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EDU 201 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

EDU 201 - Foundations of Education

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

In this course attention is given to the historical, philosophical and sociological foundations underlying the development of American educational institutions.  The role of schools, the aims of education, and the role of state, local and federal agencies will be emphasized.  Some field experience will be required.

Course Outcomes:

Students successfully completing this course should be able to:
1. Clarify their definition of themselves as prospective teachers.
2. Identify kinds of knowledge necessary to become an effective teacher and identify skills needed to become a successful teacher.
3. Explain how culture and educational opportunities relate to one another. 4. Discuss how educators can prepare themselves for the future in a changing world.
5. Identify the ways in which structures and functions of schools in the United States differ.
6. Identify social problems affecting children and youths and explain how these problems challenge schools and teachers.
7. Provide an overview of the historical development of American education.
8. Describe various general philosophies and philosophers of education; give your philosophy of education and relate it to a formal philosophy.
9. Identify the various groups that exert influence on public schools.
10. Explain how schools are financed.
11. Identify the legal principles that affect public education.
12. The development of a school curriculum.
13. Identify the characteristics of effective instruction.
14. Select a four-year institution for transfer; complete a four-year plan for attaining a baccalaureate degree and Tennessee state certification.
15. Trace the steps in becoming licensed teachers.
16. Discuss national and state teacher organizations. 

Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

None

Course Topics:

The course will introduce the fundamental concepts and issues in American education. Specific topics include:

1. The teaching profession
2. Factors affecting teaching
3. School financing and governance
4. Curriculum and instruction
5. Portfolio development
6. Pre-service teacher training. 

Specific Course Requirements:

Course requirements are identified below under the topic "Assessment and Grading.".

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:
Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

All quizzes will be taken on-line. The quizzes are timed and students are only given one attempt. For additional information concerning the quizzes see the Quiz Review pages. The deadline for each quiz is indicated on the Calendar. These dates indicate the date when the quiz is available and the last day a quiz may be taken. 

Grading Procedures:

GRADED DISCUSSIONS - 5 topics X 20 pts. max. each = 100 pts. maximum

Discussion participation will be evaluated by your participation in class discussions in making relevant comments to the class and responding to the posts of others on the Discussion Board(s) for each module. The Graded Discussions can be accessed under Discussion on the Navigation Bar. Complete discussion topics and submission information can be found in the Lectures (look for the "green" boxes). Comments should contain opinions concerning the topic but should also demonstrate knowledge of the subject gained through in-class and out-of-class study. Discussion topics include:

DISC 1 - Rewards and Difficulties in Teaching
DISC 2 - Role of Teachers
DISC 3 - Purpose of Schools
DISC 4 - Financing of Schools
DISC 5 - Curriculum.
In these assignments the instructor introduces a topic in the Lessons for each module. The instructions for each discussion are also listed in the Lessons. You are to study the topic and then post the results of your study on the Discussion Boards(s) for each module. (After entering your comments, don't forget to click Post, located on the right side of your page.) All discussions must be completed by the due date listed in the Calendar. Because of the nature of the discussions, late posts are not accepted. Since these are discussion you are expected to respond to the posts of your classmates.

JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEWS - 4 assignments X 50 pts. max. each = 200 pts. maximum

Reviews will be evaluated as to accuracy, neatness, and completeness. The instructions for each assignment are listed in the course lectures and course content materials. The Reviews are submitted using the course
Dropbox. The due date for each assignment is listed in the Calendar and will be accepted late until the cutoff date listed in the Dropbox, with penalty.Journal Review topics include:

JOU 1 - Teacher's Code of Ethics
JOU 2 - Students Placed at Risk
JOU 3 - Philosophy of Education
JOU 4 - Classroom Management

All activity assignments must be submitted to the dropbox. Assignments placed in email will not be accepted.

Quizzes- 4 quizzes X 100 pts. maximum each = 400 pts. maximum

Quizzes will be evaluated as to accuracy and student demonstration of an understanding of the material. Quizzes will be announced in the Calendar. Quiz questions will be of the alternate response type (multiple choice or true/false). Quizzes will cover materials introduced in the textbook. The second quiz will be counted as the Mid-Term and the fourth quiz as the Final Examination for the course. All quizzes are administered on- line and proctors are not needed. The quizzes are timed. The quizzes are to be completed by the due date listed in the Calendar. In fairness to all students late quizzes will not be accepted. The assessment box contains a Sample Quiz to give you the opportunity to practice D2L test taking. The Sample Quiz is not graded and no points are awarded. The date that Quizzes are available and due are listed in the Calendar. Usually, the quizzes are available for a period of one-week.

