Course Syllabus
EDG 2940. CM01: Experiential Learning in Education
School of Teacher Education, College of Community Innovation and Education
3 Credit Hours
Download the Syllabus here. Download here.
Table of Contents
- General Course Information
- Course Description
- Course Materials and Resources
- Student Learning Outcomes
- Course Activities
- Grading Information
- Course Schedule
- Policy Statements
Instructor Information
- Instructor: Daniel Edelen
- Office Location: 222 D, Education Complex
- Office Hours: Tuesdays 2pm – 6:00 pm or by appointment
- Digital Contact: Daniel.Edelen@ucf.edu or Webcourses@UCF messaging
Course Information
- Term: Summer 2021
- Course Number & Section: EDG 2940. CM01
- Course Name: Experiential Learning in Education
- Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours
- Class Meeting Days: Tuesdays
- Class Meeting Time: 6:00 to 8:50 pm
- Class Location: TA 102 and Zoom Virtual Meetings
- Course Modality: Mixed Mode
Welcome!
This course is designed to prepare you to participate in schools and other educational settings as a professional. In order for this course to be useful to you and for you to be successful in it, you should carefully read this syllabus and adhere to the policies and procedures outlined. If we all practice the core values of the UCF Creed (integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence), this course should be a productive and positive experience for everyone!
Course Description
Students will learn about the field of education through a variety of field experiences. Course experiences will rely heavily on students’ engagement in these targeted field experience placements and their structured reflections. **Due to social distance requirements, the summer 2021 course will participate in virtual observations and experiences in lieu of visiting school sites. The variety of field experiences will remain, along with opportunities for learning your role as a professional educator.
Purpose of Course
Participating in educational experiences as a learner and as a teacher, counselor, or leader are very different roles. The purpose of this course is to begin your transition from participating as a learner to taking the role of a professional educator.
Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAP) – Adopted 2011
Each effective educator applies the foundational principles through six (6) Educator Accomplished Practices. Each of the practices is clearly defined to promote a common language and statewide understanding of the expectations for the quality of instruction and professional responsibility.
The following FEAPs are addressed by the objectives of EDG 2940
- Continuous Improvement, Responsibility and Ethics
- Continuous Professional Improvement
- Engages in targeted professional growth opportunities and reflective practices FEAP 2.b.1.e.
- Professional Responsibility and Ethical Conduct
- Adheres to the Code of Ethics and the principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession of Florida and fulfills the expected obligations to students, the public and the education profession FEAP 2.b.2
KEY: FEAP/PEC = Florida Educator Accomplished Practices/ Professional Education Competencies
ESOL = English for Speakers of Other Languages
NGSSS = Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
FS= Florida Standards
CEC = Council for Exceptional Children
Course Materials and Resources
Required Materials/Resources
- No textbook is required for this course.
Optional Materials/Resources
- A one-subject notebook
ZOOM
Because of the continued remote instruction requirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this course will use Zoom for some synchronous (“real time”) class meetings. Meeting dates and times will be scheduled through Webcourses@UCF and appear on the course calendar. Check course agendas in the modules for links and password.
Please take the time to familiarize yourself with Zoom by visiting the UCF Zoom Guides at <https://cdl.ucf.edu/support/webcourses/zoom/>. You may choose to use Zoom on your mobile device (phone or tablet).
Things to Know About Zoom:
- The Zoom sessions are recorded.
- Improper classroom behavior is not tolerated within Zoom sessions and may result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
- You can contact Webcourses@UCF Support at <https://cdl.ucf.edu/support/webcourses/> if you have any technical issues accessing Zoom.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will participate in experiential exercises that will familiarize them with appropriate professional behaviors for interacting with students, teachers, staff and leaders in school and informal education settings.
- Know and use a variety of group management techniques. FEAP 2.a.2.b /PEC 2.2
- Establish a set of group and classroom routines and procedures for utilization of materials and movement of students. FEAP 2.a.2.b/PEC 2.2
- Demonstrate knowledge of methods for establishing a safe group and classroom community and preventing problem behavior, in keeping with the state code of ethics and the principles of professional conduct FEAP 2.a.2.f /PEC 2.6; CEC 2.1
- Participate in field experiences appropriate for major area of specialization and reflect on the teaching strategies, classroom climate, and behavior management plans in operation in these field experiences. FEAP 2.a.2.e,2.a.2.f,2.a.3.a,/PEC 3.1; applicable NGSSS and FS
Course Activities
1) Attendance & Participation: (Reflections, Exit Slips) Due to the interactive and experiential nature of the course and in-class activities, discussions, readings, and lectures, students are required to attend all distance learning Zoom class meetings. Students will only receive credit for being present if they are present for the entire class (i.e. you cannot leave early and earn full credit for attendance). Participation will be documented through in-class reflections and exit slips, as outlined in the Course Schedule.
2) Required “Field” Experiences and Documentation: Please NOTE – for Spring 2021, in response to the COVID-19 Outbreak and distance learning approach to teaching and learning we will not require the 45 hours of field experience for this course. In lieu of this assignment, we have put together a menu of choices that you will complete to provide you with experiences that mimic the classroom and require you to be a reflective practitioner. These will vary in their approach (i.e., reading, video, interview, etc.) however you will be required to complete 6 assignments to complete this course.
