C&I 212 section 1 – Fall 2010
Curriculum and Organization Issues in Secondary Schooling
Tuesday/Thursday 9–9:50, DeGarmo Hall 463
Instructor Contact Information
Heather Plattner
home phone: 309-726-1574
cell: 309-825-1696
hplattn@ilstu.edu
office hours: Appointment only
office: DeGarmo 216
Rationale
This course is designed to prepare prospective secondary school teachers to be knowledgeable about
contemporary issues related to curriculum and school organization. It introduces these issues and asks students to
make reasoned, educated responses to each. These issues are further explored through clinical experiences, which
allow students to begin to develop a professional perspective on teaching.
One of the focus points for this course is the standards movement that drives much of what is occurring in
schools today. Students first become familiar with state and national teaching standards and then discuss how
each impacts the classroom. A second focus is classroom diversity. Students discuss the impact of diverse
learners within schools citing recent research, teaching and learning standards, and the moral and intellectual
virtues. Finally, the course examines the dynamics of present day schooling, including the increasing role of
technology within schools.
Through the activities of the course, students acquire a broadened perspective of their roles in 21st century
schools as envisioned in the Illinois State University conceptual framework: Realizing the Democratic Ideal.
Illinois State University has a historic and enduring commitment to prepare teachers and other school personnel
who will be responsive to the ethical and intellectual demands of democratic society. To teach in a democracy is
to consciously take up the challenge of improving the ethical and intellectual quality of our societal dialogue by
including as many educated voices as possible. For more information about ISU’s Conceptual Framework, please
visit: http://www.teachereducation.ilstu.edu/councilforteachered/democratic-ideal.shtml
Required Software
LiveText CD-ROM (electronic portfolio software) available at the Tech Zone
Course Objectives
This course has been designed so all secondary education teacher candidates will be able to demonstrate an
understanding of
1. The present structure, organization, and effectiveness of secondary schools via clinical experiences,
class participation, reflection and application.
2. Terms and issues related to students with special needs, including legal and safety issues and requisite
instructional accommodations, citing Special Education Standards for Regular Classroom Teachers.
3. Multicultural concerns and critical issues related to diversity in American society and schools citing
the moral and intellectual virtues in Realizing the Democratic Ideal.
4. Instructional technology and its place in schools through observations, application and class
participation, referencing the Technology Standards for All Teachers.
5. Teacher professionalism as it is articulated in Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, thereby forging “a strong sense of their moral
and intellectual roots-a professional identity” and applying that identity to an analysis of clinical
experiences.
6. The relationship between standards and curriculum in today’s schools including the role of Illinois
Learning Standards, the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, and the Illinois State University
conceptual framework: Realizing the Democratic Ideal.
Course Policies
Illinois State University promotes academic integrity. Illinois State and Mrs. Plattner expect students to be honest
in all academic work. A student’s placement of his/her name on any academic exercise shall be regarded as
assurance that the work is the result of the student’s own thought and study. Mrs. Plattner will adhere to all
policies regarding academic integrity as outlined by the SDRS guidelines.
Credit for C&I 212 depends on the completion of ALL assigned work. Grades will be based on the completion of
activities and the results of tests, quizzes, and written assignments. Attendance, punctuality and class
participation is expected.
All work is due at the beginning of class on assigned date. No credit given for late work.
Since this course is part of the professional preparation core, students are requested to approach the course in a
professional manner.









