Effective teaching requires an understanding of the context of contemporary education. To prepare students for advanced study in the Master of Education program, this course allows students to examine the historical social, political, and global forces that have shaped the education system in its various contexts. With special attention to how educational models have evolved over time to serve diverse learners in a variety of contexts, students will evaluate formative classical and modern philosophies to articulate their own personal philosophy of education.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this program,

1. Students will be able to create and analyze developmentally appropriate curricula.
2. Students will be able to create an effective learning environment by implementing practices based on the diversity of their learners and the resources available to them.
3. Students will be able to create lessons based on the performance of learners on previous assessments.
4. Students will be able to take specialization:

a. for Elementary Specialization: students will be able to analyze the advantages of using the development instructional approach stages at various age levels.

b. for Secondary Specialization: students will be able to Identify and develop high-Impact pedagogical practices that help adolescents to stay resilient within the school context

Course Learning Objectives (CLOs):

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Examine the Program Learning Outcomes for the Master of Education program.
2. Assess how the evolution of educational models over time has shaped understanding of developmentally appropriate curricula.
3. Evaluate how classical and modern philosophies have impacted contemporary education.
4. Examine the global, social, and political influences that how modern education systems serve diverse learners.
5. Prepare a personal Philosophy of Teaching Statement.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week.

Week 1: Unit 1 – History and Purpose of Schooling in the United States

Week 2: Unit 2 – Historical Global Foundations of Education

Week 3: Unit 3 – Philosophical Foundations of Education

Week 4: Unit 4 – Global Philosophical Foundations in Education

Week 5: Unit 5 – Sociological Foundations of Education

Week 6: Unit 6 – Social & Political Issues

Week 7: Unit 7 – Global Standings and Perspectives 

Week 8: Unit 8 – The Role of Educators in a Changing World

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.  The Learning Guides for all units open on the first day of class.  Please review all Learning Guides to access the readings, review assignments, etc.

Unit 1: History and Purpose of Schooling in the United States

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete the Portfolio Assignment

Unit 2:  Historical Global Foundations of Education

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete the Portfolio Assignment

Unit 3: Philosophical Foundations of Education

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Begin and participate in the Group Activity (Due Unit 7)
• Complete the Portfolio Assignment

Unit 4: Global Philosophical Foundations in Education

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Continue to participate in the Group Activity
• Complete the Portfolio Assignment

Unit 5: Sociological Foundations of Education

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Continue to participate in the Group Activity
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 6: Social & Political Issues

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Continue to participate in the Group Activity
• Complete the Portfolio Assignment

 Unit 7: Global Standings and Perspectives 

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete and submit the Group Presentation
• Complete the Portfolio Assignment

Unit 8: The Role of Educators in a Changing World

• Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete the Portfolio Assignment
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation