PSYED 1005

Teaching Globally and Locally in a Diverse World

Wednesdays, 10:00-12:40

Instructor: Anna Arlotta-Guerrero, Ph.D. Email:

Phone: 412-624-0306 (office) Office Hours: By appointment

DATE / Discussion Topics / Detail / Readings and
Assignments
Jan10 / Pittsburgh and Surrounding Communities – Who are we?
Why is important to discuss equity in education? / A description of education in the city of Pittsburgh and communities in Pittsburgh’s Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
The growth of Pittsburgh’s Global Community / Readings:
School of Social Work Report
Pitt Office of Child Development, Center for Urban Ed and Seed Lab PRIDE report on Race and Early Childhood Educationin Pittsburgh
Global Snapshot – Pittsburgh
Jan 17 / A Historical Review of Public Schooling in Pennsylvania and the United States
The changing needs of education from the Industrial Age to High Tech in the current times. / Overview of theHistory of Public Schooling in the US and Pennsylvania
Has education evolved with our changing needs?
Are we servicing our students sufficiently? / Readings:
Spring
Chapters 1 & 5
In-class readings:
UCLA Civil Rights Project
Racial Diversity in PA
DUE:
Pre-service teacher’s initial perspectives paper
Jan24 / What impacts Education?
GI Bill
Housing Exclusions
Redlining
Head Start / Poverty
Linguistically and racially segregated schools
Homelessness
Toxic Stress
Dangerous School Zones
School Funding
Inequitable opportunities / Readings:
Spring
Chapters 2 & 3
TED Talk
Linda Cliatt-Wayman
Philadelphia principal
TED Talk
Kandice Sumner
Living Apart – Fair Housing Act
Jan 31 / Human and Social Capital
What is the impact on a student’s education and life? / Migration over the years in the US
Industrialization and High Tech comparisons
Immigration – how does it affect education in the US / Readings:
Spring
Chapters 4 & 6
In-class readings:
Ed Week – A Black Father’s Search for a Diverse Preschool
Dr. Rich Milner
In-class readings:
Brown at 62: School Segregation by Race, Poverty, and State
Feb 7 / Connecting to the Global Community around us / What do Americans need to know about the world around them?
How do we communicate with Pittsburgh’s Global community and others in our world?
The refugee community / Readings:
Spring
Chapter 11
In-class readings:
Smartest Kids in the World
Amanda Ripley
3 TED Talks
Feb 14 / What does successful education look like around the world?
Educating Girls around the World / What makes a schooling system successful? How is success measured?
The PISA exams
Are schools in the U.S. preparing students for careers at home and abroad? / Readings:
Business Insider:
PISA Scores
The Economist
PISA Scores
Educating Girls Around the World
Malala
Michelle Obama – Educating Girls
Let Girls Learn
3 TED Talks
Feb 21 / What does successful education look like around the world? / Finland
Singapore
China / Readings:
Finland’s School System
Singapore’s School System
Education in China
3TED Talks
Feb 28 / Sociocultural Influences on Learning and Education / Culture and education, is there a connection?
Cultural influences of students in US schools
What can we learn about education from other cultures – positive and negative?
Bilingualism or English only? / Readings:
Unequal Childhoods
Annette Lareau
Tatum, Chapter 8
3 TED Talks
Mar 7 / Spring Break
Mar 14 / What does the media say about teachers and their students? / Do we really know what happens in schools around the world?
What picture has the media painted for Americans?
Let’s look at the positive and the negative views that we have of the world and what the global community thinks of Americans. / Readings: TBA
3 TED Talks
Mar 21 / Teaching in different school settings
Rural
Suburban
Urban
State power and control
School Choice / Rural communities – needs and concerns
Suburban – needs and concerns
Urban – needs and concerns
Charters
Single gender schools / Readings:
Spring
Chapter 8 & 9
US News Report –
Rural Schools
Rural Schools – Generating Opportunity and Prosperity
3 TED Talks
Mar 28 / Back to Pittsburgh – Local Movements
Community Resources / What is happening in Pittsburgh?
PittServes – Community engagement
National and state resources / Readings: TBA
Segregation in PPS
4 TED Talks
Apr 4 / Issues in 2018 that impact teaching, students, and families / Climate change
Health
Technology and automation
Politics and policy
Religion
College, technical schools
Personal learning / Readings:
Tatum, Epilogue
4 TED Talks
Apr 11 / What are your teaching options? / Public, private, independent or charter
Urban, suburban, or rural
International
Teach for America
Cyber School / Readings: TBA
DUE: Overview Paper of Pre-Service Teachers Perspectives
Apr 18 / Speakers/Brunch
Apr 25 / Finals Week

Required Readings:

Spring, J., American Education, 17th Edition, Taylor and Francis, 2016.

Tatum,Beverly Daniel, Basic Books, 2017.

Assignments:

TED Talk/Paper – 40 points

Choose a topic connected to education that interests you, research the topic thoroughly and prepare a 10-minute talk discussing your views of the topic. This can be an informal conversation that includes personal opinion. However, your presentation must be based on facts and credible resources.A two-page, double spaced paper should be uploaded to Coursewebon the day of your talk. Do not create a standard powerpoint for your presentation. You may have pictures and/or minimal print in a powerpoint that runs while you are talking.

Paper #1: Pre-service teachers’ initial perspectives regarding equity in education - 25 points

This will be a two-page, double-spaced paper. Do you think that all children in the United States have the same equitable opportunities to be educated and to prepare for a career? Make your own personal statements about your views and/or perspectives about equity in education. Think about how your thoughts came to be: personal experiences, readings, classes, etc. You are stating your personal views, however when discussingpoints as facts pleasemake sure to have those be based on credible resources. Think about your pre-service field experiences, your service learning projects, and what you have learned from your classmates.

Paper #2: Overview of Pre-Service Teachers’ thoughts on equity in education - 25 points

This will be a two –page, double-spaced paper. Review your initial perspectives paper that was submitted in January. Think about any changes to your own perspectives about equity in education. It is possible that you may not have had any changes and you should address that as well. Discuss if you did or did not change any perspectives about the equitable opportunities for all children in the United States. Why did your perspectives change, or why didn’t they? What new perspectives were developed? What do you think is something that you will carry with you into your practicum experiences in the senior year that will support your continued learning and capacity as a teacher?

Attendance and participation – 10 points As you move forward in the program it is increasingly important for you to have a voice and to be heard in our classroom discussions. This will benefit you now as a student, and as you enter into student teaching next year and eventually when you are a teacher in your own classroom. You are expected to contribute to small and whole group discussions.

Students with Specific Needs

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact your instructor and Disability Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7890 or 412-383-7355 (TTY) as early as possible in the term. Disability Resources and Services reviews documentation related to a student’s disability, provides verification of the disability and recommends reasonable accommodations for specific courses.