Course.Overviews

E.25.1142 Multicultural Perspectives on Social Studying and Curriculum Design

E25.1142 will provide an introduction to the foundations of multicultural, culturally relevant education, with particular attention to its implications in the area of Social Studies. We will examine issues of historical and current inequity in our schools and society. Explores dimensions of identity and diversity, as well as concepts of prejudice, discrimination and racism. Introduces the theory and skills necessary for successful culturally responsive teaching. Establishes the basis for planning integrative, social studies curricula that are inclusive of all voices and perspectives, and which prepare students to be agents of change in their own lives and education. Models broad variety of instructional strategies aimed at eliciting participation of diverse learners. This course proposes that multicultural education is by definition and necessity teaching for social justice.

Goals

Students will:
 * develop knowledge and understanding of the dimensions of identity, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic class, and their impact on school achievement and experiences.
 * examine the roles of identity, power and privilege in their respective educational experiences in order to better understand their relationship to their future students.
 * develop familiarity with major contemporary scholars in the field of culturally relevant, multicultural education.
 * learn to understand and use the 6 levels of social justice education ramework
 * develop skill of cross-cultural understanding and respect through in class activities and research within their field placements.
 * develop awareness of multiple voices in history, and ability to critique extant Social Studies materials.
 * engage in ongoing process of reflection on personal philosophy and commitment to equitable education.
 * develop multicultural social studies units using backwards design, thematic teaching and social studies standards.

 Spring 2011 – Syllabus

E.25.1144 - Integrated Curricula in Children’s Literature, the Arts, and Technology in Childhood Ed

 E.25.1144 will provide students an opportunity to further explore the integration of different academic disciplines into the elementary-level social studies curricula. Specifically we will consider the integration of the arts, digital technologies, and children’s literature.

Goals

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Through this course students will:

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">● develop an understanding and awareness of various technologies to integrate into the classroom/curriculum;

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">● continue to examine and implement social justice approaches to teaching;

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">● explore, identify, integrate appropriate children’s literature that include/address themes of multicultural education and social change;

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">● develop an ability to approach and use art in the classroom as a vehicle for learning, expression and social change.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Structure <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Building on the social justice-multicultural framework that was introduced in the fall, we will go through a series of experiences that expose students to various skills and materials through thematically organized content. This semester our primary thematic focus is Brooklyn: Past, Present & Future. With Brooklyn as our focus we will experience different arts (e.g., portraiture, collage, theater, spoken word), digital technologies (e.g., digital storytelling, using classroom web pages, and digital public service announcement [PSAs] making), and forms of children’s literature (non-fiction, poetry, historical fiction). Course sessions will involve a mixture of lecture, class discussion, guest speakers, and workshops focused on different art forms, digital tools, and literature. The course will culminate with a final curricular project that will be presented at a curriculum fair at the end of the semester.