Studenting 20%
1. Come to class each day. If you know you aren’t going to be able to attend, please let me know at least 24hrs. before hand.
2. Do the readings. Do the reflections. Take manageable chunks and do them well. “Do” = read, think, connect, share, understand. Use specific references to texts.
3. Know your own expertise. Contribute to group discussions. Value the expertise of others.
4. Participate in class discussions and class comments. No one is as smart as all of us are together. Listen, question, reflect, share.
Nightly Readings 20%
1. Read assigned readings each night.
2. Choose a section from one of the readings to focus upon. Write out (a) what it was about that section that caught your eye, (b) why, (c) connections across readings, and (d) connections to areas the group has been discussing. Length = 250-350 words. Enter in webCT discussion board.
3. Share your insights with your Synthesis group.
4. The group should be prepared to report back to the larger group any particularly interesting aspects of your discussion that you think the rest of us might find interesting.
5. Please use the roles of facilitator, recorder, reporter, and timekeeper to keep your discussion focused and productive.
Personal Project 40%
Identify an interest area that will strengthen your professional work. Research the area. Prepare a report that meets the following criteria.
1. Identify areas of educational psychology that inform the report.
2a. Identify your area of interest.
2b. Identify why it was chosen.
2c. Identify what you want to find out. Be behaviorally specific.
3a. Summarize what you found out.
3b. Include information from different vantage points if possible.
3c. Seek other sources besides course materials – maximum of 4 including one written. Cite sources using footnotes.
4. Conclude in at least two ways: a) an explanation of how where you ended up is different from where you thought you’d end up, and b) specific statements about how your “work” might shift as a result of what you have learned.
5. Present your project to a group: fifteen minutes, one page overview handout for everyone.
Note: The final form of this project need not be written. It could be reported and presented in a form of your choice eg. powerpoint, visual display, iMovie, oral report with notes plus visual supports, etc.
Reflective Presentation: Vygotsky or Meier or both 10%
1. poster format
2. focuses on text that resonates with you
3. shows connections to your own prior knowledge
4. visually communicates how your personal/professional understanding has been deepened through the reading
5. may be done with partner(s)
You can see several examples from last summer under the resource category.
Blog Commentary 10%
Please set yourself a goal of commenting on at least three of our classes. You can do this in the “Comment” category by clicking on “comment” to the lead statement I will put in there after every day’s class.