Great Basin College
EDU 250
Foundations of Education
Fall 2011 Syllabus
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
email:
SKYPE:
Office Hours:
Thomas Reagan
EIT 253
753-2214
thomasr@gwmail.gbcnv.edu
thomas.reagan
Wednesdays 1:00-4:00
Thursdays 2:00-4:00 or by appointment
Course Information
Title:
Number:
Discipline:
Description:
Prerequisites:
Co-requisites:
Location:
Times:
Credits:
Foundations of Education
EDU 250
Teacher Education
A foundations course in education, introduction to the philosophy, history, and sociology of
modern education. Emphasis is placed on current trends in education.
ENG 101
EDEL 311 or EDSC 311
EIT 203
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:15
3 credits
Textbooks
Required Textbooks:
Foundations of American Education: Perspectives on Education in a Changing World, Johnson, J., et
al. (Boston: Pearson, Allyn and Bacon, 15th ed., 2011)
ISBN: 0-13-701252-7
Learning Outcomes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Recognize the moral, ethical, and judicial rights and responsibilities of teachers, students, and parents within the public school
system.
Investigate the purposes of education within our multicultural, democratic, globally interdependent society.
Recognize the link between the goals of public education and the choices teachers make in fulfilling their professional
responsibilities.
Trace the philosophical and historical development of US educational policy and curriculum.
Research and debate current issues in US education.
Explain the role of the federal government within the structure and function of state and local school systems.
Explore and articulate one’s personal philosophy of education.
Measurement of Learning Outcomes
Class Participation (10% of course grade)
Class participation and attendance are an integral part of the learning process. Should you miss a class for a compelling reason it is your
responsibility to inform the instructor and to make up the material missed. Active participation in class discussions is perhaps the most
effective way for students to feel that they are confident with the class material and for the instructor to determine whether the students are
comprehending the information. Students are encouraged to ask questions, seek clarification of issues and to share their own opinions
about the works we shall be examining. Participation will be rewarded, as the contributions of all class members are valued as illuminating
the subject material and providing a rich variety of insights. Common courtesy is expected. Non-participation and rude behavior, such as
personal conversations while others are speaking, texting, persistent arrival 5 or more minutes late - or leaving early, must not occur.
Reflective Papers (20%) and WebCampus Discussion Postings (15%)
Students will be required to periodically submit writing assignments, post discussions, and attend one school board meeting during the
course of the semester. Topics will include current issues in education, educational theory and practice, ethics in education, and the
student’s personal philosophy of education.
Chapter Reading Quizzes (5%)
Each chapter will have a self -study quiz. Quizzes are delivered via WebCampus and are open book, open note, and are encouraged to be
taken in a cooperative setting with fellow classmates. Each quiz can be taken two (2) times. The highest score will be recorded. There is a
30 minute wait between quiz attempts.
Current Educational Issues Presentation (10%)
Students will make a ten minute presentation on a current issue in education. There will be one presentation at the start of each class
starting after the first summative exam. Students will sign up for their date through WebCampus. Students will also team up, design, and
present a merit pay system that works.
Summative Assessments (20%)
Two summative exams will be given during the semester (see schedule on last page). They will be multiple choice and essay format.
Exam content will be taken from the textbook, lecture material, and current issue presentations. The exams will be proctored at the testing
centers of the branch campuses. Bring a photo ID.
Final Exam (20%)
A final exam will be given Tuesday during finals week. The exam will be the same format and content outline as the summative exams.
Policy Statements
Late Work:
All assignments are due on the date listed on the syllabus or when assigned in class by the
instructor. Late work is not accepted unless prearranged because of extenuating
circumstances.
Attendance Policy:
You are expected to attend all class meetings. Exceptions may be discussed with the
instructor with suitable make-up activities agreed upon. All course work is due on the
assigned dates whether or not you are present. The instructor assumes no responsibility for
making sure you receive any course material for which you were absent. Contact another
class participant ahead of time to collect class materials and take notes. Make
arrangements to get such materials before the next class meeting date. You are expected to
return to the next class fully prepared with assignments ready.
NOTE: GBC’s excessive absences policy (see catalog for description) will be followed.
The instructor reserves the right to drop any student after three unexcused absences.
Students with Disabilities:
GBC supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is
available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact the ADA
Officer (Julie Byrnes) in Elko at 775.753.2271 at your earliest convenience to request
timely and appropriate accommodations.
Student Responsibilities

Read and understand the contents of the GBC catalog.

