Alabama State University s2

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SYLLABUS

FOR

Modern Issues in Education

COURSE NUMBER: EDU 531

COURSE DESCRIPTION Examination of issues pertaining to

education in K-12 environments based

on readings and student research.

CREDIT HOURS: 3 semester hours

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Joseph S. Freedman

TELEPHONE: (334) 229-5060

OFFICE: 324 Councill Hall

OFFICE HOURS: As posted and distributed to the students

in EDU 531; students also receive e-mail

addresses and additional telephone numbers

at which the instructor can be contacted

Individuals not enrolled in EDU 531 can

contact me by leaving a message at

(334) 229-5060 and I will return their call.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: As explained within the syllabus (Section XI.)

Any student requiring alternative formats for testing and/or handouts for this

course and/or other types of accommodations, due to a handicapping or

other condition, should advise the instruction within the first week of classes.

Prepared by ______

Joseph S. Freedman, Ph.D. (Date)

Approved by ______

Chair, Foundations and Psychology Dept. (Date)

Approved by ______

Dean, College of Education (Date)

I. EDU 531: Purposes

II. EDU 531: Objectives

III. EDU 531: Evaluation and Minimum Standards

IV. EDU 531: Course Objectives within Course Components

V. EDU 531: Weighting and Grading of Course Components

VI. EDU 531: Instructional Methods

VII. EDU 531: Instructional Materials

VIII. EDU 531: Use of Technology; ALSDE Technology Standards; ISTE Standards

IX. EDU 531: NCATE Standards

X. EDU 531: Dispositions

XI. EDU 531: Alabama State University: Class Attendance Policy

XII. The Alabama State University’s College of Education Conceptual Framework within the Context of EDU 531

XIII. EDU 531: Appendices

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I. EDU 531: Purposes

A. To familiarize students with general issues -- as well as various and divergent

viewpoints relating thereto -- pertaining to education at the K-12 level.

B. To familiarize students with selected philosophical issues pertaining to

education at the K-12 level.

C. To familiarize students with specific issues, challenges, and opportunities

pertaining to teachers having various subject specialties as well as to

other professional educators.

D. To familiarize students with issues concerning Special Education, multicultural

education, and other diversity issues pertaining to education at the K-12 level.

E. To teach -- and/or reinforce the ability of -- students in the domain of 1.

research with online catalogs, and web sites, 2. outlining and writing skills,

3. technology skills, 4. oral presentation skills, 5. examination taking skills.

II. EDU 531: Objectives

A. Demonstrate knowledge of issues pertaining to K-12 education

(All subsequent knowledge objectives pertain to this objective.)

1. Students demonstrate knowledge concerning general issues pertaining

to education -- and various and diverse viewpoints pertaining thereto --

at the K-12 level.

2. Knowledge concerning selected philosophical issues pertaining to

education at the K-12 level.

II. EDU 531: Objectives (continued)

A. 3. Knowledge concerning specific issues, challenges, and opportunities as

relevant to teachers having specific subject specialties as well as to other

professional educators.

4. Knowledge concerning issues pertaining to diversity -- including Special

Education and multicultural issues -- relevant to education at the K-12 level.

B. Demonstrate ability to articulate knowledge of issues pertaining to education at

the K-12 level by carrying out research, preparing and delivering oral presentations,

preparing outlines, writing essays, and writing in-class essay examinations, and

effectively utilizing relevant technology. (All subsequent ability objectives pertain

to this objective.)

5. Ability to use technology appropriately, and in particular, the ability

(a) to utilize online catalogs, online databases, and professional web sites;

(b) to format word-processing documents (including outlines, signs, and

essays) in order to effectively communicate subject content; (c) to use e-mail

and send attachments using e-mail programs; (d) to use Blackboard;

(e) to utilize and add information to and interactive online forums

6. Ability to conduct research using online catalogs, databases, web sites

and -- as appropriate, non-published printed materials (i.e., policy manuals,

handbooks) and interviews

7. Ability to outline material effectively in order communicate subject content.

8. Ability to write effectively and well.

9. Ability to present orally -- using a prepared outline -- to adult audiences.

10. Ability to follow directions when taking in-class examinations

III. EDU 531: Evaluation and Minimum Standards

In EDU 531 each student will be required to complete the following:

A. Two oral presentations (each between 10 and 20 minutes in length)

accompanied detailed outlines, copies of which will be distributed to the

teacher and all students in EDU 531 when that they are given.