Quizzes include:

Quiz 1 - Chapters 1, 2, 7, and 12
Quiz 2 - Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6
Quiz 3 - Chapters 8 and 9
Quiz 4 - Chapters 10 and 11

PORTFOLIO = 300 pts. maximum

The portfolio will be evaluated as to neatness, organization, and completeness. The portfolio is expected to demonstrate the student's depth of activity during the course. Instructions for the Portfolio assignment are given under Major Assignments at the bottom of the Course Content page. The Portfolio assignments must be submitted to the dropbox. Assignments placed in email will not be accepted.

TEACHER INTERVIEWS - 2 interviews X 100 pts. max. each = 200 pts. maximum

The Interviews will be evaluated as to accuracy, neatness, and completeness. The instructions are listed in the Major Assignment section of the Course Content page. The interviews are submitted using the course Dropbox. The due date for each interview is listed in the Calendar and will be accepted late until the cutoff date listed in the Dropbox, with penalty.

INT 1

INT 2

The Interview assignments must be submitted to the dropbox. Assignments placed in email will not be accepted.

PAPER = 200 pts. maximum

Papers will be evaluated as to accuracy, neatness, and completeness. The instructions for the Term Paper assignment is listed in the Major Assignments module at the bottom of the Course Content materials. The paper is submitted using the course Dropbox. The due date is listed in the Calendar and will be accepted late until the cutoff date listed in the Dropbox, with penalty.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING REPORT = 100 pts. maximum

School Board Meeting Report will be evaluated as to the student's ability to analyze and report his findings. The instructions for the School Board assignment is listed in the Major Assignments module at the bottom of the Course Content materials. The Report is submitted using the course Dropbox. The due date is listed in the Calendar and will be accepted late until the cutoff date listed in the Dropbox, with penalty. Assignments must be submitted to the dropbox. Assignments placed in email will not be accepted. 

PARTICIPATION = 300 pts. max 

Class Participation will be measured by your participation in the Teacher's Lounge discussion forum. Points will be awarded on the quality of posts to the forum. To receive full points you should make a minimum of three meaningful posts per week and replies must be made within seven days of the original post. These posts can be new topics or replies to the posts of others. The posts should include a level of content reflective of you study of a topic or information that you have discovered as a result of your reading and
study. Points for Participation will be awarded at the end of the term.

Total Points = 1800 pts. max 

Grading Scale:

Grades will be assigned according to the number of points you have accumulated: 

"A"1620 - 1800 points
"B"1440 - 1619 points
"C"1260 - 1439 points
"D"1080 - 1259 points
"F"Below 1080 points

To help you keep up with the points you have earned print out the Course Outline handout. 

Assignments and Projects:

Assignments are identified above under the topic "Assessment and Grading". You are expected to read the web pages for each lesson and any related textbook chapters and course assignments and activities.

You are expected to read the entire syllabus before beginning the course and address any questions of concerns about the course to the instructor on the discussion board "Content and D2L Questions.

Class Participation:

You are expected to participate in all interactive aspects of the course. For example, you must communicate with other candidates via e-mails and discussion board exchanges. You are expected to communicate with your instructor on a regular basis and check the course "Content and D2L Questions" discussion board daily for announcements. You must actively participate in threaded discussion events. Candidates are expected to work at a pace conductive to collaborative learning, that is, don't work to far ahead or too far behind the group. The class is designed to support candidate interaction. 

Late Policy:

You are encouraged to work at your own pace, however, deadlines are placed on class activities, assignments, and quizzes. You should become familiar with the Calendar to determine when materials are due and adjust your study schedule accordingly. Once a deadline has passed you will be "locked out" of the material. Materials submitted after the "cut off" date will not be accepted. Candidates that turn in assignments at the "last minute" do so at the risk of not receiving credit due to technical or content deficiencies. 

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021