Become familiar with all GBC policies and procedures.

Be aware of all GBC deadlines, including dates for registration, change of registration and fee payment.

Contribute to the maintenance of a campus environment conducive to intellectual curiosity, civility, and diversity.

Keep GBC informed of changes in address, phone number, enrollment changes which might affect financial aid awards
and/or any other circumstances which could affect satisfactory progress toward a degree.
Policy of Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is expected in this course. All student work must be original and authentic. Any acts of
cheating, copying, and/or plagiarizing are violations of the UCCSN code of conduct and will be taken seriously. Students who cheat, copy
another’s work, or plagiarize from the Internet or other sources will fail the course regardless of other course work and are subject to
dismissal from the academic institution. The definition of plagiarism as adopted by the GBC Faculty Senate is:
“Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s word, ideas or data as one’s own. When a student submits work that includes the words,
ideas, or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references;
and if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks as well. In academically honest writing or speaking, the
students will acknowledge the source whenever:

Another person’s actual words are quoted

Another person’s idea, opinion or theory is used, even if it is completely paraphrased in the student’s own
words

Facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are borrowed, unless the information is common
knowledge.”
Recycling one’s own work from another class or a previous version of this class is also considered plagiarism.
Grading Scale
A
AB+
B
BC+
94-100
90-93
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
C
CD+
D
DF
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
BELOW 60
Course Schedule – Instructor reserves right to modify during semester
Date
8/30
9/1
9/6
Presentations Corresponding
Topic
Text Chapter
Ch1
Education as a Profession
Ch1
Ch2
The Early History of Education
9/8
Ch2
9/13
9/15
9/20
9/22
Ch2
Ch3
Ch3
Ch3
9/27
9/29
10/4
10/6
10/11
10/13
*
*
*
*
SUMMATIVE EXAM #1
Ch6
Place of Schools in Society
Ch6
Ch7
Diversity in Society and Schools
Ch8
Students and Their Families
Ch9
Organizing and Paying for Education
10/18
*
Ch9
10/20
Ch9
Discussion Replies #1
Ch3 Reading Quiz
Ch6 Reading Quiz
Ch7 Reading Quiz
Discussion Post #2
Discussion Replies #2
Ch8 Reading Quiz
Organizing and Paying for Education Writing Assignment #2: Role of Schools and
Education
Team Presentations: Merit Pay
Ch9 Reading Quiz
Legal Perspectives on Education
*
11/10
11/15
*
*
Ch10
Ch10
Ch10
SUMMATIVE EXAM #2
CH11
Standards, Assessment, and
Accountability
Ch11
Ch12
Curriculum and Instruction
11/17
*
Ch12
11/22
11/29
12/1
*
*
*
Ch4
Ch4
Ch5
Ch5
12/8
Ch13
12/13
FINAL EXAM
Ch1 Reading Quiz
Writing Assignment #1: Why I Want to be a
Teacher
Ch2 Reading Quiz
Historical Perspectives of Education Discussion Post #1
10/25
10/27
11/1
11/3
11/8
12/6
Assignments Due
See WebCampus for descriptions
Ch10 Reading Quiz
Ch11 Reading Quiz
Discussion Post #3
Discussion Replies #3
Ch12 Reading Quiz
Philosophy
Ch4 Reading Quiz
Building an Educational Philosophy Discussion Post #4
Discussion Replies #4
Ch 5Reading Quiz
Becoming a High-Quality Teacher in Ch13 Reading Quiz
a Changing World
Writing Assignment #3: Educational Philosophy