CULTURAL VALUES IN EDUCATION

1

Term:  Summer, 2003-2004                                         

Course Number: EDU 391X

Instructor:   Garrard McClendon

Office:  Room 300

Office Phone: 219.473.7770

E-mail: gmcclendon@ccsj.edu

Home Phone: (219) 933-1590

Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday: 6:00 – 7:00

                       

Course Time: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

                        Monday & Wednesday, May 10th – June 22nd

                                   

Course Description:

This course will create an understanding of diversity with principles of a democratic education. An integrative interactive approach to address the preparation of teachers for the wide diversity of students they are certain to meet in their classrooms, schools, and communities. This course is an examination of the relationship of cultural values to the information of the child’s self-concept and learning. The lessons will examine the role of prejudice, stereotyping, and cultural incompatibilities in education. Emphasis is placed on preparing future teachers to offer an equal educational opportunity to children of all cultural groups. This course will integrate an understanding of diversity with principles of democratic education.   

 

Prerequisites:  None

 

Textbooks:

Cushner, Kenneth, Averil McClelland and Phillip Safford, Human Diversity in Education an Integrated Approach (New York:  The McGraw-Hill Companies, 4th Edition).

 

Excerpts from Sonia Nieto’s, A Light in Their Eyes and Jonathan Kozol’s Savage Inequalities.

 

Class Policy on Attendance:

Maintaining a professional persona involves being punctual and present. Because we meet two days per week, your class attendance is expected for every class session. To participate, a student must be present, therefore the participation grade is affected by attendance. Immediately contact your instructor if you have an unavoidable circumstance. In the event of an illness, please provide a physician’s memo with verification of illness. Two unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.

 

Assessment

 

Lesson

Quantity

Points

 

Total Points

Participation

14

5 points

 

  70

Quizzes

10

10 points

 

100

Blackboard Entries

7

10 points

 

  70

Interview Project

1 Paper/Presentation

50 + 50 points

 

100

Position Paper

1 Paper

100

 

100

Final

1

200

 

200

Total

 

 

 

640

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grading Scale: Percentile

Evaluation

All assignments must be completed on time. Adequate time will be given to complete assignments.  Grades of “A,” “B,” and “C,” are considered satisfactory work. Grades below a “C” constitute an unsatisfactory grade. 

 

A: 92-100           A-: 90-91          B+:  88-89     B: 82-87         B-:  80-81    C+: 78-79

C: 72-77             C-: 70-71          D+:  68-69     D: 62-67         D-:  60-61    F:  59 & below

 

 

Course Requirements

 

Class Participation

After reading the weekly materials, students will be expected to discuss the texts. Summaries and explanations are satisfactory on the surface, but students should analyze, compare/contrast, and evaluate the readings. Teacher candidates are required to read all chapters assigned in the syllabus as well as producing journal entries when prompted. 

 

Reflective Journal / Notes  (Blackboard)

Thoughts regarding assignments, discussions, classroom observations, and the readings should all be encompassed in your Blackboard Journal.  Students will submit these journal entries on the Calumet College Blackboard by the Saturday of each week.

 

Writing Requirements

(Interview – Brief – Group Presentation)

Individual students will be expected to conduct a 15-30 minute recorded interview with a student and write a brief of the interview’s diversity angle. Once complete, students will be placed in groups of 4 to discuss, analyze, compare, and contrast, their interviews. The group project will highlight the similarities and differences of each group member’s interview subject.

 

(Diversity Challenge Paper)

The position paper will be a separate assignment that forms an inquiry concerning the challenges of diverse schools. 

 

What are the challenges of a culturally diverse scholastic environment?

What are the challenges of a culturally non-diverse scholastic environment?

 

 

In your paper, list three challenges and support your challenges with the research of at least three scholars.  Please cite research materials.   Papers should be 4-5 double-spaced typed pages.  Be prepared to defend paper in a round-table discussion.

 

Quizzes

Weekly reading is critical to the student’s mastery of diversity topics. Quizzes will be given to insure quality reading and evaluation of the text. 

 

Final Exam

 A final exam for semester will be given on the final day of class

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connection of Standards of Course:

Furnishing teacher candidates with an opportunity to discuss and explore multiple possibilities for the diversity query, the goal of this course is to enable you to participate in learning activities that will provide you with the means to:

 

·         Explore challenges faced by educators working in schools with students possessing varied cultural backgrounds, language proficiency, socio-economic status, race and gender identities in hopes of designing instruction that begins with students’ understanding and fosters the conceptual development for all students

 

·         Engage various methodological approaches in order to effectively use multiple representations and explanations of disciplinary concepts that capture key ideas and link them to students’ prior knowledge

 

·         Interview and observe elementary, middle/junior high school, and/or senior high students in order to engage active research which utilizes students’ voices as a tool to wrestle with issues and theories in multi­cultural education

 

·         Incorporate the INTASC Principles

 

·         Incorporate Bloom’s  taxonomy

 

·         Use school and community resources that address diversity.

 

Learning Objective/ Competencies:

(In accordance with Bloom’s Taxonomy)

 

Teacher Education Students will be prepared to identify, address and meet the needs of students with different:

 

Teacher Education Student will be able to implement appropriate projects, activities, and methodologies that will embrace and promote cultural values throughout the classroom. 

 

Portfolio:

As of the 1996-97 academic year, the Education Program of CCSJ is requiring teacher candidates to develop a professional portfolio prior to the student teaching course.  This portfolio should contain examples of professional development from various courses and activities.  Many of the projects connected with this course would make appropriate additions to such a portfolio.

 

Format for Written Assignments:

The professional Education and Psychology communities have adopted the standards delineated in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.  The current work is the Fourth Edition, 1994, available in the bookstore and the library. Plagiarism is a serious unprofessional practice.  Please consult the CCSJ Student Handbook as well as the APA Publication Manual for a) a description of plagiarism and b) how to avoid it.

 Interstate New Teacher Assessment and

Support Consortium (INTASC) Principles

The Ten INTASC principles are listed below. Specific standards for knowledge, dispositions, and performances accompany each principle, but space does not permit listing them below. For a complete copy of the INTASC standards, contact Jean Miller, Director of INTASC, Suite 700, One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001-1431.

Principle #1:

The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and the structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.

Principle #2:

The teacher understands how children learn and develop, and can provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, and personal development.

Principle #3:

The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.

Principle #4:

The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.

Principle #5:

The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

Principal #6:

The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.

Principle #7:

The teacher plans instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, the community, and curriculum goals.

Principle #8:

The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the learner.

Principle #9:

The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.

Principle #10:

The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students’ learning and well-being.

 

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances.

 

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (APA – American Psychological Association).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD) students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD withdrawals.

 

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).

 

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. The Center has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better. Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27)

 

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. The Registrar must receive written request for withdrawal by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed.

 

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).