(FEAP 2.a.2.e,2.a.2.f,2.a.3.a,/PEC 3.1; applicable NGSSS and FS) Students will spend a minimum of 45 hours over the course volunteering over the course of at least 10 weeks in at least two educational settings:
- Public School Placement (including Charter Schools)
- Must include at least 15 hours in a Title I School
- Private Schools or Other Educational Settings
At least 15 hours should be spent in each of the settings above, but students can customize their preferences for splitting time across each setting (for example, students may choose to spend 30 hours in each setting or 15 hours in one and 45 hours in the other, with the requirement that at least 15 hours be spent in a Title I School). No student will be expected to work on a project to which she or he has significant religious, political, or moral objections. It is the student’s responsibility to let the instructor know about such objections.
This activity will address a need in the community, support the course objectives, involve a connection between the campus and the community, challenge students to be civically engaged, and involve structured student reflection. Students with criminal arrest records must see the Instructor immediately to discuss how their history may impact their ability to complete this course and to eventually become a teacher. Students enrolled in other education courses requiring a field experience may not use the same hours for both experiences.
Students will spend time reflecting on their field experiences through ongoing structured course discussions related to each course topic and a meta-reflective poster project. The service-learning efforts will be the core of much of the learning in the course. The "grade" for the service-learning requirement will come from the tangible class-related project and discussions, rather than simply from completion of the 45-hour minimum requirement.
To meet the objectives of the course, our activities will address the following needs of our educational communities:
- Shortage of teachers
- Need for special assistance for students in schools, especially high-risk students
- Need for special assistance for special events in schools and informal settings.
- Additional student assistance in preparation for high-stakes tests
- Classroom management/proximity control by adults
- Role models/mentors from diverse ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, students are not required to observe in person. Students will complete six (6), five-hour learning assignments. See course module for more information.
Reflective Educator Notebook- Students will maintain a “Reflective Educator Notebook” throughout their experiences where they take the stance of “Teacher as Researcher” and identify wondering questions or thoughtful reflections about their work. Students are encouraged to personalize their notebooks and organize them in a way that proves to be useful for them; however, snapshots of the notebook and included wonderings will be submitted throughout the semester.
Students will earn points for the timely submission of the documentation listed above, as indicated in the Course Schedule. Each of the required documentation forms must be submitted in order for the student to earn a grade in the course.
3) Structured Written Reflection Papers:
Students will write a total of four structured reflections based on their previous and current experiences with learning, teaching, and schools. Topics for the reflection papers include:
Reflection #1: Myself as an Educator
Reflection #2: Classroom/School Culture and My Role
Reflection #3: Culture of Students
Detailed assignment direction and a rubric will be provided in the Webcourse.
4) Final Reflection & Share Fair Presentation
Students will reflect on their field experience placements and their personal reflections and growth as they complete both parts of this culminating assignment:
Part 1: Reflection
Students will synthesize their reflections over the course of the semester as they write a reflective paper to demonstrate their growth as pre-service educators over the course of their field experiences this semester. Detailed paper requirements and a rubric will be provided in the Webcourse.
Part 2: Share Fair Presentation
Students will depict their reflections and learning from Part 1 of this assignment through a visual presentation format of their choice. Presentation options include, but are not limited to: posters, electronic presentations (displayed via laptop or tablet), infographics, concept maps, etc. Presentations will be shared among students in class on a designated day in class.
Activity Submissions
Unless stated in specific assignment directions, all submission must be submitted via Webcourses assignment submission portal.
Late Work Policy:
There are no make-ups for in-class assignments or quizzes. Assignments turned in late (will be assessed a penalty: late assignments will be accepted with a 50% grading penalty).
Attendance/Participation
Students are expected to attend all classes. If a student cannot attend a class, they should let the instructor know ahead of time.
Make-up Exams and Assignments
Per university policy, you are allowed to submit make-up work (or an equivalent, alternate assignment) for authorized university-sponsored activities, religious observances, or legal obligations (such as jury duty). If this participation conflicts with your course assignments, I will offer a reasonable opportunity for you to complete missed assignments and/or exams. The make-up assignment and grading scale will be equivalent to the missed assignment and its grading scale. In the case of an authorized university activity, it is your responsibility to show me a signed copy of the Program Verification Form for which you will be absent, prior to the class in which the absence occurs. In any of these cases, please contact me ahead of time to notify me of upcoming needs.
Zoom Etiquette
Many of the "rules of the road" that apply to conversations also apply to the use of interactive tools used in this course. Use the following conventions when interacting with the instructor and fellow students:
- While using synchronous tools, such as Conferences or Zoom, situate yourself in a quiet, private environment. This will help you stay clear of disturbances.
- If you want to send a personal message to the instructor or to another student, use Conversations rather than the Discussions.
- Be patient. Don’t expect an immediate response when you post to a discussion or send a message.
