Syllabus

Week 1 - Introduction

• Classroom Pre-Practicum
• Portfolios 
• Our Goals and Expectations  (PDF)
• Activity - Opinions on Teaching (Pictures)
  • Opinion Dynamics Participatory Simulation (PDF)
  • Play your own version with PDA Participatory Simulations at  http://education.mit.edu/pda/idiscussion.htm
  • Sample Picture (PDF)
    
    
• Activity - Teaching Without Words (Pictures More Pictures)
  • Teaching Without Words (PDF)
  • Teaching Without Words (PDF 1) (PDF 2)
    
    
• Course Texts 
  • How People Learn (available at the Coop, Online, or at Amazon)
  • Understanding by Design (available at Amazon)
    
    
• Readings
  • Portfolio Assessment Introduction 
  • How People Learn - Learning: From Speculation to Science
    
    
• Assignment
  • Observations in MIT Classrooms (PDF)

 

Week 2 - Misconceptions and MIT Observations

• Video - Into Thin Air
• Discussion on MIT Observations
• Readings
  • Misconceptions Reconceived 
  • More Than Misconceptions
    
    
• Assignment
  • Conquering Your Misconceptions (PDF)
    
    
    

Week 3 - Concept Mapping

• Concept Mapping
  • Concept Maps Examples (PDF)
    
    
• Assignment
  • Create a Concept Map (PDF)
    
    
• Readings 
  • The Theory of Concept Maps and How to Design Them  
  • Concept Map Examples 
  • Concept Mapping Software 

   

Week 4 - Understanding and Classroom Observations

• Concept Mapping Continued
• Concept Map Examples 
• What is understanding? (I know I understand when... I know you understand when...) (PDF)
• Discussion of first classroom observations 
• Readings 
  • Understanding by Design - Understanding Understanding and Six Facets of Understanding (Chapters 3 & 4)
    
    
• Assignment
  • First Classroom Observations (PDF)

   

Week 5 - Assessment and Standardized Testing

• Video - Testing, Testing, Testing
• Texas Standards and Standardized Tests
  • TEKS High School Science and Math Standards
    
    
• Middle School Science 
  • TAAS Grade 8, Exit, Biology, Algebra I
    
    
• Who should set standards? 
• Assessment design and performance assessment
  • PowerPoint Handout - Performance Assessment (PDF)
    
    
• Massachusetts State Frameworks
• Achieve Standards Database
  
• Readings 
  • Knowing What Students Know
    • The Nature of Assessment and Reasoning from Evidence and Assesment in Practice
      

• Teaching, Standards, Tests Found Not Aligned (Education Week)
  
  

• Assignment
  • Classroom Observations
    
    
• Assignment 
  • Assessment Design (PDF)
    

 

Week 6 - Modes of Teaching

• Practice Teaching - Density and Area of Polygons (pictures)
  • Modes of Teaching (PDF)
  • Teaching in different modes - Lecture, Lab, Discussion... 
    
    
• Discussion of Classroom Observations 
• Readings 
  • How People Learn - The Design of Learning Environments
    
    
• Assignment 
  • Classroom Observation

Week 7- Classroom Management and Understanding Kids

• "Classroom Quirks" (Video) 
• Discussion of Classroom Observations 
• Clasroom Management
  •  Dicussion of Classroom Management (PDF)
  • Tips for Teachers (from Students) (PDF)
    
    
• Readings 
  • How People Learn - Effective Teching: Examples in History, Mathematics and Science
    
    
• Assignment 
  • Classroom Observations

Week 8 - Educational Technology

• Physics Lab
  • Explanation of Lab (PDF)
  • Learning through Different Media (PDF)
    
    
• Discussion of Classroom Observations 
• Readings 
  • Impact of Educational Technology on Student Achievement 
  • How People Learn - Technology to Support Learning
    
    
• Assignment
  • Classroom Observations

Week 9 - Educational Technology

• Physics Lab cont.
• The Science Behind the Art of Teaching Science (Barry Kort and Rob Reilly) 
• Discussion of Classroom Observations 
• Readings 
  • Oversold and Underused
    
    
• Assignment
  • Comparison of Media (PDF)
    
     
• Assignment
  • Classroom Observations

Week 10 - Careers in Education

• Teacher Profiles and Visits 
• Education Research and Evaluation 
• Informal Education 
• Environmental Detectives 
• Introduce Final Assignment (PDF)
• Discussion of Classroom Observations 
• Standards For Success 
• Assignment
  • Classroom Observations
    
     
• Readings 
  • How People Learn - Teacher Learning

Week 11 - Math Education

• Special Guest - Math Education with Robert Gerver
• Assignment 
  • Planning Final Projects
    
    
• Readings 
  • Understanding by Design - Implications for Organizing curriculum
    
    
• Assignment
  • Classroom Observations

Week 12 - Lesson Planning

• Learning to Plan Lessons (PDF)
  • Lesson Planning Presentation (PDF)
  • Lesson Plan Analysis Protocol 
    • Education World  
    • NSDC
      
      
  • Readings 
    • Understanding by Design - Implications for teaching and Putting it All Together

  
  
  
  Week 13-14 - Final Projects
  

  • Design and Teach a Lesson 
  • Final Portfolio HTML Help 
    • HTML Tutorial   
    • HTML Basics (See Especially Images and Links) 
    • Also take a look at some free editors
      
      
  • Final Project - Design and Teach a Lesson (PDF)