Course Description
This course analyzes the culture of public education with focus on the purpose of schools and their organization; teachers’ roles and responsibilities; student as learner centering on equity and fairness issues; and societal changes as they continuously impact the school. Regular visits to schools are an integral part of this course across the elementary, middle school and high school levels emphasizing the collection of data to question the assumptions on which this institution is based. Focused observations will help to unpack the intricacies of what schools and teaching entail.
My Description
This course allows students to jump right into the field. The purpose of this course is for students to get an interest in the world of teaching. When not out in the field, students are in the classroom. The professor provides information about teaching, as well as tools to use in the classroom, and personal experiences they have had with teaching. Students visit Biddeford Primary School weekly starting about a month into the course and are required to attend weekly. The students carpool to get there, so having a car can be very helpful. At Biddeford Primary School, students are submerged into a classroom. They help the teacher as well as interacting and bonding with the students while there. The students really get a taste of what teaching is like for the grade level or area in which they are placed. The students complete weekly journals to reflect on their experiences as well as things they have learned that can be helpful in the future. Throughout the course, students are provided with different sources that they can use in the future. For example, how to ask questions and information about different types of learners.
