EDG 6315: Content Area Instruction Angelo State University Department of Curriculum & Instruction Professor/Instructor: Dr. Deborah Anne Banker Office: EFA/Carr Building #185 Phone: 325-486-6947 E-mail: Deborah.banker@angelo.edu Office Hours: by appointment, online via Skype, or Second Life Meeting Times and Place: Online, 8 week course Course Description: This course is designed to cover reading, writing, and study skills for diverse classrooms. Includes unit preparation, theories and techniques of literacy, Internet applications and assessments. Course Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce the teacher candidates to applying techniques to enhance the learning experience for diverse learners in their classrooms in the different areas of content. Course Goals: The goals of this course are to have the students: 1. Gain factual knowledge about content area instruction. 2. Learn fundamental principles about addressing diverse learning styles. 3. Learn to apply the readability and credibility of information sources. Course Objectives: As a result of this course, the pre-service teacher candidates will be able to: 1. Identify and use special text features. 2. Evaluate and reflect and the readability and credibility of information sources in the content areas. 3. Develop and implement interactive pre-reading, reading, and after reading activities appropriate for content area instruction. 4. Address diverse learning styles and multiple intelligences appropriate to engaging middle school and high school students in their own learning success. 5. Identify and apply STAAR reading skills in the pre-service teacher s major content are through the development of learner-centered activities. 6. Identify and apply graphic organizers to teach vocabulary and develop activities to teach vocabulary. Course Required Text: No textbook is required, however, it is strongly recommended that the student have the text listed below. Course Recommended Text: American Psychological Association (2014). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6 th ed.), Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Association
Course Required Materials All students registered for this course must have access to a working computer with high speed internet access. If you cannot meet this requirement you need to drop this course. If a student is one who likes to read items on paper, then it is recommended that the student also have access to a working printer. All computer-generated and submitted assignments must be done in Microsoft Word not Works or any other program. All assignments are to be submitted as.doc, or.docx,. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that assignment. You also must have a current working ASU RamMail email account and you must check it daily! Course Required Skills: Students are also expected to have basic computer knowledge and skills such as (but not limited to) the ability to: -use email and Blackboard with attachments -save files in commonly used word processing program formats -copy and paste work on two browser windows simultaneously -use presentation and graphics programs The purpose of graduate education is to provide for advanced and specialized training beyond the baccalaureate program. Graduate study is intended to strengthen the academic and professional competence of the candidate, to develop the candidate s capacity for independent study, to familiarize students with past and current research, to train the student in the techniques of research, and to enable the candidate to relate his or her research to the investigations of other scholars and derive significant implications from the relationships. Graduate study presupposes a broad background of knowledge, an adequate preparation in appropriate fields of study at the baccalaureate level, and a command of skills required to carry on intensive research and investigation with a high degree of resourcefulness and self-direction. Generally speaking, only candidates with superior undergraduate academic records are qualified to pursue study at the graduate level. It should be noted that graduate studies differ from undergraduate studies in the following respects: (1) The candidate is expected to assume greater responsibility and to exercise more individual initiative. (2) More extensive and intensive reading is required. (3) Greater emphasis is placed on productive research, with particular emphasis on the use of primary materials. (4) Seminar methods are employed with greater frequency, as greater class participation by the candidate is required. (5) Less instruction is provided in content, survey-type lecture courses. Graduate study thus involves far more than the passing of a given number of courses and the fulfillment of certain minimum requirements. The candidate cannot be content solely with earning acceptable grades. The candidate must continually satisfy the Graduate Faculty in the major field by displaying superior intellectual powers and scholarly commitment in order to maintain graduate status and good standing in the school. Candidates Written Work: Demonstrates content quality and clarity that emphasizes depth and breadth, reflection and insights, scholarly discussion using scholarly vocabulary. Clearly shows a high level of understanding regarding classroom discipline/the topic of discussion. Demonstrates writing quality and clarity, including mechanics, spelling, grammar, appropriate language. Demonstrates appropriate and accurate inclusion of authority to support discussion, with citations that follow a scholarly (APA) format.
