Teacher Education
EDUC 1200 – Careers in Education
CRN 32733
Spring 2010-8 Weeks
January 19-March 12
West Loop Campus
Room 133
Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30pm
FIRST Day of Class: January 20, 2010
Instructor: Saler Lynn Axel, M.S.T.
Email: saler.axel@hccs.edu
Available for conference (office hours), by appointment.
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE INFORMATION:
Course Description: A study of the 1) research and theory in the psychology of learning,
cognition, and motivation, 2) factors that impact learning, and 3) application of learning
strategies. Theoretical models of strategic learning, cognition, and motivation serve as the
conceptual basis for the introduction of college-level student academic strategies.
Prerequisites: None.
NOTICE: This course of study would not be appropriate for anyone who falls into the following
category as noted by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. "No person with
a conviction or who is under indictment for, or is the subject of an official criminal complaint
alleging violation of any of the crimes listed as a felony against the person or felony violation of
the Texas Controlled Substance Act may be present while children are in care."
TEXT: Houston Community College (2007). Learning Frameworks: Skills for Success in the
College Classroom and a Career in Education. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
OBJECTIVES:
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student will be able to:
EDUC 1200 – Career in Education
Course Syllabus
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1. Use assessment instruments (e.g., learning inventories) to help them identify their own
strengths and weaknesses as strategic learners.
2. Integrate and apply the learning skills discussed across their own academic programs
and become effective and efficient learners,
3. Develop these skills and continually draw from the theoretical models they have learned.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION:
New Repeat Course Fee – Effective Fall 2006, HCC will charge a higher tuition rate to students
registering the third or subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course withdrawal
because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as
possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test taking skills, attendance,
course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! You are expected to attend all
lecture and labs regularly. You are responsible for materials covered during your absences.
Instructors may be willing to consult with you for make-up assignments, but it is your
responsibility to contact the instructor. Class attendance is checked daily. Although it is your
responsibility to drop a course for nonattendance, the instructor has the authority to drop you for
excessive absences.
You may be dropped from a course a student after accumulating absences in excess of
six (6) hours of instruction. The six hours of class time would include any total classes missed or
for excessive tardiness or leaving class early.
You may decide NOT to come to class for whatever reason. As an adult making the
decision not to attend, you do not have to notify the instructor prior to missing a class. However,
if this happens too many times, you may suddenly find that you have “lost” the class.
Poor attendance records tend to correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class,
including the first week, you are responsible for all material missed. It is a good idea to find a
friend or a buddy in class who would be willing to share class notes or discussion or be able to
hand in paper if you unavoidably miss a class.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy - The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on
students who drop courses excessively. For example, if you repeat the same course more than
twice, you have to pay extra tuition. Beginning in Fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law
limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout
their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early
Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and HCC counselors that you might fail a
class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your
responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC
interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job
placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
If you plan on withdrawing from your class, you MUST contact a HCC counselor or your
professor prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class for approval and this must be done PRIOR to
the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. **Final withdrawal deadlines vary
each semester and/or depending on class length, please visit the online registration calendars,
HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to
determine class withdrawal deadlines. Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when
communicating via email and/or telephone with a DE professor and/or counselor. Do not
EDUC 1200 – Career in Education
Syllabus
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submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline. If
you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the
class as your final grade.
Use of Camera and/or Recording Devices -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.
Scholastic Dishonesty -- Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and
integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be
initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
“Scholastic dishonesty”: includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:
 Copying from another students’ test paper;
 Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of a test that has not been administered;
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism mean the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of
that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit.
Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the
particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal
from the College System. (See the Student Handbook)
Instructor Responsibilities:
 Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to
be derived
 Facilitate an effective learning environment through class activities, discussions, and
lectures
 Description of any special projects or assignments
 Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness and make up
 Provide the course outline and class calendar which will include a description of any special
projects or assignments
 Arrange to meet with individual students before and after class as required
Student responsibilities:
 Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities
 Read and comprehend the textbook
 Complete the required assignments, projects and exams
 Ask for help when there is a question or problem
 Keep copies of all paperwork, including this syllabus, handouts and all assignments
 Complete a degree plan with a school counselor
EDUC 1200 – Career in Education
Syllabus
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Final grades – Grades are available online within one week of the end of the course on the
website www.hccs.edu
STUDENT SERVICES:
Children on Campus - We love your children and understand that parents often face child care
problems. However, the campus is a work place, and the purpose of our presence here is the
business of education. Therefore, we cannot allow children in the college classrooms or
unattended on campus. We ask for your cooperation in adhering to this policy.
Services to Students with Disabilities - Students who require reasonable accommodations
for disabilities are encouraged to report to Dr. Becky Hauri at 713-718-7910 to make necessary
arrangements. Faculty is only authorized to provide accommodations by the Disability Support
Service Office.
Course Assignment Schedule
Based upon the textbook.
