Course calendar

HONORS 394C: Teaching What You Know

Winter 2012

Tues. January 3—Introductions, Theory of teaching and learning, how “I” best learn, Writing sketches of successful learning/teaching.

DUE: Send your bio to frances@francesmccue.com. One paragraph.

Thurs. January 5— Create group beliefs; Journal reflections, Theories of teaching and learning. Making lesson plans. “Unclear Sailing” by Augusten Burroughs.

DUE: Reading Burroughs and write a typed fictional piece that extends the story somehow. (500 word max.) Bring 6 copies to class.

Tues, January 10— European traditions handed down to contemporary schooling. Discuss Jane Eyre and Hard Times. What philosophies and assumptions are behind the schooling experiences of Jane and what are the images of schooling and scholarship and the arts in Hard Times? How might we construct something more effective, given the historical context?

DUE: Read Chapters 1-11 of Jane Eyre (http://www.literature.org/authors/bronte-charlotte/jane-eyre/index.html). Read Chapters 1-9 of Hard Times (http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/hardtimes/). Do some research and create three paragraphs of historical, geographical contexts about the times and places where each of the novels is set. This should be in your notebook.

Thurs. January 12— In class writing. Groups create alternative versions of teaching and learning. Discuss novels. How is Dickens’ rendition different than Bronte’s? How does Jane Addams set out to reconcile conditions presented in the novels? What do you learn about how to create an effective learning community?

DUE: Read Chapters 4-7 of Twenty Years at Hull House by Jane Addams (http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/addams/hullhouse/hullhouse.html#89).Do some research and create three paragraphs of historical, geographical context about the time and place when the memoir is set. This should be in your notebook.

Tues. January 17 –View Part 1 of PBS film on Education: School: The Story of American Education.

DUE: Read chapters 8, 11 and 16 in Hull House.

Thurs. January 19 – Discussion of how what we saw on film informs today’s classrooms.
           
DUE: View second part of PBS film: School: The Story of American Education. Take notes in notebook.

Tues. January 24— View Blackboard Jungle.

            DUE: See Part 3 of School: The Story of American Education. Take notes.
Write a three paragraphs in your notebook about Blackboard Jungle and the PBS documentary. What connections can you make?

Thurs. Jan. 26— Discussion.

DUE: Read 3 of the academic papers listed here: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/teachermoviesbib.html. You’ll need to find these papers through the UW libraries. Take notes on papers’ structures. Be prepared to present what you learned to your group.

Tues. Jan 31—View To Sir With Love

DUE: 5 possible essential questions you’d like to pursue for your own academic paper about teaching/learning in film and literature we’ve studied. Watch Lean on Me.

Thurs. Feb 2— Writing Lab.

            DUE:  Bring a substantial draft of your paper to class. 6 copies.

Tues. February 7- The “Victory Narrative: how we put teachers on pedestals and why failure matters.”

DUE: Paper due. 10 pages, typed, MLA style. Email by 10.30 am to: frances@francesmccue.com. Use this file protocol: yourlastname—paper1.doc

Thurs. February 9 – View Dead Poets Society.

DUE: Watch Part 3 of School: The Story of American Education. Take notes.

Tues. February 14 – Discuss a teaching philosophy based on your reading and films.

DUE: Read half of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Take notes in your notebook.

Thurs., Feb 16 -- Discussion of Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

DUE: Second Half of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Be prepared to present what you are learning from the book, in response to films.

Tues. Feb 21 –  Discussion of Arts in social change and education.

DUE: See Class Act. Read McCue handouts:             http://www.francesmccue.com/readings.html. Take notes.

Thurs Feb 23—Final project decisions. Craft proposals.

DUE: See Part 4 of School: the Story of American Education

Tues. Feb 28— Project meetings and discussion.

DUE: Read Annie John and see An Education by Nick Hornby.

Thurs. March 1— Project meetings and discuss Annie John.
           

Tues March 6—Presentations.

DUE: Group projects due.  Specifications: Drawing upon the literature and film we’ve seen so far, develop a project that teaches us, in a highly effective manner, about an area of inquiry you’ve pursued in the class. 30 minutes per project.
             

Thurs March 8 Final celebration--Continuation of presentations (three).

DUE: Theory of teaching and reflection (See Syllabus), notebooks.