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11.124J Intro. to Teaching and Learning | |
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MIT 11.124 Introduction to Teaching and Learning Monday / Wednesday 3:00- 4:30 N52-457 Prof. Eric Klopfer 3-2025 Building 9-511 http://education.mit.edu/tep/11124 This course provides an introduction to teaching and learning in a variety of K-12 settings. Through visits to schools, classroom discussions, selected readings, and hands-on activities, we explore the challenges and opportunities of teaching. Topics of study include educational technology, design and experimentation, student learning, and careers in education. Syllabus (for the most up to date syllabus see http://education.mit.edu/tep/11124) (Sept. 6) Introduction to Introduction to Teaching and Learning Class format and location Observations, Paperwork Email list Readings Final project Activity I. Schools Education Reform Charter Schools / Privatization / Homeschooling Urban Schools (Sept. 11) What are the major problems in education? Brainstorming Why is education such a big issue in the presidential election? NY Times- Bush and Gore Stake Claims to Federal Role in Education Presidential Statements — Gore and Bush (Sept. 13 & 18) What are schools like? What do we think schools are like? Fact and fictional video views of schools and classrooms. Horace’s Hope — A Story Where Nothing Happens Horace’s Compromise — What High School Is NY Times — The One Room Schoolhouse (Sept. 20) School Choice (Video) The Disciplined Mind — How Cultures Educate Horace’s Hope- The Words of Reform (Sept 27) Discussion of class collected mission statements Presidential Recommendations Assignment Due: Research on Charter Schools, Privatization, and Homeschooling: Mission Statements/Purposes of different institutions Education Week — Redefining Public Schools NY Times — Seeking to Clone Schools of Success for Poor
II. Teachers Teacher Preparation Teacher Shortages Pedagogies (Oct. 2) Reports from Schools Best and Worst things heard from teachers Assignment Due: 10 min interview with an educator. NY Times — Less Training, More Teachers: New Math for Staffing Classes Education Week — State’s Uneven Teacher Supply Complicates Staffing of Schools (Oct. 4) Challenges of Teaching Education Week - New Teachers Abandon Field at High Rate My First Year As A Teacher Reflections of First-Year Teachers on School Culture (Oct. 11) Guest Appearance: James Taylor Stories and challenges of teachers implementing new curriculum. (Oct. 16) Reports from Schools — Challenges of Teaching. What kind of teaching do you see? Learning Environments The Courage to Teach — The Heart of a Teacher How People Learn - The Design of Learning Environments Assignment Due: Analysis of teaching styles observed in the classroom.
III. Curriculum Standards Assessment (Oct. 18) National and State Standards Massachusetts Framework Achieve.org Benchmarks for Science Literacy National Science Education Standards Assignment Due: Revising the Frameworks (and borrowing from other states) (Oct. 23) Standards Debate Contradictions of School Reform — Standardization, Defensive Teaching, and the Problems of Control One Size Fits Few — Whose Standards These Are, I Think I Know Will Standards Save Public Education? Expert Opinion, The Case for Standards (Oct. 25) Alternative Forms of Assessment What to Look for in the Classroom? — Grading: the issue is not how but why? (Oct. 30) Assessment MCAS and other State Tests Assignment Due: Pros and Cons of different state exams. IV. Problems and Activities Student Learning / Styles Diversity Content (Nov. 1)(Nov. 6) Physics - Pulleys and Gears What do we learn? How People Learn — Learning and Transfer Effective Teaching: Examples in History, Mathematics, and Science (Nov. 8)(Nov. 13) Math Activities The Unschooled Mind, The Disciplined Mind Assignment Due: How do we learn? (Nov. 15)(Nov. 20) Biology V. Technology Digital Divide Modeling Internet (Nov. 22) (Nov. 27) (Nov. 29)(Dec. 4) Modeling and Simulation Does it Compute? Pianos Not Stereos Adventures in Modeling Modeling and Simulation in Science and Mathematics Education (Dec. 6)(Dec. 11) Inquiry Support Tools WISE, Artemis Computers, Teachers, Peers Assignment Due: Modeling and simulation activity. Final Projects (Dec.13) Class presentations Assignment Due: Designing a classroom
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