DRAFT

11.125
Spring 2008

TR 2:30-4:00 (24-121)

Exploring K-12 Classroom Teaching
Prof. Eric Klopfer (klopfer@mit.edu)

Subject uses K-12 classroom experiences, along with student-centered classroom activities and student-led classes, to explore issues in schools and education. Students in this course spend time each week observing pre-college math and science classes. Topics of study include design and implementation of curriculum, addressing the needs of a diversity of students, standards in math and science, student misconceptions, methods of instruction, the digital divide, teaching through different media, and student assessment.


Go to Moodle Assignments and Forum



Week 1 (Feb 5 and 7) – Introduction

Week 2 (February 12 and 14) – Misconceptions

Week 3 (Feb 21) –Classroom Observation

  • Lesson Planning -Introduction to Mini-Lessons
  • MIT Observations Discussion
  • Current Events
  • Readings
    • Differentiated Instruction (handed out to groups for jigsaw)

Week 4 (Feb 26 and Feb 28) – Differentiated Instruction and Multiple Intelligences

Week 5 (March 4 and 6) – Standards and Standardized Tests

Week 6-7 (March 11, 13, 18 and 20) – Modes of Teaching

  • Practice Teaching - Density, Area of Polygons, and Osmosis(pictures)
    • Teaching in different modes - Lecture, Lab, Discussion...
    • March 11 - Math lecture, Math hands on
    • March 13 - Math Demo, Physics Lecture
    • March 18 - Physics Demo, Physics Hands on, Bio Demo
    • March 20 - Bio Hands On, Bio Lecture
  • Discussion of Classroom Observations
  • Current Events
  • Readings
  • Assignment

Week 8-9 (April 1, 3, 8, and 10) – Educational Technology and STEM Education

  • Physics Lab (pictures)
  • OLW Mythbusters activity
  • Math Ed Tech (WH)
  • Town Hall Prep
  • Discussion of Classroom Observations
  • Current Events
  • Readings
    • Seeing Math (REVIEW)
    • Impact of Educational Technology on Student Achievement
    • Oversold and Underused
  • Assignment (Due 4/24)

Week 10 (April 15 and 17) - Educational Technology Town Hall

Week 11 (April 24) – Math Education


Week 12 (April 29 and May 1) – Formative Assessment and Special Topics in Math Education

Week 13-14 (May 6, 8, 13 and 15) – Final Projects