- Respect each other’s ideas, feelings, and experience.
- Be courteous and considerate. It is important to be honest and to express yourself freely, but being considerate of others is just as important and expected online, as it is in the classroom.
- Explore disagreements and support assertions with data and evidence.
Zoom Troubleshooting Tips
Review the following troubleshooting tips for Zoom meetings. Remember, you can always contact Webcourses@UCF SupportLinks to an external site. for assistance.
- Dial-in to a Zoom meeting. If your microphone is not working, use the phone number listed in the Zoom invitation when you set up a Zoom call. You can use your phone as the microphone and audio source for your call rather than your computer’s built-in microphone if necessary.
- Turn off your web camera if your Internet is unstable. If your Internet connection is slow or lagging, consider temporarily turning off your video stream and only maintaining the audio stream. Sometimes, running the web camera on your computer will use up the Internet’s bandwidth in a way that might make communication challenging. Turning off the video should improve communication quality and consistency.
- Wear earbuds or headphones. If you have earbuds or a headphone set, wear them! Wearing earbuds or headphones will reduce the amount of noise that your computer will pick up while you're speaking, which will make it easier for your students to hear you. Similarly, you may want to advise your students to wear earbuds or headphones during the call.
- Mute microphones when not speaking. Mute your microphones when you are not speaking and unmute the microphones when you wish to speak. Use the “raise hand” feature or simply seeing the microphone unmuted will give the group a visual cue for when you wish to speak.
- Use chat. For questions, contributions, or concerns utilize chat. · Check the Zoom Help Center (Links to an external site.). The Zoom Help Center contains documentation, system status updates, and technical support.
Assessment and Grading Procedures
Assignment Group Name |
Percentage of Grade |
---|---|
Required “Experience” documentation & timely Submission of reflective educator notebook |
25% |
Structured Written Reflection Papers (3 total) |
25% |
Attendance & Class Participation |
30% |
Paper/Poster Presentation |
20% |
Total |
100% |
Note: You must complete six (6) classroom “experience” assignments for this course in order to earn a grade in this course, regardless of your completion of course assignments.
The final grade for the course is based on the following scale:
Letter Grade |
Points |
---|---|
A |
90-100 |
B |
80-89 |
C |
70-79 |
D |
60-69 |
F |
59 or below |
Consult the latest Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for regulations and procedures regarding grading such as Incomplete grades, grade changes, and grade forgiveness.
Course Schedule
Week/Dates |
Mode |
Topic |
Assignments |
Due Dates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Week 1 (5/18) |
F2F (Zoom) |
Introductions, Course Expectations |
1. 5/21 at 5:00pm EST 2. 5/23 @ 11:59pm EST |
|
Week 2 (5/25) |
F2F (Zoom) |
Considering Your Stance as a Pre-Service Educator in the Field |
Class Reflection Exit Slip (after class) |
5/30 @ 11:59pm EST |
Week 3 (6/1)
|
Online |
Begin Your Experiential Learning Assignments/ Road Map |
6/6 @ 11:59pm EST
|
|
Week 4 (6/8)
|
Online |
Working towards 30 hours of Experiential Learning Opportunities |
6/13 @ 11:59pm EST
|
|
Week 5 (6/15)
|
F2F (TA 102) Signup |
Considering School & Classroom Culture: Our Role as Educators |
6/20 @ 11:59pm EST | |
Week 6 (6/22)
|
Online |
Working towards 25 hours of Experiential Learning Opportunities |
1 & 2 due 6/27 @ 11:59pm EST | |
Week 7 (6/29)
|
F2F (Zoom) |
Courageous Conversations: Racism in Schools |
Class Reflection Exit Slip |
|
Week 8 (7/6)
|
F2F (Zoom) |
Courageous Conversations: Culturally Relevant Education |
7/11 @ 11:59pm EST
|
|
Week 9 (7/13)
|
Online |
Working towards 30 hours of Experiential Learning Opportunities |
Written Reflection #3 |
7/18 (Changed to 7/25) @ 11:59pm EST
|
Week 10 (7/20)
|
Online |
Working towards 30 hours of Experiential Learning Opportunities |
1. Reflective Educator Notebook Snapshots #3 2. 30 "Experiential Hours" (6 Experiential learning opportunities) |
1 & 2 due 7/25 @ 11:59pm EST
|
Week 11 (7/27)
|
F2F (TA 102) |
Planning Learning Environments and Instruction that Meets the Needs of Each and Every Learner |
Final Paper |
8/1 @ 11:59pm EST
|
Week 12 (8/3)
|
F2F (Zoom) |
In Class Share Fair |
Share Fair Presentation |
8/3 @ 11:59pm EST |
University Services and Resources
Academic Services and Resources
A list of available academic support and learning services is available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Academic Support and Learning Services" on the right-hand side to filter.
Non-Academic Services and Resources
A list of non-academic support and services is also available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Support" on the right-hand side to filter.
If you are a UCF Online student, please consult the UCF Online Student Guidelines for more information about your access to non-academic services.
Policy Statements
Course Summary:
Date | Details | Due |
---|---|---|
|