Chadron State College

Elementary Observation and Participation

EDUC 320 79, Online

Spring 2012

Instructor:Ms. Lorie HunnOffice: Old Admin 106

Office Phone:(308) 432-6491e-mail:

Office Hours:As posted and by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Classroom observation and participation prior to student teaching at various grade levels or in the subject areas students might teach in the middle grades. Students will observe and participate in two or three different classroom settings from primary to middle grades. Those students interested in rural school education are encouraged to select a class 1 school for one observation period.

Prerequisites:PPST, EDUC 131, 224, 321, 322, 323, and

PSYC 231 and SPED 230, Application to Teacher Education Program

Credit Hours:2

Text:None

Purpose:

Education 320 is designed to provide a final exploratory experience and exposure to the various levels as well as some specialties of kindergarten through grade eight prior to student teaching.

Methods of Instruction:

Handouts are included online to facilitate the administrative portion of the course, online discussion to share experiences between the experiences, and teacher/student conferences to discuss individual experiences. Two or three supervised experiences in approved elementary and middle school settings, with emphasis on observing, collecting data, reporting, experimenting, participating, and discussing.

Student Learning Outcomes:

A student completing EDUC 320 will be able to:

1.understand the operation and organization of the elementary and/or middle school classroom including routine and administrative tasks.

2.gain insight into successful teaching techniques and strategies.

3.become acquainted with primary, pre-adolescent, and adolescent behavior.

4.provide evidence as to whether the profession of teaching is an appropriate career choice and/or what level is most appealing.

5.continue development as visionary leaders in the following ways:

VISIONARY LEADER KNOWLEDGE BASE

ComponentActivity

1. Critical thinking:Observe actual teaching situations and begin to make instructional decisions.

2. Human relations:Establish rapport with building administrators, classroom teachers, and students. Through a field trip, become aware of diverse student needs.

3. Evaluation:Share and describe experiences in the classroom with peers and instructor. Write an account of a total classroom experience, and anecdotal report on a student, and a personal view of themselves as a professional instructor. Prepare a portfolio entry in the Hildreth Hall computer lab for this course.

4. Communication:Communicate effectively with supervising teachers, students, and college instructor.

5. Leadership:Under the direct supervision of a certified teacher, take responsibility for planning, preparation, and participating in activities such as tutoring, grading papers, small and large group activities, and other similar classroom activities.

6. Methodology:Build and teach lessons with methods learned from observation of the methods of instruction demonstrated in the classroom and from college methods courses.

7. Professionalism:Demonstrate appropriate appearance as well as conduct and display ethical behavior when working with students and school related information.

Course Content: (With approval of classroom supervisor.)

1.Class observation.

2.Miscellaneous class tasks:

a.preparing bulletin boards

b.locating reference/resource materials

c.conducting opening exercises

d.supervising games/recess

e.constructing transparencies/handouts

f.operating audiovisual equipment

g.serving as lab, shop, locker room assistant

3.Assist in preparation of instructional materials.

4.Tutor individual(s) periodically

5.Tutor individual(s) at regular intervals

6.Assist in planning for small group(s)

7.Assist periodically in small group instruction

8.Assume supervisor/teaching responsibilities for small group(s) at regular basis.

9.Assist in administering tests/quizzes

10.Grade papers/test/quizzes

11.Attend faculty meeting(s)

12.Participate in faculty in-service

13.Attend parent-teacher conference

14.Present mini lesson

Schedule:

1.All students will complete one hundred clock hours of observation and participation in two or three segments after methods courses have been completed and the PPST test passed.

2.Students working toward an elementary endorsement will have two experiences in an elementary classroom and a third experience in a middle school classroom with the following classes substituting for one of the three experiences:

a.SPED 316 Microteaching in Elementary Special Education

b.FCS 448 Preschool Practicum

3.Students working toward a middle school endorsement will have one or two experiences in middle school and an elementary experience.

4.Discuss with Ms. Hunn via Sakai during the two weeks prior to final exams to discuss the experience. This discussion is mandatory.

  1. You will submit a written report no later than 2 weeks after you have completed each O & P session. Time sheets and evaluations will be mailed to the office of the Director of Field Experiences. Written reports submitted in a "lump" or "package" at the end of the semester will not beaccepted without prior approval. Pace yourself to meet your deadlines.

Grading Procedures:

Final grading in Education 320 will be based on the following:

1.Completion of the required number of observation hours as documented by time sheets.

2.Evaluations from classroom teachers.

3.Participation in the Sakaidiscussions and final conference.

4.Quality of the three written reports (see description of written assignments on accompanying handout).

Attendance:

1.Students must complete 100 clock hours of observation and participation. No credit from another institution will be substituted.

2.Students must notify their cooperating teacher of any changes in the observation schedule. Your attendance at the designated school is your responsibility; be sure to follow-through in a professional manner.

3.Discussion via Sakai is mandatory.

4.Final conference via Sakai is mandatory.

Student Behavior:

Academic Honesty - Students are expected to conduct themselves in conformity with the

highest standards with regard to academic honesty. Violation of college, state, or federal

standards with regard to plagiarism, cheating or falsification of official records will

not be tolerated. Students violating such standards will be subject to discipline, as per

campus policies articulated in the Student Handbook. Please request a copy of the

student handbook from the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student

Services (Crites 336, 432-6231).

Attendance Policy - The College assumes that students will seek to profit from the

instructional program and will recognize the importance of attending every class meeting

of courses for which credit is expected. Responsibility for notifying faculty of absences

and for arranging potential make-up rests with the students.

Attendance: Attendance is required. Your presence is important for your own learning as well as your contribution to the work of the class. If an absence is unavoidable, please arrange ahead of time to discuss options for making-up work. More than two unexcused absences may result in lowering of the final grade.

Assignments: Assignments are due on or before the specified date. If you anticipate being absent, arrange to have the assignment turned in before the class meeting.

Make-up exams: Exams that are missed due to an excused absence may be made-up before the next class meeting by arrangement with the instructor.

Regular class attendance is required. Your presence is important for your own learning

as well as your contribution to the work of the class. If an absence if unavoidable, please

arrange ahead of time to discuss options for making up the work. You are fully

responsible for content covered and work missed during your absence. All assignments

will have due dates. Full credit can be earned on work submitted on the due date. Ten

percent will be deducted for late work. Each student is required to attend the

Multicultural Field Experience. Failure to meet the above attendance requirement will

result in the student completing a comparable research project assigned by the

instructors. This research project will focus on multicultural educational issues.

Civility - Civil behavior enhances the academic setting, and is expected at all times. Courtesy and respect for others are essential elements of the academic culture. The academic environment welcomes a difference of opinion, discourse, and debate within a civil environment.

Nondiscrimination Policy/Equal Educational Opportunity Policy: Chadron State College is committed to an affirmative action program to encourage admission of minority and female students and to provide procedures which will assure equal treatment of all students. The College is committed to creating an environment for all students that is consistent with nondiscriminatory policy. To that end, it is the policy of Chadron State College to administer its academic employment programs and related supporting services in a manner which does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, or marital status. Student requests for reasonable accommodation based upon documented disabilities should be presented within the first two weeks of the semester, or within two weeks of the diagnosis, to the Disabilities Counselor (432-6461; Crites, Rm. 108).

Disclaimer:

This syllabus and schedule is articulated as an expectation of class topics, learning

activities, and expected student learning. However, the instructor reserves the right to

make changes in this schedule that, within my professional judgment, would result in

enhanced or more effective learning on the part of the students. These modifications

will not substantially change the intent or objectives of this course and will be done

within the policies and procedures of Chadron State College.