Spring 2010 Course Syllabus
Meeting Times:
Monday or Wednesday or Friday (rotates within Junior Block), 8:30-11:30,
Tribble B216
Course Description:
The purpose of this
course is to provide preservice elementary teachers with the means and
wherewithal to design effective social studies instruction. The thrust
of the course will be the development of practical teaching and assessment
methodologies for elementary social studies that are grounded in theory
and research. Participants will gain a variety of teaching techniques
for the wide variety of content areas in social studies, with an emphasis
on the North Carolina Standard
Course of Study for elementary social studies. Further, the effective
use of technology to teach social studies will be addressed.
Course Goals:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able
to:
- Develop unit plans, lesson plans, and assessment tools for effective elementary social studies instruction that address state and national standards;
- Utilize a variety of methodologies and instructional techniques in order to teach social studies in a student-centered, activity-based manner;
- Effectively integrate technology resources in their teaching;
- Engage students in critical and higher-order thinking as they present multiple perspectives;
- Become a reflective practitioner;
- Develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of an effective educator as espoused by the Wake Forest University Education Department's Mission Statement.
Materials:
Required Textbooks (available in the WFU Bookstore):
Lee, J. K. (2008). Visualizing elementary social studies methods. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Expectations and Grading:
To do well in EDU 295, you should come
prepared to all class sections and actively participate in them. You must
complete your assignments fully and turn them in on time. Assignments
turned in late (i.e., after the beginning of class on the due date) will
be penalized according to the following scale: up to 24 hours late: -10%,
24-48 hours late: -25%, 48 hours-1 week late: -50%, >1 week late: -100%.
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments must be completed individually.
The grading structure of EDU 295 is arranged according to a point structure. You earn points for each component or requirement of the class that you meet, and your final grade is determined by calculating the percentage of the total possible points that you have earned. This is elucidated in further detail on the course assignments page.
Students who complete each assignment should not assume full credit will be given. The quality of the assignment will be considered during the evaluation process. Quality refers, but is not necessarily limited, to the following: standard English usage (punctuation, spelling, grammar, etc.), neatness, manner of presentation, organization, and APA guidelines.
Attendance is expected and assumed. If you are not present in class, there will not be a reenactment of what transpired during class time. You have one “free” absence. For each subsequent class absence 10 points will be deducted from your overall class grade. Please contact the instructor regarding any pre-planned or emergency absences. Students are expected to be on-time. You have one “free” late arrival. For each subsequent late arrival, 5 points will be deducted from your overall class grade.
Please turn off all cell phones, beepers, pagers, etc., as they are very disruptive to the learning environment.
Academic Integrity: The policies and procedures of the Wake Forest University Honor System will be strictly followed in this course. The honor system requires that all work be pledged.
Grades of Incomplete: Grades of Incomplete will NOT be given to students who turn in assignments late. Incomplete as a grade will only be given to students who are unable to attend part of the course due to illness or for other reasons approved by the instructor in advance.
Pandemic Flu Plan: In the event of a Pandemic Flu outbreak which results in the cancelling of class(es), all documents and materials will be made available online, student work will be submitted via email, and the instructor will be available through email, instant messaging, and skype.
If you have a disability that may require an accomodation for taking this course, please contact the Learning Assistance Center (758-5929) within the first 2 weeks of the semester.