EDUC 1301 General Course General Information
EDUCATION 1301/29960
INTRODUCTION TO the TEACHING PROFESSION
SPRING 2008
GENERAL INFORMATION AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Professor:
Larry B. Mers, B.A., M.A.
Telephone: 713-718-6738
Office Hours: By appointment, please
Address: Scarcella Science and Technology Center
10141 Cash Road, Suite S100
Stafford, TX 77477
Meeting Times:
5:30-7 PM M/W, Room W126, Scarcella Science and Technology Center
Holidays:
January 21: MLK Day
February 18: President's Day
March 10-16: Spring Break
Scheduled Exams:
TBA
HCC Policy concerning Recording Devices:
1. Restrooms and Other Private Locations: Employees, students, and visitors are prohibited from using recording devices in restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, and other locations where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. To prevent any misunderstanding or confusion, employees, students, and visitors are encouraged to store such devices in purses, backpacks, briefcases, or pockets while visiting these locations.
2. Classrooms and Other Instructional Locations: To prevent disruption and academic dishonesty, instructors are permitted to impose restrictions on students regarding use of recording devices in classrooms, laboratories, or other locations where instruction or testing occurs. Instructors shall notify students in writing of any restrictions on the use of recording devices. Such restrictions, if any, shall be included in syllabi, course handbooks, or other printed class material distributed to students. The following language may be used: "Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations."
3. Photography in offices, conference rooms, and other HCC locations not freely open to public traffic: Before taking photographs of other employees or students in locations not freely open to public traffic, employees shall obtain permission of the individuals to be photographed. This restriction does not apply to photography in common areas that are freely open to public traffic, such as outdoor patios, parking lots, and open lobby areas.
4. "Voyeurism": Camera phones and other recording devices shall not be used, even in a public area, to take a photo of a person's body from an angle that is intimate, revealing, or sexual or that constitutes an invasion of personal privacy. Additionally, it is a crime under Texas law to visually record another person's body, without that person's knowledge, in a manner that is designed to gratify one in a sexual way.
5. Recording allowed without permission: Employees may tape record grievance hearings and termination hearings, and students may tape record disciplinary proceedings; however, the recording must take place openly. Recording is permitted at official functions such as award banquets and graduation ceremonies; the recording must take place openly. Employees and other citizens may electronically or visually record the proceedings at a publicly held meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees. Finally, nothing in this memorandum precludes employees or students from taking notes during HCC-related meetings, activities, and conversations.
6. Exception under the Americans with Disabilities Act: In some situations, an employee or student with a disability may need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation. Employees requesting such accommodations shall contact the Human Resources EEO/Human Resources Office. Students should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations.
7. Exception for official business: Students or employees performing official business on behalf of HCC may be permitted to use recording devices for legitimate work-related purposes, including investigatory purposes, archival purposes, educational purposes or training purposes (such as recording a presentation for future viewing by staff or students), and journalism purposes (such as photography for an official HCC publication). Supervisors shall appropriately monitor the use of recording devices to ensure that they are being used only for legitimate HCC business.
8. Discipline: Violations of this policy may result in discipline, up to and including termination or
expulsion.
State Policy concerning withdrawals:
Faculty members will no longer be able to assign a “W” on the final grade entry screen. Instructors who wish to drop students for excessive absences must submit completed drop slips to the registrar on or before the last date for withdrawal. If students stay in the class after the drop date, the student must receive a grade.
Please ask your counselor about opportunities for tutoring and other assistance prior to your considering course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.
Writing Requirements for EDUC and TECA classes:
A prerequisite of all EDUC and TECA classes is that students must have passed the English component of the THEA or assessment exam. It is imperative that teachers of our children are literate in the English language. Therefore, all EDUC and TECA students in Southwest College will be required to write a 1-2 page “in-class” essay at the beginning of the semester. This essay will determine your English skills.
If an instructor determines that your English grammar and spelling are below standard, the instructor may suggest that you see a counselor to enroll in an English class. The instructor may also suggest that you withdraw from the EDUC or TECA class until English courses are completed. If you decide to stay in the EDUC or TECA class, you will be required to have all papers reviewed by the HCC tutors at the various campuses or online.