No food is to be eaten in class. Water will be allowed until this privilege is abused (i.e. no used
containers left in the room and all spills will be cleaned up by the owner)
Respect for class discussion is a necessity. Please refrain from talking about topics not pertaining to the
class discussion during class time.
Cell phones and beepers should be turned off or muted BEFORE class begins. There is no answering of
cell phones during class.
Only reading material pertaining to the course is acceptable in the class.
Please remember that there is more than one student in the class and all students have the right to speak,
ask questions and comment.
All assignments are to be typed, 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1” margins on all four sides of the
paper. Papers are to be proofread and free of typographical errors. **Conduct a grammar and spelling
check before submitting the paper.
**All email will be sent from an ISU account.
**Any e-mail to instructor must include “212.05 class” in subject line
All work is to be the work of the student. Please refer to page 65 of the ISU catalog on “Academic
Integrity”.
If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in this class, please contact Disability Concerns at 4385853 (voice), 438-8620 (TTD)
In Class attendance
Attendance in class is expected. Since this is a high discussion class, much of the material in class may go
beyond the required readings. As there is no text, class discussion will be the majority of test related items.
Quizzes may be given on any day which there is a required reading, and will not be announced. Any quizzes and
in-class assignments that are missed due to absences will not be available for make up.
Students will be notified by e-mail if any adjustments/changes to the syllabus are made.
Grading Scale
Students are working to develop their professionalism in this course. A more difficult grading scale is set to
encourage each student to work to their professional level.
92% to 100% = A
84% to 91% = B
76% to 83% = C
68% to 75 % = D
below 67% = F
Point Distribution
Assignments*:
Standards Assignment
Legal Issues Assignment
NCLB Assignment
Educational Technology Project (points to be determined)
School Analysis Web quest
10
10
10
30
Clinicals:
Clinical Paper
Video observations
60
40
Exams:
Midterm
Final (Thursday, Dec 16 – 8pm)
50
50
PBA/ITPS:
Initial Reflective Essay
Discussion Board/ITPS C
ITPS H (Stage 1)
20
20
10
In class quizzes/participation/attendance
Total Points
50
* Assignments may change based on factors that arise during the semester.
Performance Based Assessment (PBA) requirements
Five PBA assessments will be completed in this course.

Successful Experience with Children or Youth
o This is a form that the student needs to download from the Teacher Education website
http://www.teacheredcenter.ilstu.edu/requirements/gateway1/index.shtml Click on Successful
Experience with Children or Youth, print and complete the form.
o This form is to be filled out and taken to DeGarmo 56 ASAP.

Assessment of Legal and Ethical Conduct
o This is a form that the student needs to download from the Teacher Education website
http://www.teacheredcenter.ilstu.edu/requirements/gateway1/index.shtml Click on Assessment
of Legal and Ethical Conduct, print and complete the form.
o This form is to be filled out and taken to DeGarmo 56 ASAP.

Initial Reflective Essay
o The LiveText Training is referred to as: ePortfolio Fundamentals for Students
o This assignment will require submission in LiveText. You must complete a Livetext Training session
as part of the admissions process to Professional Studies and for this course. Schedules and dates are
posted http://www.teachereducation.ilstu.edu/workshops/fundamentals.shtml
o Questions about using LiveText can be addressed here
http://www.teacheredcenter.ilstu.edu/eportfolio/index.shtml
o You can sign up at http://www.teachereducation.ilstu.edu/workshops/fundamentals.shtml. You must
complete your Livetext Training by September 20, 2010. Please consult the following website for
rubric and additional information
http://www.teacheredcenter.ilstu.edu/requirements/gateway1/index.shtml

Discussion Board – ITPS C
o During the course of this class, there will be several opportunities to discuss an issue/topic through a
discussion board using LiveText.
o Details regarding topic and date will be given in class.
o Consult the following website for complete details www.itps.ilstu.edu

Assistive Technology – ITPS H
o Please consult the following website for additional information www.itps.ilstu.edu
o Highly recommended to complete this assessment during the current semester. Please review the
following carefully:
“One of the requirements in teacher Education includes the completion of ITPS H, Assistive
Technology. Though this is not a course requirement, completion of this requirement during the
semester of this course is highly recommended. This assignment takes place in two stages: Stage 1
includes reading with a written test, and Stage 2 includes participation in the Special Education
Assistive Technology Laboratory. Please allow 3-4 hours to read and take notes on definitions and
45 minutes for the test in Stage 1. In addition, allow for at least 1 hour for the laboratory experience
in Fairchild 321. Please be forewarned that there are limited timeslots for Stage 2 and you must pass
Stage 1 before Stage 2 is taken, so completion in a timely manner is strongly advised. For more
information, please visit http://itps9.seat.ilstu.org/ and view all pages, including the power point that
introduces and describes the requirement. Since this is not a course requirement but a teacher
education requirement, this is merely a notification that the requirement should be completed during
the time that you take this class. The instructor for this class is not responsible for ensuring that you
follow through with this requirement. Please note that you will not be able to register for student
teaching until this requirement is completed.” Email 8/7/07 to faculty from S.Robb.
Performance Based Assessment Information and other requirements for Admission to Professional Studies and
Student Teaching can be found at http://www.teacheredcenter.ilstu.edu/requirements/gateway1/index.shtml