1. Presentation 1: will cover individual chapters of the required textbook

devoted to general issues pertaining to education at the K-12 level

III. EDU 531: Evaluation and Minimum Standards [continued]

A. 2. Presentation 2: detailed, research-based presentations on either

(a) specific issues, challenges, and opportunities as relevant to teachers having specific subject specialties as well as to other professional educators

or (b) specific philosophical issues pertaining to education at the K-12 level

B. Mid-Term Project: an annotated bibliography covering resources in various

formats (printed, audiovisual, and electronic) on two separate subject-matters

corresponding to the Presentation 2 and Final Paper topics of each individual

student.

C. Final Paper: a research-based essay on either (a) specific issues, challenges, and opportunities as relevant to teachers having specific subject specialties as well as to other professional educators or (b) specific philosophical issues pertaining to education at the K-12 level.

Each student may select -- with the approval of the instructor -- a Final Paper topic that is complementary but not identical to his / her Presentation 2 topic.

D. Three Additional Assignments

1. A “sign” or “space” that could be hung or otherwise located at a K-12

level educational institution.

2. An “article report” written on an article pertaining to multicultural and/or

comparative and/or international education.

3. Five entries into the online Graduate Foundations Forum

(<http://www.alasu./education> <-- College of Education Forum),

including one entry (in Section I. 5. thereof) on the Alabama State University College of Education’s Conceptual Framework.

E. Final Examination (In-Class): This examination covers the following assignments in EDU 531: Presentation 1, Presentation 2, and the “Article Report” pertaining to multicultural and/or comparative and/or international education.

F. Each student is required to send each assignment -- with the exception of the

the final examination -- to the instruction via e-mail and to load each

assignment -- with the exception of the final examination -- electronically

onto Blackboard (as explained via written instructions given to students).

IV. EDU 531: Course Objectives within the Framework of the Course Components

1. The Presentation 1 topics correspond to Knowledge Objectives 1 and 3 and also require Ability Objectives 5 (b, c, d), 7, 8, and 9.

2. The Presentation 2 topics correspond to Knowledge Objectives 2, 3, and 4 and also require Ability Objectives 5 (b, c, d), 7, 8, and 9.

3. The Mid-Term Project requires Ability Objectives 5 (a, b, c, d) and 6.

4. Final Paper topics correspond to Knowledge Objectives 2, 3, and 4 and also require Ability Objectives 5 (b, c, d), 7, and 8.

5. Additional Assignment 1 requires Ability Objective 5 (b, c, d).

6. Additional Assignment 2 corresponds to Knowledge Objective 3 and requires

Ability Objectives 5 (b, c, d) and 8.

7. Additional Assignment 3 requires Ability Objectives 5 (c, d, e) and 8.

8. Final Examination (In-Class): Corresponds to Knowledge Objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4 and requires Ability Objectives 8 and 10.

V. EDU 531: Weighting and Grading of Course Components

To pass Objective A or Objective B the student must earn 70% of the possible points for that objective.

1. Presentations 1 and 2: 20% each (Objective A) 400 points

2. Mid-Term Project: 15% (Objective B) 150 points

3. Assignments 1 (2%), 2 (8%), and 3 (5%) (Objective B) 150 points

4. Final Paper: 20% (Objective A) 200 points

5. Final Examination (In-Class): 10% (Objective A) 100 points

Grading

A. Assignments 1, 2, and 3 are graded on a Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory basis.

A grade of Satisfactory means that all possible points (20, 80, or 50) are given

for Assignment 1, 2, or 3, respectively.

A grade of Unsatisfactory means that no points (0, 0, or 0) are given for

Assignment 1, 2, or 3, respectively.

V. EDU 531: Weighting and Grading of Course Components [continued]

Grading [continued]

B. All remaining components for the course are graded on an A - F scale (as

delineated below):

The final grade is arrived at as follows. For an A, B, or c, pass objectives A and B

and earn

A = 900 points or more; B = 800 - 899 points; C = 700 -799 points;

D = 600 - 699 points; F = less than 600 points

VI. EDU 531: Instructional Methods

1. Lectures

2. Student Presentations

3. Panels of Guest Presenters

4. Class Discussion (in connection with 1., 2, and 3. above)

VII. EDU 531: Instructional Materials

1. Required Textbook:

2. Books and audiovisual materials (found via online library catalogs), serial articles

(found via the Alabama Virtual Library, via online databases subscribed to by

ASU, and in print), books in electronic format (via NetLibrary), doctoral dissertations and master’s theses (accessed online via Digital Dissertations), and

material from web sites of interest to professional educators.

