Course Description
Students will explore the role of public education in a complex and diverse democratic society through course readings, class discussions, and active involvement in schools. Students will also examine various perspectives on controversial issues in education and consider the impact of policy and practice on students, teachers, schools, and society.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings, written work, and presentations will be
assigned to graduate students. The readings will focus on the
theory and research on current educational problems, policies,
and reforms. These issues will be investigated from both
historical and socio-political perspectives. Graduate students
will also be required to complete an additional research paper
and seminar presentation on a selected topic related to these
issues. All written work and project assignments will be
assessed with higher expectations and standards than those used
for undergraduate students.
Athena Title
Ed Exper in Class and Comm
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EDUC 2460L, EDUC 2460H, EDUC 4460H
Non-Traditional Format
This course is for a split level upper division undergraduate and graduate level version of EDUC 2460L. The intent is to make the opportunities provided by this course available to upper level undergraduate and beginning graduate students. The course includes exposure to and experience in P-12 school- and community-based educational settings. Students will be involved in educational settings through observation, tutoring, teaching, and/or service learning projects. Course includes two hours per week of lecture and four hours per week in the field at approved formal and informal educational settings.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will: •Develop an in-depth introductory understanding of the role schools and community educational programs play in supporting a democratic society. •Compare and contrast a variety of educational practices and critically evaluate the positive and negative outcomes of these practices. •Compare and contrast a variety of local, state, and federal educational policies and consider their impact on students, teachers, schools, communities and society. •Develop an understanding of and challenge prevalent stereotypes about the characteristics, abilities and needs of the diverse student population in public education. •Understand how schooling practices are a function of culture and context and can serve to reproduce or disrupt societal inequalities. •Compare and contrast their personal educational experiences with those of others, and move from a particularistic vision of education to an appreciation of how public education can be used to promote the “common good.” •Examine the organization and structure of our current system of public education, including the roles and responsibilities of various school-based personnel. •Consider how current reform efforts reflect long-standing societal debates and critically evaluate various plans and proposals to improve education.
Topical Outline
•Service learning •Education for democracy •Professional behavior and ethics •School organization and structure •Careers in education •Roles and responsibilities of classroom teachers •Local, state and federal accountability policies (standards and assessment) •Racial diversity and social justice •Impact of culture and language on educational processes and outcomes •Economic diversity, demographics and issues of school funding •Educational support programs (mentoring, afterschool, early childhood programs) •Educational reform efforts •The role of public education in society