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
- Classroom Pre-Practicum (and class project)
- Current Events Overview
- Blogs and Portfolios
- Goals, Expectations and Assignments
- Activity - Teaching Without Words (Pictures)
- Course Texts
- Integrated readings throughout
- Readings
- Assignment (Due 2/21)
Week 2 (February 12 and 14) – Misconceptions
- Activity - How Students Learn Jigsaw (Ch 1, 5, 9)
- Preconceptions
- Facts and Conceptual Understanding
- Self-assessment
- Videos – My Private Universe (Space Biology/Electricity)
- Misconceptions discussion (read articles for class)
- Current Events
- Readings
- Assignment (Due 3/9)
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
- Differentiated Instruction and Multiple Intelligences (REVIEW)
- Braintorming ways to differentiate instruction
- Readings jigsaw
- Diferentiating math instruction
- Discussion of first classroom observations (as available)
- Current Events
- Readings
- Associated readings (Multiple Intelligences)
- Assignment (First One Due 3/4 or right after your first class - 6-8 required)
Week 5 (March 4 and 6) – Standards and Standardized Tests
- Texas Standards and Standardized Tests
- TEKS High School Science and Math Standards
- TAAS Grade 8, 11th grade Science, 11th Grade Math , Biology
- Massachusetts State Frameworks
- Video – Testing, Testing, Testing
- Current Events
- Readings
- Knowing What Students Know
- Assesment in Practice
- Teaching, Standards, Tests Found Not Aligned (Education Week)
- Knowing What Students Know
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
- Reflections on Practice Teaching (Due April 1)
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
- Town Hall Meeting - Laptops in the School
- Clasroom Management (REVIEW)
- "Classroom Quirks" and related activity
- Introduce Final Assignment
- Planning Final Projects
- Discussion of Classroom Observations
- Current Events
- Readings (Resources)
Week 11 (April 24) – Math Education
- Special Guest
- bring your graphing calculator
- Robert Gerver
- Reading
Week 12 (April 29 and May 1) – Formative Assessment and Special Topics in Math Education
- Formative Assessment and self-evaluation (REVIEW)
- Math Education
- Readings
- Associated Readings
- Final Portfolio (Due 5/18)
Week 13-14 (May 6, 8, 13 and 15) – Final Projects
- Design and Teach a Lesson
- Final Project/Assignment - Design and Teach a Lesson (Due May 16)