M441 Syllabus

M441: Methods of Teaching Senior/Junior High/Middle School Social Studies (3 cr)
Lee Ehman
Indiana University
Last Updated: November 12, 1999

Link to: Schedule of Weekly Topics, Activities, and Assignments

Course Description

Develops concepts and theories from social science, humanities, and education into practices of successful social studies instruction. Integrates social issues and reflective thinking skills into the social studies curriculum. Emphasis on curriculum development skills and building a repertoire of teaching strategies appropriate for middle/secondary school learners. Includes micro-teaching laboratory.

Student Learning Goals

Each student should develop:

A definition and understanding of the social studies, its disciplines, essential questions, and historic purposes
Ability to communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and parents
Understanding of the context of teaching and learning in a middle or high school
Pedagogical knowledge, skills, and predispositions
Ability to plan lessons, units, and courses consistent with principles of engaged learning, authentic pedagogy, and the goal of responsible, active citizenship
Awareness of and ability to evaluate and use print, electronic, and other resources in social studies teaching
Ability to assess student readiness, progress, and achievement of curricular goals

Required Text

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (1997). Learning with technology: Participant’s manual. Oak Brook, IL: North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.

Additional Print Resources

Braun, Joseph A. Jr, Fernlund, Phyllis & White, Charles S. (1998). Technology tools in the social studies curriculum. Wilsonville, OR: Franklin, Beedle & Associates.
Martorella, Peter H., ed. (1997). Interactive technologies and the social studies. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Norton, Priscilla & Wiburg, Karin M. (1998). Teaching with technology. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace.

Course Web Site

The syllabus, revised schedule of weekly topics and assignments, and specific assignment details will be maintained on the class web site. Students should consult the site regularly -- at least weekly -- for modifications, and should print assignments and other materials from the site as appropriate.

http://education.indiana.edu/~ehman/m441.html

Course Requirements and Assignments

The following assignments and other activities are required of all students. Detailed specifications for each is found on the course web site.

M403 Field Experience (1 credit, graded satisfactory/fail): Satisfactory completion of 20 hours of participation in a secondary school social studies classroom, including teaching at least two lessons and biweekly reflections postings on Alta Vista Forum

Microteaching (10 points): Prepare and teach two brief lessons to peers. The second lesson will require a lesson plan submitted in advance.

LISTSERV Lurking (3 points): Lurk on at least one social studies LISTSERV for six weeks and post biweekly reflections on important threads on Alta Vista Forum.

reasoning on important social studies issues, including curriculum goals, curriculum standards, and pedagogical models. These papers will be posted on Alta Vista Forum. Each student must post a 2-3 paragraph response to an assigned colleague, including at least two questions for the author. Each student must reply to the response/questions from the other student.

Midterm Examination (10 points): In-class, 3-4 essay questions related to readings, presentations and discussions in class, postings on Alta Vista Forum, and other activities.

Annotated Web Bibliography (6 points): Develop an annotated list of 15 web sites for use in teaching a particular social studies course.

Textbook and Electronic Materials Review (10 points): Review one textbook and one CD- or Web-based curriculum program (e.g., webquest) related to the subject and level of the text selected. Normally these will be materials included in the curriculum project (see below).

Mystery From History (7 points): Communicate with one or a group of secondary students via e-mail to pose/solve historical or other content-related “mysteries.”

Lesson Plans (12 points): Develop three lesson plans that incorporate computer or other technology as an important part. These may be subsequently included as part of the curriculum project (see below). [NOTE: If the webquest design/creation module is taught, this assignment could be changed into creation of a webquest rather than three separate lesson plans.]

Curriculum Project (20 points): Design and present a ten-lesson unit to the rest of the class using PowerPoint or some other computer presentation tool. The unit should be representative of the ideas, skills, and values you believe important in the social studies curriculum. The presentation should emphasize rationale, goals, and linkages to national and state curriculum standards/proficiencies.

Final Examination (10 points): Take home examination with 2-3 essay questions plus 2 web-based tasks.

Course assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of the class on the date indicated in the schedule. If assignments are turned in late one-quarter of the grade value will be deducted. Assignments will not be accepted one week after the due dates . You must complete assignments independently unless otherwise indicated; however, we hope that you will help each other by working together on using computers and in learning other material for the course. Any student discovered submitting work completed by someone else, or willingly supplying their own work to someone else, will receive a 0 score for that assignment, and might receive an a more severe penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the specific case and individual. Such an event will be reported to the Dean of Students, and recorded in the student's file.

Grading

Grading Guidelines: We use the following meanings of letter grades when we evaluate assignments and examinations. We state them here in light of the campus-wide concern about grade inflation, and hope they lead to recognize the conscientious efforts of diligent students . High grades are not an entitlement, but are awarded based on high quality. Neither are high grades always earned for amount of work expended; we do our best to separate out the quality from quantity.

Individual grades for some assignments or other work to be graded might require additional
description, but generally this is what grades mean to us:

               A     Extraordinarily high achievement;
                       shows unusually complete command of the subject matter;
                       represents an exceptionally high degree of originality and creativity.

B Very good, solid, above average quality of work.

C Satisfactory quality of work, but lacking distinctive qualities.

D Work of minimally acceptable quality; fails on one or more important assignment
specifications.

F Unacceptable; does not meet minimum specifications of assignment.

Points will be assigned for each assignment and examination. The composite grade for the course will be figured by summing the points as indicated below. Incompletes will be given only under the conditions spelled out in the Academic Guide, which states:

               "The grade of Incomplete may be given
                  1. only when the completed work for the course is of passing quality, and
                  2. only upon showing of such hardship to a student as would render it unjust
                    to hold the student to the normal time limits.
               A student's desire to avoid low grade is not a legitimate reason to award an
               incomplete."

The hardship conditions usually involve a health or other unavoidable problem during the semester that makes it impossible to complete the assignments. In any case, incompletes are
given only after consultation with the instructor and agreement in writing on remaining work
needed to satisfy the course requirements.

Electronic Grades via Internet: You can check your grades on assignments at any time by accessing the Post 'em web site at https://carrot.franklin.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/mygrades. You enter your network ID and password, and view your grades as we've posted them. We suggest you check regularly. Please call to our attention any entries you believe are errors.

Course Grading Scale:
             96-100      points     A
             91-95.99   points     A-
             86-90.99   points     B+
             81-85.99   points     B
             76-80.99   points     B-
             71-75.99   points     C+
             66-70.99   points     C
             61-65.99   points     C-
             56-60.99   points     D+
             51-55.99   points     D
             46-50.99   points     D-
             00-45.99   points     F