improper/inadequate citation and documentation of sources of information (ideas) or direct quotations.  Plagiarism is a serious form of academic dishonesty.  If you are found to have committed plagiarism in this class, you will be dropped from the class with an F.   


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.