VIII. EDU 531: Use of Technology; ALSDE Technology Standards; ISTE Standards

1. Students use e-mail in order to communicate with the instructor and with each other as warranted. Students receive all grades -- and comments pertaining to their grades -- via e-mail.

2. Students use word-processing programs in order to compose and format outlines, compose and format a final paper and to design a sign or space to

to utilized in a K-12 educational setting.

3. Students use online library catalogs, online databases, and web sites of

interest to professional educators.

4. Students utilize the Blackboard module for the instructor’s EDU 531 course.

5. Students utilize and add information to the online Graduate Foundations Forum

(<http://www.alasu.edu/educaton> <--- College of Education Forums)

Alabama Department of Education Technology standards incorporated into 1.-5. above:

Knowledge Standards 1, 4, 6, and 10

Ability Standards 1, 4, 6, and 10

ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) incorporated into 1.-5. above :

II. (C.); IV. (B.), V. (A., D.)

General Preparation Performance Profile (3., 7., 9.-12.,15.)

Professional Preparation Performance Profile (1., 6., 10., 16., 19.)

IX. EDU 531: NCATE Standards

Standard 1 (Dispositions for all Candidates) pertains to Knowledge Standard 2 and

is facilitated through the mastery of Ability Objectives 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Standard 4 (Diversity: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Curriculum and

Experiences): This standard corresponds to Knowledge Objective 4.

X. EDU 531: Dispositions

1. Focuses primary on regarding EDU 531 as a learning experience and as an aid

to becoming / serving as a highly qualified professional educator in his or her

current and future areas of specialization. (Objective 4).

2. Therefore, the student in this course does not focus primarily on (a) the course

grade for EDU 531 nor on (b) the minimum requirements for EDU 531.

3. Raises questions and discusses problems -- of a general and/or personal nature --

in a non-confrontational manner.

4. Aims to network with (other) education professionals while fulfilling the course

requirements for EDU 531. (See page 4 of Appendix 6)

5. Is motivated to develop his / her own vision and educational philosophy

6. Is motivated to help fellow students and to work with other students as a team /

in groups as appropriate.

7. Turns in assignments / fulfills all other course requirements on time and contacts

the instructor in a timely manner in such cases where this is not possible.

8. Attends class regularly. Informs the instructor in advance if (a) attendance a

given class session is not possible or (b) if tardiness or leaving class early on

a given day is necessary.

XI. EDU 531: Alabama State University: Class Attendance Policy

[effective Spring Semester 2004]

Each student is expected to attend all lectures, seminars, laboratories and field work for each registered course, including the first class session. Attendance is required to verify official enrollment and continuance in each course. When students are absent from class for authorized reasons such as death in the family, illness, hindrance by true emergency situations or University activities, they will be allowed to make up assignments/examinations that they missed. Instructors, of course, are not obligated to provide makeup opportunities for students who are absent, unless the absences have been officially approved. Official excuses can be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs. An officially excused absence, however, merely gives the individual who missed the class an opportunity to make up the work and in no way excuses him or her from completing the course requirements. Students receiving veterans benefits are required to attend classes according to the regulations of the Veterans Administration, in addition to those requirements set by the University for all students.

Instructors are required to keep an accurate attendance record for all students enrolled. It is the responsibility of the student to withdraw from the University or drop a course, within the allowed timeframe, when this is the desired course of action.

XII. The Alabama State University’s College of Education Conceptual Framework -- The Educator as Decision Maker: 1. Change Agent, 2. Reflective Practitioner,

and 3. Lifelong Learner -- within the Context of EDU 531

1. EDU 531 aims to provide students -- who are either already teachers or are

working on “Alternative A” certifications in order to become teachers -- with

(a) knowledge of general issues in a continually changing K-12 educational environment, (b) knowledge of issues pertaining to the continually changing work environments of professional educators having various subject specializations, and

to effect positive changes within educational institutions at the K-12 level.