Catalog Description:

This course, the first of a two-course sequence, introduces candidates to the field of teaching and focuses on the developmental needs of students. Three primary topics will be addressed within the course: An Introduction to Education, Child Development/Psychology, and Technology for Teaching and Learning. The course will involve a combination of lecture and site-based experiences with schools.  Prerequisites: English Composition I, College Algebra, 2.5 G.P.A., full admission to the Associate of Science in Teaching Program, permission of the instructor, program manager, and criminal background check.

Form of the Course:

The course is organized into three modules, each lasting approximately one-third of the semester. A total of three credit hours will be earned.

Module One, Introduction to Education, will explore current trends, laws, and court decisions that influence education in Louisiana and the United States. A combination of lectures, group-learning experiences, case studies, and reviews of the literature will result in pre-service teachers identifying personal beliefs, dispositions, and experiences related to the field of teaching.

Module Two, Child Development/ Psychology, will examine major theories of development including cognitive, social/emotional stage theories. A combination of lectures, field-based observations, group-learning experiences, and case studies will result in pre-service teachers identifying issues pertaining to child development while observing and working with students within school-based settings.

Module Three, Technology for Teaching and Learning, will help students to gain skills to integrate technology in the classroom. Pre-service teachers will demonstrate competence in using essential office and educational software, using demonstration software, email and web-based resources, researching education-related topics, preparing lessons, and creating presentations. In addition, pre-service teachers will enter their first artifacts into electronic portfolios using the PASS-PORT system.

Course Objectives:

Students will be able to:

Introduction to Education

1. Identify the implications of major laws and court decisions to education. (Artifact: Test results on an examination of knowledge of laws and court decisions and written evidence of the application of these implications in professional decision making in response to case studies to be evaluated by the instructor using a Legal Case Study Rubric.) LCET: VA

2. Demonstrate understanding of education reform in Louisiana and the United States. (Artifact: Test results on a midterm and final examination that examines knowledge of laws and court decisions. Written review of school accountability report card from the LA DOE and instructor scored evaluation checklist.) LCET: VA, VB

3. Identify dispositions important to teaching as a career. (Artifact: a written reflection pertaining to personal dispositions for teaching based on dispositions identified by INTASC and instructor-scored evaluation rubric of reflection that addresses the candidate’s ability to identify important dispositions, such as valuing ongoing education and respecting and valuing all learners and the ability to relate personally to these.)

Child Development/ Psychology

4. Demonstrate knowledge of major theories of human development and learning including cognitive development theories, social/emotional development theories, moral development and behavior-based theories, through written and oral work. (Artifact: Test results on a midterm and final examination that examines knowledge of theories.) LCET: IA, IIA, IIIB

5. Demonstrate knowledge of these theories in planned and incidental classroom interactions with students. (Artifact: Observation form that demonstrates recognition of child development theories and child development issues in school-based settings and instructor-scored evaluation for objectivity and accuracy.) LCET: IA, IIA, IIIB

Technology for Teaching and Learning

6. Demonstrate the capacity to use hardware, software, email, and web-based resources.
(Artifact: Products uploaded into PASS-PORT that require the use of Word, Excel, email, web-based resources, computers, video camera and other technologies, a technology checklist of basic computer tasks to be compiled by the student and verified by the instructor.) LCET: IIIA

7. Demonstrate the ability to research topics, create lesson plans based upon the research, and create PowerPoint presentations to teach the lessons. (Artifact: In class presentation that utilizes web-based resources: Instructor scored evaluation of in-class PowerPoint presentation that addresses accuracy of information, reliability of sources, clear and attractive slides. A web-quest or track and instructor scored rubric of that web-based lesson that addresses theme, Louisiana content standards, appropriate and active links that connect elementary students to age appropriate web-based content and activities. ) LCET: IA, IIIA

Communication

8. Demonstrate effective oral communication, using Standard English including fluency, organization, and effective word choice. (Artifact: Self-evaluation and peer evaluation rubric that examines delivery of a lesson plan when tutoring an individual student in a field-based setting that addresses fluency, word choice, and instructor-scored in-class presentation evaluation rubric that addresses fluency, word choice, and delivery.) LCET: IIIC

Resources/Materials:

Association for Childhood Education International
American Federation of Teachers
Council of Chief State School Officer INTACS Standards
Council for Exceptional Children
International Reading Association
International Technology Education Association
Learning Style Inventory
Louisiana Department of Education
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Council for the Social Studies
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Education Association
National Science Teachers Association
Teach Louisiana
Thirteen.org
Rubristar
Trackstar