Course Information

EDU V03: Intro to Elementary Education
Fall 2018

Course Description

This course introduces students to the concepts and issues related to teaching diverse learners in today's contemporary schools, transitional-kindergarten through grade 12 (TK-12). Topics include teaching as a profession and career, historical and philosophical foundations of the American education system, contemporary educational issues, California's content standards and frameworks, and teacher performance standards. In addition to one face-to-face class, this course requires a minimum of 45 hours of structured fieldwork in public school elementary classrooms that represent California's diverse student population, and includes cooperation with at least one carefully selected and campus-approved certificated classroom teacher. Note: A clear criminal background fingerprint check (Live Scan) and a clear tuberculosis (TB) test are required prior to participation in the practicum segment of this class. A misdemeanor and/or felony conviction (including DUI) may result in a student's inability to be assigned to a school for observation experiences. All costs for the Live Scan and TB tests are the sole responsibility of the student.

I have taught this course for 5 semesters. Originally, this course was a hybrid course with 6 face-to-face classes. This is the first semester that the course will be offered completely online (except for the initial meeting date).

First QLT Objective Showcased

Section 4. Students Interaction and Community: Addresses (1) the opportunities students have to interact with the content, their peers, and their instructor, and (2) how well the course design encourages students to become active learners and contribute to the online course community.
- (CORE) 4.1 At the beginning of the course, instructor provides an opportunity to have students self-introduce to develop the sense of community.

Description of QLT Course Design

In your description please address at least the following three points:

4.1: Based on knowledge and skills I gained this summer in the OTPP courses, I decided to implement an activity that students could use to introduce themselves and develop a sense of community. I modified an activity that I read about during the OTPP course where students needed to upload a photo that has personal significance to them. Students are also required to explain why the photo is personally significant.
4.1: For this particular activity, I am asking students to upload their photos and explanations in an embedded Padlet board that is embedded in a CANVAS page.
4.1: I am excited to experiment with this idea because I normally have student just introduce themselves via a class discussion. I feel that the photo Padlet idea is a bit more creative and will be a novel way for students to get to know each other. I also think the visual component will make for a richer experience.

4.1 Screenshot

Second QLT Objective Showcased

Section 4. Students Interaction and Community: Addresses (1) the opportunities students have to interact with the content, their peers, and their instructor, and (2) how well the course design encourages students to become active learners and contribute to the online course community.
- (CORE) 4.3 Navigation throughout the online components of the course is logical, consistent, and efficient.

Description of QLT Course Design

4.3: I have surveyed my students over the past couple of semesters to determine the best way to list and explain the weekly assignments. The majority of students prefer a weekly "To Do" list. Each week I create a list that provides the assignments, expectations, due dates and explanations for each activity/assignment.
I mainly use a word document or a google doc to create my "To Do" lists. Additionally, I have supplemented the "To Do" list with short videos that provide verbal explanations of more complicated assignments. I am currently working on making more of this explanatory videos. Additionally, I am working on getting the closed captioning done for these videos as well.
I feel that the consistent structure of the "To Do" lists along with the explanatory videos will help my students navigate through the course and easily be able to know what assignments to complete in addition to due dates, etc.

4.3 Screenshot

Instructor Contact Information

holly.freeman@csuci.edu