Demonstrates appropriate use of respectful person-first language (e.g., student with dyslexia rather than dyslexic student ). Demonstrates an overall appearance according to APA format (title, page,12 pt font, 1 inch margin, and double spaced), completeness, and timeliness. In the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, all candidates should adhere to American Psychological Association Publication Manual (APA) when completing written assignments, and when applicable, in other electronic or media-style presentations. The APA Manual is available at the ASU library, at the bookstore, or on-line at www.apa.org. American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Course Assignments: There are assignments due for this course weekly. These will include various items that will be useful for you to use in your classrooms as a teacher. There are also some discussion board assignments that will require you to participate. All work will be submitted in Blackboard by the deadline dates, no exceptions. No work will be accepted by email. Please note that there may be some additions or deletions dependent upon weather and semester conditions. Course Administration: Professor Policy on Attendance and Grading During this course, you will be responsible for much of your own learning and for scheduling the necessary time to complete the requirements of the course. It is recommended that you follow the timeline for completing assignments. No late work will be accepted. You may turn in any assignment early, but ALL coursework must be completed and turned in by the due dates at 11:59 PM. There will be no extensions given. The due dates are listed on the Blackboard site for this course. Course Communication: It is my goal for you to be successful in this class. Please communicate with me if you have personal questions or concerns via email. Periodically throughout the semester, I may also solicit your feedback at the end of each module. If you feel the need to speak with me you should email and we can schedule a time to meet and a preferred mode of communication. In most cases, I will answer or respond to your email and voice mail questions within 48 hours but don t expect me to answer questions over the weekend or during an official ASU holiday. Candidates should maintain open communication with the instructor. Ask questions in a timely manner to provide time for the instructor to respond prior to due date. Candidates are expected to check Blackboard and ASU email on a regular basis, preferable daily. Candidates are expected to complete assignments and meet all deadlines for submission of coursework. Please allow 48 hours for email responses by the instructor. Candidates must communicate with all instructors via the ASU e-mail system. Candidates must also access and use Blackboard, Ramport, e-mail. Candidates must access Blackboard regularly for electronic posting of the syllabus, assignments, announcements, grading information, and instructions. Candidates contact the ASU Help Desk at 325-942-2911 to learn about Blackboard, how to access and navigate it, or other assistance. This should be done EARLY in the class, preferably before the first class day.
Course Evaluation/Grading: Grades will be based on a total point system for points earned for the activities described above. Every attempt will be made to have the assignments graded in 7 business days after an assignment is due. If assignments are changed during the semester, the point total will be adjusted to reflect the change. The activities carry the following point values: All activities should be submitted as scheduled. NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED. Point Allotment: Introduction Post Discussion Board (2) Reading Autobiography Readability Types of Literacy Reading Strategies Writing Strategies Vocabulary and Graphic Organizers Technology Integration Project Course Grade Distribution 675-750 = A 600-674 = B 525-599 = C Below 525 = F Total 1 7 Course Lecture Schedule (tentative) This course is broken into weekly learning modules. You will find the week numbers and due dates below. Please know that the dates and topics could change. Week # Due Dates Topics 1 June 12, 2014 Introduction Post, Instructor Expectations Post, Syllabus Quiz 2 June 18, 2014 Reading Autobiography, Discussion Board 3 June 25, 2014 Readability 4 July 2, 2014 Types of Literacy 5 July 9, 2014 Reading Strategies, Discussion Board 6 July 16, 2014 Writing Strategies 7 July 23, 2014 Vocabulary and Graphic Organizers 8 July 30, 2014 Technology Integration Project
ASU OP 10.15 Providing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities http://www.angelo.edu/opmanual/#s10 Persons seeking accommodations must contact the Student Life Office, Room 112 University Center, 942-2191, in order to request such accommodations prior to any accommodations being implemented. Students are encouraged to make this request early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Academic Honesty Candidates are to be familiar with the ASU Student Handbook and the University Honor Code which includes the Student Academic Honor Code Statement www.angelo.edu/cstudent/documents/pdf/student_handbook.pdf Candidates are to adhere to ASU policy. Angelo State University expects its students to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for understanding the Academic Honor Code, which is contained in both print and web versions of the Student Handbook. Plagiarism or the use of Internet Web, etc. prepared papers is strictly forbidden! Faculty utilize Internet search links that assist in identifying plagiarized materials. Other Items Web Sites http://blackboard.angelo.edu Blackboard access at Angelo State University www.tea.state.tx.us Texas Education Agency www.sbec.state.tx.us State Board for Educator Certification (Texas) www.apa.org American Psychological Association http://texes.ets.org/assessts/pdf/testprep_manuals TExES preparation manuals and lists of competencies for state testing University Writing Center ( Library, C305 ) The staff will assist students with writing assignments at any stage of the writing process. The center is open 10:00 AM 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, Wednesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 10:00 AM to noon on Friday, and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sundays. Appointments are not necessary. For further information call 325-942-2093 or email writingcenter@angelo.edu