Ferris State University
Center for Occupational Education
EDUC 301
PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
Thomas R. Anderson, Professor
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Text: Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice, 5th Ed. Slavin, Robert E., Allyn and Bacon Publishers. (Text is available at the FSU Bookstore, Course Book Department.)
COURSE CONTENT
I.Chapter 4: Student Diversity
IIChapter 6: Cognitive Theories of Learning: Basic Concepts
III Chapter 7: The Effective Lesson
IV. Chapter 8: Student-Centered and Constructivist Approaches to Instruction
V. Chapter 9: Accommodating Instruction to Individual Needs
VI. Chapter 10: Motivating Students to Learn
VII. Chapter 11: Effective Learning Environments
VIII. Chapter 12: Exceptional Learners
EXAMS
Four exams will be given this semester. They will contain both objective and essay items and will be worth from 60-100 points. Exams may contain items from earlier exams. Students who do not take an exam at the regularly scheduled time will be required to take an all essay exam. The essay exam must be taken within one week of the student's return to class. Make up tests need to be scheduled with the instructor/secretary. Quizzes and class activities will be worth from 2-10 points and may NOT be made up.
FIELD EXPERIENCES/OUTSIDE ASSIGNMENTS
1. Visit a secondary school classroom for at least one hour and using a predetermined Note-Taking Guide, observe and reflect on the teaching/ learning strategies used by the teacher in one of the following areas: Student Diversity; Cognitive Theories of Learning; The Effective Lesson or Student-Centered and Contructivist Approaches to Instruction(1st. eight weeks topics). Prepare a 2-3 page word-processed paper on the observations and reflections. The paper should include who was observed, when and where the observation took place and reflection upon how what was observed compares to what was/is being studied in class. No telephone interviews. (15 points. ) Due on: __________________.
2. Visit a secondary school classroom for at least one hour and using a predetermined Note-Taking Guide, observe and reflect on the teaching/ learning strategies used by the teacher in one of the following areas: Accommodating Instruction to Individual Needs; Motivating Students to Learn; Effective Learning Environments or Exceptional Learners.(2nd. eight weeks topics). Prepare a 2-3 page word-processed paper on the observations and reflections. The paper should include who was observed, when and where the observation took place and reflection upon how what was observed compares to what was/is being studied in class. No telephone interviews. (15 points. ) Due on: __________________.
SELECTED READINGS
The student will be required to read several articles/book excerpts during the semester. Several exam questions will be based on these readings. Some World Wide Web sites will be included.
GRADING
Scores on exams, field experiences, and attendance will be used to compute the final course grade. Requirements for grades are as follows.
| Grading Scale: | 73 to 76 = C |
| Above 96 = A | 70 to 72 = C- |
| 90 to 95 = A- | 67 to 69 = D+ |
| 87 to 89 = B+ | 63 to 66 = D |
| 83 to 86 = B | 60 to 62 = D- |
| 80 to 82 = B- | Below 59 = Fail |
| 77 to 79 = C+ |
ATTENDANCE
This class requires attendance at all sessions and active class participation by the student. Since students who do not attend class lose out on class participation, those who miss more than three class periods will lose ten (10) points from their total score for each class missed after the first three (3) absences. Each time a student is late (5 minutes after scheduled class start time), it shall count as 1/2 an absence.
Children are welcome during office hours, but may NOT attend class.