Human Diversity, Teaching, and Learning

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

Course Objectives

• Understand the impact of how teachers’ own lived experiences shape the way in which they see themselves, students, parents, and colleagues and directly influences the way in which they teach. (NCPTS II, IV, V)
• Explore wide variety of teaching strategies and resources, including technology tools useful for integrated instruction. (NCPTS II, III, IV)
• Use and understand contemporary and historical documentation/sources as learners first and then as teachers. (NCPTS II, III, IV, V)
• Identify and explain beliefs about teaching, learning, schooling, diversity and anti-racist education. (NCPTS II, V)
• Explore how to construct authentic and meaningful learning experiences and environments for all learners. (NCPTS I, II, III, IV, V)

Course Goals

• Reflexivity. Teachers and Teacher candidates will be encouraged to examine their sociocultural selves; the sources that inform their curricular and pedagogical decisions; embedded sociocultural foundations of historical understanding; and ways in which children implicitly and explicitly learn about how to be engaged and invested in the classroom, school, community, and world.
• Commitment to Culturally Relevant and Purposeful Teaching. Teachers and Teacher candidates will commit to investigating ways to make their own teaching meaningful to diverse student populations by accessing students’ prior knowledge in order to inform curricular and pedagogical decisions. Interns will be able to articulate the purposes of these decisions.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Attendance and Participation	15 points
Reflective Journals/Case Studies	20 points
Cultural Memoir/Autobiography & Responsive Philosophy	20 points
Diverse Group Project (Presentation)	20 points
Final: Diversity in Media Fact Sheet and Presentation	25 points

Grading Scale: Grades are through an accumulation of points NOT PERCENTAGES.

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
100-94	A
93-90	A-
89-87	B+
86-83	B
82-80	B-
79-77	C+
76-73	C
72-70	C-
69-67	D+
66-63	D
62-60	D-
59 and Below	F

Attendance/Participation:

Missing assignments and falling behind during modules is highly discouraged. Make sure to complete the work during each module to receive points for attendance/participation.

Everyone is required to participate in all online modules; though each of you has one excused absence. Your grade will be based on substantive participation in activities. We will share reflections on reading assignments through whole class and small group chats. IT IS ALSO IMPERATIVE THAT YOU RESPOND TO AT LEAST ONE CLASSMATE ON EACH WRITTEN DISCUSSION BOARD (WHEN DIRECTED TO DO SO) AS THIS IS PART OF YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE.

Some weeks you may have a participation post where you do not respond to classmates.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.