DATE
IN-CLASS LEARNING TASKS
OUTSIDE CLASS LEARNING TASKS
(Due on date listed)
01/19/10 Semester begins
01/20/10 FIRST Day of Class
Understanding the College Community and Culture
01/20/10 Ch. 1: Welcome to HCC
Ch. 2: Expectations & Challenges
01/25/10 Ch. 3: Motivate Your Way to Success
01/27/10 Ch. 4: Prioritizing Your Time to Match Your Goals
02/01/10 Ch. 5: Managing the
-Read Ch. 3: Complete pg. 35
-Read Ch. 4: Complete pg. 57
-Classroom Observation Fact Sheet
-Read Ch. 5
Stress of Life
Understanding the Process of Learning
02/03/10 Ch. 6: Understanding the Way You Learn
02/08/10 Ch. 7: Your Memory at Work
02/10/10 Ch. 8: Developing Critical Skills
02/15/10 Ch. 9: Listening and Note Taking
Ch. 10: How to Study
02/17/10 Ch. 11: The Art of Test Taking
02/22/10 Ch. 12: Effective
-Read Ch. 6
-Classroom Observation Reflection #1
-Read Ch. 7
-Read Ch. 8: Complete pg.127
-Read Ch. 9
-Read Ch. 10: Complete pg. 175
-Read Ch. 11
-Classroom Observation Reflection #2
-Read Ch 12: Complete pp. 227-229
Writing and Speaking
Understanding the Field of Education
02/24/10 Ch. 13: Vocation: More Than a Job
-Read Ch. 13
-Resume Assignment
03/01/10 Guest Speakers Panel
-Write out 3 questions you have about the
teaching field that you would like to ask the
panel.
-Read Ch. 14: Complete pg. 287
-Classroom Observation Reflection #3
-Read Ch. 15
-Degree Plan Meeting must be completed
-Read Ch. 16
-Teaching Philosophy Paper
03/03/10 Ch. 14: Understanding Educational Philosophy
03/08/10 Ch. 15: Understanding Learning Theories
03/10/10 Ch. 16: What Makes a Teacher Effective?
03/10/10 Last Class Day
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Course Work Late Submission and Make-up Policy: All course work must be produced and
submitted on the dates listed above in order to earn full points towards the final grade. Late work
and/or make-up work may not be submitted for grading without prior permission from the
instructor. Please note that assignment due dates may be subject to change.
Textbook: The textbook (listed above) is used the very first day of class. It is expected that every
student will immediately access a copy of the designated textbook for this course and be fully
prepared for classes as required. It is unacceptable to not have access to the textbook within the
first few days of class. Part of the “in-class learning task” course grade will based upon meeting
this requirement by the second class session.
In-Class Learning Tasks Scores
The in-class learning tasks score includes being on time and in attendance for the full class
session, engaging in class discussions and collaborative group work, and completing individual
tasks as assigned. The instructor will use the Socratic Method of teaching; students will be called
on at random to answer questions about the assigned reading. Therefore, it is important that you
read all material on-time, as assigned.
Outside Learning Tasks Scores
The outside learning tasks scores include all assignments to be developed outside of class, based
upon following specific instructions for each assignment, and submitted as required. These include
the following:
1. Chapter Activities (can be found in textbook)
2. Resume
3. Classroom Observation Fact Sheet
4. Four Hours of Documented Classroom Observation
5. Three Classroom Observation Reflections (see topics below)
6. Teaching Philosophy Paper
7. Degree Plan Meeting with Counselor (to be arranged by student)
Classroom Observation:
Students are required to spend at least three documented hours in a classroom setting for this
course. The setting may include a public or private school, a day care center or another learning
setting approved by your instructor. Babysitting and/or watching your own children will not count
toward classroom observation hours. You will be expected to dress and act professionally when
entering a classroom setting. You are encouraged to participate in learning activities with the
children; always ask the classroom teacher’s permission first before engaging in activities. If
possible, try observing different ages or grades. Lastly, have fun!
1. Class Observation Fact Sheet: Due 1/27/10. If you need assistance finding a school to
observe in, do not wait until the Fact Sheet due date. Contact your instructor ahead of time
and she will assist you. The fact sheet is attached as the last page of this syllabus. This
assignment may be neatly handwritten. If it is not legible, it will be returned without a grade
and asked to be redone by the next classroom session. If it is not corrected on time, it will
receive zero “0” points towards the final course grade.
2. Reflection Topic #1: Due 2/3/10. Examine the classroom environment. Is the classroom
aesthetically pleasing? Does it provide a good learning atmosphere for students? Are there
cues as to the subject area taught in the classroom? Notice placement of furniture,
equipment, storage, work areas, etc. Is the space sufficient? Is it well utilized?
EDUC 1200 – Career in Education
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3. Reflection Topic #2: Due 2/17/10. Observe characteristics of the students. Can you tell
their class level or age group? How do they interact with one another? What can you
conclude about the ethnic, social, linguistic, and economic diversity in this class?
4. Reflection Topic #3: Due 3/3/10. Observe the behavior of the students. What rules of
conduct are they actually following? Are class rules posted in the room? What behaviors
are encouraged or discouraged by words or actions on the part of the teacher? What was
the reward for good behavior? How was inappropriate behavior addressed?
Course Communication
All course related correspondence MUST be submitted either in class or via email. In case of an
emergency, the student may call the professor at the number listed above or send an email to the
email address listed above.
Course Software
All typed assignment are required to be produced via MS Word 2003 or 2007, the adopted
software of Houston Community College. Assignments submitted otherwise will receive zero “0”
points towards the final course grade.
Course Assignments-Specs
All assignments must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point size, with 1 inch margins and in either
Times New Roman or Arial font. Make sure to double check that all spelling and grammar are
correct on every assignment. Assignments with more than three such mistakes will be returned
without a grade and asked to be redone by the next classroom session. If assignments are not
corrected on time, they will receive zero “0” points towards the final course grade.
(Exception: The resume assignment may include a larger font size for the heading and does not
have to be double spaced.)
Grading Scale
100 – 90
89 – 80
79 – 70
69 – 60
A
B
C
D
59 - <
F
EDUC 1200 – Career in Education
In-Class Learning Tasks
Chapter Activities
Degree Plan Meeting
Classroom Observation Fact
Sheet
Resume Assignment
Teaching Philosophy Paper
3 Classroom Observation
Reflections (10% each)
10%
10%
5%
5%
Total
100%
Syllabus
20%
20%
30%
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