Scheller Teacher Education Program

11.124
Fall 2009 - DRAFT .2
TR 2:30-4:00 (24-121 as of 9/22, 1-379 until then

One of two introductory subjects on teaching and learning science and mathematics in a variety of K-12 settings. Topics include education and media, education reform, the history of education, simulations, games, and the digital divide. Students gain practical experience through weekly visits to schools, classroom discussions, selected readings, and activities to develop a critical and broad understanding of past and current forces that shape the goals and processes of education, and explores the challenges and opportunities of teaching. Students work collaboratively and individually on papers, projects, and in-class presentations. 

Go to Moodle Assignments, Forums and Blogs

Ongoing Assignments

• Current Events (see instructions here)
• Weekly readings from Left Back -A Century of Battles Over School Reform
• Weblogs (in Moodle)

Week 1 (September 10) – Introduction

• Introduction to Introduction to Teaching and Learning
• Class format and location
• Observations
• Moodle Site (Assignments, Blogs, Portfolios)
• Readings
  
  • How People Learn - Classroom Environments Theme
  • Left Back
    
• Assignment Overview
• Activities - Metaphors for Teaching and Learning (see Pictures and Drawings) + Teach Someone

Section I - Schools and Classrooms

• Images of Schools
• Classroom Environments
• School Issues
• Education Reform

Week 2 (September 15/17)

• What are schools like?
• What do we think schools are like?
• Video views of schools and classrooms
• Initial Discussion of Student Portfolios and Weblogs
  • See Education Web Logs
• Introduction to Current Events and Sample (Check out EdTags)
• Readings
  • Chapter 1 from How People Learn
  • The Hollywood Curriculum

Week 3 (September 22/24)

• Education Reform
• What are the major problems in education? Brainstorming 
  • Definitions of education reform
  • Activity - How does reform address (or fail to address) the problems in education?
• Classroom Environments Jigsaw
• Current Events and Left Behind Start
• Readings
  • Hot Topics - No Child Left Behind (Education Week)
  • No Child Left Behind (Official Site)
  • 10 Big Effects of NCLB 
  • Education Reform Readings - Ellmore, Darling-Hammond, Fullan (Handed out in class)
• Assignment (Due October 8)
  • Straw Towers, Classroom Environments and Personal Experiences

Week 4 (September 29/October 1)

• Straw Towers Activity Part I (powerpoint) (Pictures and Summary)
• Straw Towers Part II (pictures)
• Current Events and Left Behind
• Readings
  • Chapters 4 from How People Learn
  • Transformative Communication as a Cultural Tool for Guiding Inquiry Science (Pullman and Pea 2001)
• Assignment (Due October 2)
  • First Observations - Reactions posted to your Blog
    • Check out the info on getting your blog started

Section II - Learning and Assessment

• Ways of Learning and Types of Learners
• Standards and Assessment

Week 5 (October 6/8)

• Introduction to Modes of Teaching
• Math Education I
  • Binary Strings, Zigzag Paths, Pascal's Triangle
  • Combinations and Subsets
• Current Events and Left Behind
• Readings
  
  • Mathematics section of chapter 7 in How People Learn (p. 164-171)
  • NCTM: Process Standards, The Learning Principle and The Teaching Principle
  • Traditional Philosophy of Math Education
• Blog Focus (Due October 8)
  • Classroom Environments

Section III - Teaching

• Pedagogies and Practices

Weeks 8 (October 27/29)

• Math Education II
  • Math Games
  • Design a Math Game
• Current Events and Left Behind
• Readings
  • Developing mathematical understanding through invented games
  • Let's do math: wanna play?
• Blog Focus (Due October 29)
  • Student Observation
• Assignment (Due November 17/24 )
  • Math Games
    

Weeks 9-10 (November 3/5/10/12 )

• Modes of Teaching (Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4)
• Blog Focus (Due November 17)
  • Reflections on Modes of Teaching and Education Reform

• Informal Learning [Trip to the Museum of Science or MIT Museum ?]

Week 11  (November 17)

• Math Education II (Games Presentation)
• Current Events and Left Behind Catch-up

Section IV - Technology in the Classroom

• Digital Divide
• Modeling
• Internet

Week 11-13(November 19, 24, December 1, 3)

• Modeling and Simulation - Post and Read Projects in Moodle
  • BRING LAPTOPS TO CLASS 11/19 and 24
  • Constructionism - Learning through Programming
  • StarLogo TNG Website (contains tutorials and documentation)
• Concept Mapping and Teacher Education (Time Allowing)
  • Introduction to Concept Mapping
  • Concept Mapping 11.124
• Current Events and Left Behind 
• Readings
  • Chapters 3 & 9 from How People Learn
  • Changing How and What Children Are Learning...
  • Disrupting Class
  • The Theory of Concept Maps and How to Construct Them
  • Group Approach to Concept Mapping
• Assignments
  • Technology Centered Environments (written - Due 12/3)
  • Technology in Education (poster - Due 12/1 ) (Pictures)

Town Hall Debate

Week 14 (December 8,10)

• Town Hall Meeting Planning on Laptops in Schools 
• Current Events and Left Behind Catch-up
• Assignment (Due December 10)
  • Portfolio and Final Paper
• Wrap-up