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Introduction to the Teaching Profession Syllabus

Course Description | Overview and Course Goals | Course Competencies
Course Policies | Required Text | Course Schedule

Course Description

EDUC 1301 Introduction to the Teaching Profession

This course is an introduction to and analysis of the culture of schooling and classrooms, and examines the major social, economic, historical, political and philosophical issues related to American education.  Social objectives are used to provide a framework for highlighting the study of the education setting. The course includes a required 16 contact hour field experience. Students must be THEA passed in both reading and writing to enroll in this class.

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I. Overview and Course Goals

Welcome to Introduction to the Teaching Profession (EDUC 1301) on line! This course focuses on an introduction to and analysis of the culture of schooling and classrooms.  By the end of the semester the student will be able to satisfactorily complete all the listed learning objectives. The 10 papers required in this class are listed in the Course Schedule below. Each of these papers is worth 5 points. The internship is worth 40 points. There is only one exam, the final exam, which has 50 multiple choice questions worth .2 points each, for a total of 10 points.

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II. Course Competencies

If you successfully complete this course you will be able to demonstrate an increasing level of competency in each of the following:

Examine diverse personal and social characteristics – ethnicity, gender, language, exceptionality, socioeconomic statue – and evaluate their significance for teaching, learning, and assessment

Ability to design and evaluate strategies and tools for communicating and interacting with diverse families in varied settings

Demonstrate understanding of the legal requirements for educators, especially those related to child abuse, students’ rights, families’ rights, discipline and equity

Apply procedures for acquiring, analyzing and evaluating electronic information

Use resources and support systems effectively to address professional development needs and work productively with faculty, mentors and peers

Read and comprehend assigned reading material, demonstrating the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials

Write in an intelligent and informative manner, demonstrating the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience

Display listening skills at a level that demonstrates the ability to analyze and interpret various forms of spoken communication

Think critically in analyzing information, demonstrating the ability to evaluate arguments, to construct alternative strategies, and to be an effective problem solver

Display increasing technology skills, demonstrating the ability to use computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information

Display respect, acceptance and appreciation for diversity

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III. Course Policies

Ground Rules for On Line Participation

This is an on line course designed to give you direct, one-on-one feedback on assignments. You are expected to complete your work online. If you have problems transmitting your assignments to me, contact me immediately, and we'll come up with a plan B. Assignments should be completed and successfully submitted, so that they are in my hands by midnight of the day assigned. There is no penalty for early submissions, but points are deducted from assignments that are submitted late. To avoid late assignments, always plan to submit early giving you a chance to beat the deadline even with "technical difficulties." DON'T FORGET THE DEADLINE DATES.

1. I will not accept any assignments from you until you have received an email from me saying that you have successfully completed the orientation. Anything sent to me prior to that time will be returned to you. The orientation is located on the main page at www.amyglenn.com/courses.htm.

2. Students should use e-mail for all course communication ... not the telephone. If you have an emergency or if your internet access goes down, don't hesitate to call me. My cell number is given on the main Courses page. Confusion of concepts, being late on an assignment, not understanding an assignment and so on ... do not constitute emergencies. All communication other than emergencies should be handled by email.

3. Conventions of online etiquette, which collectively embody courtesy to all users, will be observed at all times. You can find these on the main courses page under Email Etiquette, which is required reading for your orientation.

4. Students may get assistance with computer-related problems through their college's computer help department. It's possible I can help you with the smaller things ... but I'm a social scientist, not a techie!

5. While most assignments are submitted for evaluation in your online portfolio, occasionally you will be required to submit an assignment by email. Any assignments that are submitted by email must be pasted into the body of the email. I encourage you to complete the assignments in Word, Word Perfect, or whatever word processing software you use, and then copy and paste the assignment into the body of your email message to me. Save your assignments in case you need to resend one for some reason. I do not accept files attached to email. Nor do I accept assignments in forwarded emails, faxed work, or work that is snail mailed, unless you are directed to send an assignment by one of these methods.

6. When emailing me, always use EDUC 1301 as your subject line. The subject line must look exactly as I have typed it here - capital letters, one space, and the course number - with nothing else in the subject line. Emails using the wrong subject line will not reach me. I get several hundred emails each day and so have very strict spam controls on my software. Emails with any other subject line usually get deleted before I ever see them.

7. I usually respond to all emails, if only to say "I received your message." If you do not get a response from me within 48 hours, chances are I did not get your email. Try three things. First, check to make sure you had the appropriate subject line on the email you sent. Second, check the computer that you used. When I reply, I do not type your address into a new email. I use the 'reply' button. This means that the reply goes straight back to the address from which you sent your original message. If you sent your message from a friend's machine, or work, or school, that's where my response went. Finally, check the announcements on the main Courses page. You must check the announcements frequently. I post anything that affects a number of students as an announcement, rather than using several hours to respond to each of their individual emails. Things such as schedule changes, syllabus corrections, absences, computer problems and so on will always be posted under the Announcements section.

8. Some of you print out the syllabus. I must caution you that the official syllabus and schedule are online. Although I detest making changes in the middle of a class, I do have that right as your professor and occasionally it is necessary. You are responsible for knowing any changes that are made while you are enrolled in the course. More importantly, I often put announcements in the syllabus. If you're working off of a printout, you miss those. If you work off of a printout, make sure you remember to check the online syllabus often!

Academic Honesty

Institutional policies are in effect. All your work must be your own, unless I authorize collaboration, in which case you must, in writing, acknowledge the help you have received. Presenting as one's own work the words, ideas, or expressions of another in any form is cheating through plagiarism, and is not tolerated by your institution or by me. The claim of ignorance is no excuse. The web is a marvelous resource for today's students. I encourage you to use web resources in preparing your work. However, any sites used must be listed at the end of your work. Too, using web resources does not mean you can copy-and-paste from a site for use in your assignment, even if you give credit to the site. Your work must be precisely that ... your work in your words. I use web resources extensively and I can usually spot a copy-and-paste job instantly. At the least, I will refuse to accept your assignment. At the worst, students are frequently expelled for academic plagiarism. It's a huge risk for a limited return.

Requirements & Grades

You will receive a grade for every assignment you complete. You must keep up with those grades and take responsibility for tracking your total during the course. You do not need to email me with questions about your grade. The grading scale is as follows: A = 90 or above; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = 59 or below. I do NOT average grades or use percentages. I simply add up the points you earn for all assignments you complete. The final exam is worth 10 points, each of the ten papers (two of which are the Listening Skills assignment and the Critical Thinking assignment, rather than papers) is worth 5 points, and the Internship Report is worth 40 points. The assignments add up to a potential of 100 points.

Copyright © 1996 Amy S. Glenn
Last updated: 01 September 2010