EDU 104 - Introduction to Education

Offered FL
Lecture- 4
4 credit hrs/4 contact hrs
Enables students to explore the realities of teaching in the United States, and introduces the knowledge and skill base necessary to reach an increasingly diverse student population. Explores the historical, legal, philosophical, and sociocultural foundations of American education, emphasizing the expansion of education given gender, cultural, and socioeconomic differences in the country. Includes a minimum 20 hours of classroom observation.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Determine personal motives for becoming an educator, given the working conditions of the profession in America and the extant pathways for earning professional certification and relevant experience.
Identify and assess the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and cultural competences of effective teachers, as determined by the extant research and given the range of differences in the student population.
Articulate the primary ways that the history of education, both in the long and short term, influences the practice today, particularly with regards to changes in legislation, school funding, and student demographics in the United States.
Demonstrate an active awareness of and sensitivity to the diverse needs and characteristics of learners.
Articulate and critically assess significant trends, issues, problems, and potential solutions in contemporary American education, demonstrating effective use of evidence in writing, speaking, and decision making.
Exhibit, both in the classroom and in the field, an awareness of the ethical and professional responsibilities incumbent on educators.