Calendar and Assignments

Full citations for the readings listed below can be found in the Readings section.

WEEK TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS KEY DATES
1

Introduction

Classroom pre-practicum

Current events overview

Blogs and portfolios

Goals, expectations, and assignments

Activity 1: teaching without words (PDF)

"Introduction to Portfolios"

How Students Learn  (Chapters 1, 5, 9)
Assignment 1: observations in MIT classrooms (PDF)  
2

Misconceptions

Activity 2: how students learn jigsaw

Preconceptions

Facts and conceptual understanding

Self assessment

Videos:

"A Private Universe"  "Minds of Our Own"

Misconceptions discussion

Current events

"Misconceptions Reconceived" (This resource may not render correctly in a screen reader.PDF)

"More Than Misconceptions"

"Assessing Student Learning"

Assignment 2: conquering your misconceptions (PDF)  
3

Classroom observations

MIT observations discussion

Writing introductions

Current events

    Assignment 1 due
4

Formative assessment

In-class activity: formative assessment

Current events

     
5

Standards and standardized tests

Texas standards and standardized tests

TEKS

- High school science standard
- High school math standard
- Middle school science standard

TAAS
- 11th grade science standard
- 11th grade math standard
- Biology standard

Massachusetts state framework-comparison

Current events

Discussion of first classroom observations

"Knowing What Students Know"

"Assessment in Practice"

"Teaching Standards, Tests Found Not Aligned"

  Assignment 2 draft due
6

Differentiated instruction and multiple intelligences

Brainstorming ways to differentiate instructions

Readings jigsaw

Differentiating math instruction

Classroom observations

Current events

"Differentiated Instruction"

"Multiple Intelligences"

"Multiple Intelligences After 20 Years"

Multiple Intelligences Test

Laboratory Styles

Mixed-Ability Classrooms

Gifted Education

Grading for Success

Assignment 3: position paper on differentiated instructions (PDF)  
7

Catch up and writing

Writing activity

Discussion of classroom observations

Current events

     
8

Educational technology and teaching with media

Physics lab (PDF)

Discussion of classroom observations

Current events

Current events

"Impact of Educational Technology on Student Achievement." (This resource may not render correctly in a screen reader.PDF)

Oversold and Underused

Web 2.0 Teacher Survey

Assignment 4: comparison of media (PDF) Assignment 3 due
9

Educational technology and math education

Math educational technology

Labyrinth

Discussion of classroom observations

Current events

     
10

Math education and writing

Special guest: Robert Gerver

Town hall preparation

Writing work

Current events and observations

Introduce final assignment

- Planning final projects

"Guided Inquiry in the Science Classroom." Final assignment (PDF)  
11

Standards town hall

Town hall meeting-standards (PDF)

Final portfolio info

  Final portfolio (PDF)  
12-14

Final projects

Design and teach a lesson

"Putting Principles into Practice: Teaching and Planning."  

Assignment 4 due

Final assignment due

Final portfolio due