Teaching Assistant: Cetaura Bell

Course Description: Theories of social education; contrasting curricular designs, their assessment and evaluation; critique of research; study of curricular improvement programs

Course Objectives: To . . .

• Address the needs of a master's student in their classroom
• Address the cognitive demands of the College for a master's student
• Have students become more familiar with professional literature; including books & periodicals
  
• Have students become involved with a social studies organization
• Have students use current events to discuss social issues
• Have students exposed to & discuss controversial issues
  
• Use technology; including wordprocessing, email & the Web
• Realize you need to first win the heart of your students before their head
  
• See the instructional methods in this class as a model for constructivist teaching

Assignments (details in class):

Weekly-

1. (30%) Be here and meaningfully participate in class

2. (24%) Demonstrate having read three (3) professional articles.

3. (21%) Demonstrate your ability to write at the graduate level by writing a 3-5 page paper.

• Topic is college student plagiarism; Why do they do it & what can be done to prevent it.
  
• Use APA style
• Contains at least one paraphrase
• Contains at least one direct quote
• Reference List with at least two (2) sources (other than the one below), not Wikipedia or other source without an author.
  
• Possible subtopics are-

1. What is it?
2. Why do college students do it?
3. What can be done to reduce it?
4. Reflect upon what you learned by researching & writing this paper.

4. (10%) One page write-up of a very creative, hands-on/heads-on lesson plan (as discussed in class)

5. (10%) Participate in a field trip due the last day of class *

6. (5%) Join a social studies professional organization this semester, either NCSS, MCSS or one cleared with the instructor*

7.  (FYI) Read Effective Editing

Selected Tentative Due Dates:

February 16- Have The Cunning of History by Richard Rubenstein (for the Holocaust Seminar) read

March 2- Second Article Discussion

March 30- Paper Due +

April 6- Bring Old Thing to class + Creative Lesson Plan; both to share with class

April 20- (last day of class)- Scavenger Hunt due* (see #5 above) + Last Article Discussion

Class Policies: Participation is important in a democracy and in this social studies seminar.  Every student is expected to be in class for each meeting.  Absences in this class are just absences; they are neither excused nor unexcused and you lose credit (3%). 

Telephones and beepers should not be heard in the classroom. 

To contact me outside of class, use email  & sign up for WSU Broadcast Messaging through Pipeline (under WSU Resources on the left).  

If you have a documented disability that requires accommodations, you will need to register with Student Disability Services. 

You are expected to understand Academic Integrity & not commit Plagiarism.

Because of the extraordinary variety of religious affiliations represented in the student body, the Wayne State University calendar makes no provision for religious holidays. It is University policy, however, to respect the faith and religious obligations of the individual. Students who find that their classes or examinations involve conflicts with their religious observances are expected to notify their instructors well in advance so that alternative arrangements as suitable as possible may be worked out.

Be aware of the new (as of Fall 2011) Drop & Add Policy.

Class Schedule: The instructor in consultation with the class will determine deadlines & specific assignment details.  Due to the nature of the class, the schedule may change following a discussion in class and a follow-up email. 

Three class sessions in March (2, 9 & 23) will be a Holocaust seminar, the third one will meet at a different location.  In addition, other class sessions may occasionally meet off campus (details in class).  Be flexible & you may enjoy the class more.

Evaluation & Grading:  A=94-100, A-=90-93, B+=87-89, B=83-86, B-=80-82, C+=77-79 & C=73-76 of a possible 100 points.  All assignments may be turned in only on the day of class. Being late to class or leaving early may be a deduction of 1%.  Each  absence will lower your grade by 3%.  Participation in a social studies conference is worth +3%. An incomplete (I grade) may be given only for good reason, after completing a contract with the instructor and may not be for a grade higher than a B.

Required Materials:

• Class copies of any group assignments (may send via Blackboard/email)
• The Cunning of History by Richard Rubenstein (for the Holocaust Seminar)
• Active WSU email account for general class announcements

Educational Theorists or Schools of Thought:

Affective Education (Krathwohl, Kaplan, others)
Alternative Assessment Wad Ja Get
Classroom Management (Wong)
Conflict Resolution
Constructivism (Papert, Piaget)
Emotional Intelligence (Goleman)
Gardner, Howard Frames of Mind
Glasser, William Quality School or Quality School Teacher
Goodlad, John
Group Work (Johnson & Johnson)
High Stakes Testing (State Standards, MEAP,  etc.)
Hirsch Jr., E.D.
Interdisciplinary Learning
Kirschenbaum, Howard Wad Ja Get
Kohlberg, Lawrence Stages of Moral Development
Multicultural/ Global Education
Multiculturalism: A Different Mirror
Oakes, Jeannie (Tracking)
Professional Ethical Responsibilities (copyrights, behavior, treatment of students, etc.)
Ravitch, Diane
Rogers, Carl Freedom to Learn
Role of the Social Studies teacher (Dewey, etc.)
Sizer, Theodore Horaces’ Compromise
Student Evaluation (portfolios, authentic assessment, etc.)
Teaching Controversy Teaching As a Subversive Activity
White Privilege (Peggy McIntosh & Robert Jensen)

Resource for Maslow- http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM

Resources for Bloom-

• http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/ctac/blooms.htm
• http://www.officeport.com/edu/blooms.htm
• http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/bloom.html