The Effective Urban Educator: Reflective, Innovative and Committed to Diversity

Read through this Web site in its entirety,
including all links, before starting,
and as your project develops.

It will make more sense as time goes on.

Course Description: This course is a culminating activity which allows students the opportunity to reflect upon their university learning by doing an individual project which demonstrates their ability to innovate in their classroom.  This project will be done with the consent and guidance of the instructor.

Goals:  When you are finished with your master's project you should have demonstrated at least two things; an understanding of the art of teaching social studies plus the ability to articulate an academic understanding of social studies education.

Advice:  Do not start this course if-

• You plan to get married

• You have a child on the way

• You are getting divorced

• You are coaching & do not have a good assistant coach

• Your parents or any other member of your close family are in bad health

Should any of the above be true, you may want to consider waiting until next year!

There are several ways to approach your project-

1. Do a traditional project by trying something new in your classroom.  The information below is designed to address this approach.
2. If you do not have a classroom, write a curricular piece where I am both your student (it needs to be interesting & relevant) and your administrator (it needs to be clear & concise).  Much of the information below still applies, but neither the BIC nor the hypotheses.
   
3. Do an educational project in conjunction with a community organization with my approval (remember TED 7000).
   
4. Go through the process for National Board Certification plus a brief reflection paper when you are finished.
   
5. Write a WebQuest (hints from TED 6020).
6. An original idea you have which you run by me & get my OK (this is how many projects started).
   

Expected Outcomes of the Course (Objectives):  As a result of completing this course you will-

• Be aware of & utilize the findings of other researchers
• Develop, conduct & evaluate a teaching project of your own choosing over which you have immediate control
• Develop & interpret data from at least two (2) data gathering instruments
• Learn & use APA style of writing
• Learn & use word-processing to complete a formal paper
  

The following is an e-mail from a student upon finishing his project-

Dr. Bob,

I just wanted to let you know that having to do the project was very beneficial to my teaching practice. It is has, of course, broadened and deepened my understanding of and ability to do arts integration work. It will, I think, be very helpful to me next year as well. I entered a National Board Certification program for next year. The first class was yesterday, and I can see that the practice of having written this paper for your has already geared me up for the work I'll be doing all next year.

Traditional Project: (the sequence is important)

#1, #3, #6 & #7 must be approved before starting your project!  You should contact me as you approach each of these steps to get approval!!  This may prevent you from starting over.  After steps 1 & 2, the directions are only for a traditional project.

1. Pick a topic or a research question for your project with the consent of the instructor.
2. Your project will be word processed APA style (spelling & grammar count)*
3. If your project involves humans [students], you need to download & fill out the two page COE BIC form before you do anything else.
   
4. Using ERIC or other library databases, find and read articles from several researchers, theorists & practitioners related to your topic (remember the Scavenger Hunt from TED 7000).
   
5. Using APA style, from your reading, prepare a review of the literature (which becomes Ch. 2) & a Reference List.  For assistance, there is the Library Tutorials button on the left side of Blackboard and the Library tab at the top of the page where you enter the site for ED 7999.
   
6. Make and have approved at least two (2) hypotheses related to your research (included with the BIC).
7. Find or design at least two (2) data gathering instruments for your research (included with the BIC).
8. Write an introduction (which becomes Ch. 1).  This is a good time to submit your first draft, Chapters 1-3.
   
9. Tell us how you will conduct your project (Ch. 3).
   
10.  Conduct & write up your research (APA style).
11. The results become Ch. 4, the commentary becomes Ch. 5.
    

• An I will be given unless all the assignments are completed.
• An I grade is good only for a year & then it becomes a F (see WSU grade policy below).  In this case, a year is the last day of classes of the following Winter Semester.

• If you do not finish your project in one year and you wish to get your degree, you must enroll in ED 7999 again.

• S (Pass) will be given for completed projects.

Class Policies:

• Each student is expected to work independently, with guidance from the instructor at important stages.
  

• You are also expected to use (receive mail from) your WSU email account.

• You are expected to understand Plagiarism and you are expected to not do it.

• You may not use as sources or cite Wikipedia or Web sites which do not have authors.
  

• After the semester you take the course, your projects will not be reviewed from the last week of classes through the first week of classes of the next semester.  The exception to this is Summer Term.

• You should plan to get an I grade this semester and complete your work by April of the following year; preferably much sooner.
  

• For a small chance to finish the semester you take the class (Winter), you must have your first draft in by the Week after the WSU Spring Break & be done by the last day of classes.

• If you have a documented disability that requires accommodations, you will need to register with Student Disability Services (SDS).  You should do so before the start of each semester or no later than the first class.

Class Schedule: After meeting the first week, you are expected to contact the instructor through email for assistance or to make an appointment.

Required Text: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (latest edition)

Assistance With Writing:

Occasionally a good teacher gets to the project stage of the program and has issues with writing. Your project is a master (formal) piece and it may demand you move your writing skills up a notch or more plus learn & use APA style. If you have problems with writing you may be asked to call the free service on campus, The Writing Center, at 577-2544. Calling a week ahead is advised.

Regardless, read Effective Editing

Handouts:

Thinking about a topic

Link to Finished Master's Projects

Getting Started on Your Project

Grammar (how do I use an ' ?)

Writing a Hypothesis

APA Style

References

Chapter Style Suggestions

Sample Table of Contents

Sample data Table

Title Page (the very last thing you need to do)

For WSU Library Resources-

• Sign in to Blackboard & click the tab at the top of the page or go to your ED 7999 class & click on the Library button (best) 
  
• Library YouTube video page
• Library “beta” page for library tutorials. It is an ugly page, but has some good videos.
• Also—here is a link to the Education Guide
• The Teacher Education Division Guide
• The Social Studies Program Guide
• You can get to the Guides from the library homepage  by selecting GUIDES then select EDUCATION from the list

Important Notes

---

Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin,
is the great equalizer of the conditions of men,
the balance wheel of the social machinery.

 --Horace Mann

This page updated January 2009