EDUC 485/488
SPECIAL METHODS IN HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECTS
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Shirley W. Jacob
OFFICE: TEC #204
PHONE: 549-5242 (O) or 892-6171 (H)
E-MAIL: sjacob@selu.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday: 8:00-9:00; 11:00-2:00; Friday: 8:00-9:00; Thursday:
By Appointment
TEXT: There is no single required text for this class. Students will use a variety of
references.
PREREQUISITES: Senior standing; full SARTE status; currently taking or completed EDUC
407. It is recommended that students take this course the semester prior to student
teaching and that the student's semester course load be limited to 12 hours. You must
block out the mornings from 7:30 to 11 (Monday through Friday) to accommodate field
experiences in the schools.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Consideration of methods and materials in the student's teaching
field. The course includes observation and field experience in the secondary school.
In order to successfully plan, develop, and implement curricula to meet the needs of
diverse learners in today's world and to prepare students for the future, the College of
Education and Human Development has identified four critical components of the
EFFECTIVE EDUCATOR: standards-based instruction (SBI), knowledge of the
learner (KL), best pedagogical practices (PP), and content knowledge (CK).
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Define the term "curriculum." (CK)
2. Distinguish among, facts, concepts, and processes. (CK)
3. Conduct a search for relevant materials in his/her specific subject area. (SBI, KL)
4. When given a teaching assignment:
a. write behavioral objectives at all levels of Bloom's taxonomy.
b. develop student centered activities.
c. develop a content outline, materials list, and a plan of evaluation for the
assignment. (SBI, KL, PP, and CK)
5. Demonstrate a variety of lesson introduction and closure. (PP)
6. Demonstrate a variety of teaching methods and models. (PP, KL)
7. Discuss instructional goals currently emphasized by educational professionals in the student's
area of concentration. (SBI, KL, CK)
8. Describe the nature and dynamics of various approaches to classroom management. (PP, KL)
9. Demonstrate effective questioning techniques. (PP)
10. Discuss methods of discipline, motivation, instruction, and general classroom management
that are required to accommodate students as a result of various ethnic or cultural
backgrounds, learning styles, sex or socioeconomic needs, or other special needs. (PP, KL,
CK, SBI)
11. Demonstrate the proper use of teaching aids and instructional media in the classroom. (PP,
KL)
12. Write appropriate test items for evaluating student achievement. (KL, CK, SBI)
13. Work cooperatively and progressively in group activities. (CK, KL)
14. Describe how to use information to evaluate--that is to grade, to judge student progress, to
judge changes in student attitudes, and to judge the effectiveness of your own instruction.
(CK, KL)
15. Describe various responsibilities as an employee of a school district. (CK)
16. Identify various styles of learning and instructional techniques for each style. (KL, PP)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
PRAXIS: Beginning the Fall Semester 2002, student teachers and interns must successfully
pass all required parts of the PRAXIS prior to student teaching or an internship. This includes
the test titled Principles of Learning and Teaching for all majors and the specialty test when
required in the major field.
EXAMS: There will be a mid-term test worth 100 points and a comprehensive final worth 100
points. Tentative test dates are as follows: The mid-term test will be on or about Friday, March
18, 2002. The final exam will be as scheduled in the bulletin.
LESSON PLANS: Each student must submit an appropriate number of lesson plans for each of
the two assignments. Included will be lesson plans, classroom observations per assignment,
daily journal entries during the teaching experience, a unit test, a supervisor's assessment of
teaching, student assessments of teaching, and a personal assessment of teaching. Assignment I
is worth 50 points. Assignment II is worth 100 points.
LABORATORY EXPERIENCE: This will consist of the planning and teaching of two units
to students in area secondary schools. Also, students will be required to make a minimum of 3
observations for Practicum I and 5 observations for Practicum II with their assigned classes.
Transportation to and from the assigned school is the responsibility of the practicum student. To
accommodate the schools and allow for maximum learning and teaching transition, students are
required during the practicum experience to be in the classroom at the designated time 5 days
each week. Therefore, adjustments made to class schedules and work schedules are the
responsibility of the student. Teaching evaluations will be conducted by the cooperating teacher,
the methods student, high school students, and the instructor for a total of 250 points (Practicum
I - 100 points and Practicum II - 150 points). In order to receive credit for this course, a student
must receive a score of 80% or better on the university supervisor’s evaluation of field
experience regardless of the final EDUC 485/88 grade average.
PARTICIPATION: It is important that everyone work cooperatively and progressively with
each other. At times, students will be asked to participate in a variety of class discussions,
activities, demonstrations and planning. Points are often given daily. The participation grade is
50 points and will be determined by the teacher. Points given for in-class participation cannot
be made up.
PROFESSIONALISM: Being a teacher requires responsibility and maturity. Fifty points will
be given for professional behavior in the schools and in the classroom. A rubric will be used in
scoring effective teacher attributes.
MAKE UP EXAM, LATE WORK, AND EXTRA CREDIT: Major exams may not be made
up unless cleared previously with the instructor. In such cases, the student must take the exam
before or during the next scheduled class meeting. Failure to contact the instructor immediately
could result in a "0" for the test. Assignments are due at class time on the due date announced in
class. Failure to provide lesson plans on the designated date will result in points being subtracted
from the lesson plan grade. Any other late work will receive a grade penalty. No work for extra
credit will be allowed for any reason.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is crucial for an understanding of the material and is mandatory.
You should contact the instructor as soon as possible regarding your absence. Whether the
absence is excused or not is left to the discretion of the professor. Five absences during a
semester will result in the student's semester average being lowered one letter grade. For
example, if a student's semester average is "B," the recorded semester grade will be a "C." Also,
it is important to be in class on time each day. Three tardies will be considered an absence.
GRADING: Grades will be determined as follows:
Mid term exam
Final exam
Participation
Professionalism
Laboratory Experience I
Laboratory Experience II
Lesson Plans (Lab I)
Lesson Plans (Lab II)
TOTAL
A - 93 -100
B - 85 - 92
C - 78 - 84
D - 70 - 77
F - 0 - 69
100 points
100 points
50 points
50 points
100 points
150 points
50 points
100 points
_____________________
700 points
A
B
C
D
F
700 - 651
650 - 595
594 - 546
545 - 490
489 - 0
The last day to withdraw is Friday, March 22, 2002.
If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking accommodations under the Americans
with Disabilities Act, you are required to self-identify with the Office of Student Life, Room
203, Student Union.