All written assignments receive a grade deduction due to poor spelling and grammar.
Mission Statement:
The Houston Community College System is an open-admission, public institution of higher education offering associate degrees, certificates, academic preparation, workforce training, and life-long learning opportunities that prepare individuals in out diverse communities for life and work in an increasingly international and technological society.
Repeating Courses:
Students who repeat a course for three or more times now have to pay tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.
Disabilities:
Students with a documented disability (e.g., physical learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who need reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office, Dr. Becky Hauri, 713-718-7909, at the beginning of each semester.
Catalog Description:
"The course is designed to help individuals decide whether teaching could be a satisfying career for them. Information concerning the role of education and educators, teacher preparation programs, effective teaching, employability, and rewards and challenges of teaching is presented Credit: 3 (3 lecture)"
Objectives:
1. To deepen your understanding of education by focusing on four themes: schools and students, teachers, foundations and the future, and the teaching profession.
2. To improve your academic analytical writing skills through writing assignments and field journals.
3. To refine your problem-solving skills in preparation for leadership roles in education.
4. To gain knowledge of current educational issues related to the philosophy, history, finance and governance of education in the United States.
5. To examine your commitment to the teaching profession through reflection on their classroom and field experiences.
Course Requirements:
1. Textbook: TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, and SOCIETY, 7th edition, Sadker and Sadker, McGraw Hill ISBN: 0-07-287772-3
2. A computer with access to the Internet; this course requires a computer component
3. Knowledge of and experience with a word processor that allows you to save files as .doc (Microsoft Word) or .rtf documents (Most word processors do this) Microsoft WORD preferred.
4. 15 hours of documented observation time at a kindergarten, elementary, middle, or secondary public, private or charter school. Observation forms are provided. You must do this to pass the course.
5. An electronic journal consisting of four separate entries that document your development and understanding of education as you progress through the course. Journals are due no later than midnight on Sunday, January 27, Sunday, February 17, Sunday, March 23, and Sunday, April 20.
Name each file yourlastname_jrn1, jrnl2, jrnl3, and jrnl4. For example, my journal entries would be mers_jrnl1 for the first journal, mers_jrnl2 for the second, mers_jrnl3 for the third, and mers_jrnl4 (Optional, at the professor’s discretion).
6. Eight articles on education that come from at least three separate sources. Clip, copy or scan the articles and include a brief summary of the article. Due April 16.
7. Interviewing two teaching (or one teaching and one administrative) personnel currently working in general education situations. One interview must be from the level in which you are interested in working. Do not select two people from the same area. Interviews should be submitted when you finish the second one. You will receive a sample set of interview questions.
8. Regular class attendance and completion of out-of-class assignments. Patterned tardiness of 15 minutes or more could result in your being dropped from the class.
9. On-line quizzes over each chapter of the text. (Optional, at the professor's discretion)
10. Submitting work using a word processor that allows you to save files as either a .doc (Microsoft WORD) or an .rtf (Rich Text File). Microsoft WORD preferred.
12. Mid-Term Exam and Final Exams
Personal Situations:
Each of us has personal problems that may arise and affect our day-to-day activities. These are our problems to solve. They do not belong to Houston Community College or to your professor. Should you have a situation that affects your attendance or your meeting deadlines, be prepared to accept the responsibility of the consequences of such situations.
Late Assignments/Make-up Work
Generally, late assignments are not accepted. There is no make-up work for missed class meetings or assignments.
Grading and Grade Calculation
Numerical Scale:
A=89.5-100
B=79.5-89.4
C=69.5-79.4
D=59.5-69.4
F=0-59.4
The numerical scale is used for objective assignments such as multiple choice answer and true/false assignments.
Letter Grade Scale:
A=95
B=85
C=75
D=65
F=55
The letter grade scale is used generally for subjective assignments such as essay questions and short answer assignments.
Calculation:
Discussion/
Other 25%
Field Study 25%
Online Activities 10%
Group Activities 10%
Mid-Term Exam 10%
Final Exam 20%
100%
SPECIAL NOTE: If you have been convicted of a felony, you may not be able to teach in the State of Texas. Contact an attorney for further information
