THIS COURSE OFFERS A SURVEY OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EDUCATION FIELD AND THE CORE VALUES OF THE M.ED. PROGRAM. THE AIM IS TO INTRODUCE SEMINAL TOPICS, FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS, AND SCHOLARLY ROUTINES AS WE BEGIN TO BUILD A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS TOGETHER. STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN READING, DISCUSSION, OBSERVATION, JOURNALING, INTERVIEWS, CRITICAL ANALYSIS, AND DIGITAL PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION AS THEY RECORD AND TRACK EMERGING QUESTIONS OF THEORY AND PRACTICE. AS IN ALL GSE COURSES, WE WILL APPLY A CRITICAL, SELF-REFLECTIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS TO OUR WORK, WITH CAREFUL ATTENTION TO MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES AS WE ADDRESS THE GSE PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES REGARDING INQUIRY AND REFLECTION, DESIGN, AND LEADERSHIP.
THE CONCRETE CONTEXT FOR THE COURSE IS THE HIGH TECH HIGH NEW TEACHER ODYSSEY, A SEVEN-DAY ORIENTATION FOR ALL TEACHERS NEW TO HIGH TECH HIGH. STUDENTS WILL BE PARTICIPANT OBSERVERS IN SELECTED ODYSSEY ACTIVITIES, DOCUMENTING THEIR OBSERVATIONS, CONVERSATIONS AND REFLECTIONS IN AN INQUIRY JOURNAL. EACH COURSE PARTICIPANT WILL PREPARE AND DELIVER A PRESENTATION OF LEARNING (POL), INCLUDING SELECTED OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS OF THE ODYSSEY EXPERIENCE, CONNECTIONS TO THE COURSE READINGS, AND A PRELIMINARY PERSONAL LEARNING PLAN (PLP) (SEE BELOW FOR SPECIFICS).
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
For my final project for this course, I wrote a reflection on my experience in the HTH Odyssey.
Final Paper - I Used to Think...Now I Think...
As part of the coursework, we wrote a reflective paper that combined our own experiences in new teacher training (called Odyssey at High Tech) as well as the reading and research from the course itself. In my final paper for the course, I discuss what I have observed and learned in my first few weeks at High Tech as well as what I aspire to. Though I found that it was difficult to fit all of my thoughts into a cohesive (and reasonably concise paper), the three areas I focused on were building a strong collaborative adult culture, broadening my understanding of equity, and working towards deepening my practice of reflection.
Personal Learning Plan
We also developed a personal learning plan that will guide us throughout the year. This plan outlines both strengths and grow areas as well as an evolving set of questions. These questions will grow into action research as the year continues. Right now I am most interested focusing on either equity issues and/or how leaders build culture in schools (both among adults and students). If you have any ideas about either of this topics (or how to choose!), please reach out to me.
THE CONCRETE CONTEXT FOR THE COURSE IS THE HIGH TECH HIGH NEW TEACHER ODYSSEY, A SEVEN-DAY ORIENTATION FOR ALL TEACHERS NEW TO HIGH TECH HIGH. STUDENTS WILL BE PARTICIPANT OBSERVERS IN SELECTED ODYSSEY ACTIVITIES, DOCUMENTING THEIR OBSERVATIONS, CONVERSATIONS AND REFLECTIONS IN AN INQUIRY JOURNAL. EACH COURSE PARTICIPANT WILL PREPARE AND DELIVER A PRESENTATION OF LEARNING (POL), INCLUDING SELECTED OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS OF THE ODYSSEY EXPERIENCE, CONNECTIONS TO THE COURSE READINGS, AND A PRELIMINARY PERSONAL LEARNING PLAN (PLP) (SEE BELOW FOR SPECIFICS).
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- HOW DO SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS CULTIVATE A SHARED VISION CENTERED ON CORE VALUES?
- HOW CAN EDUCATORS WORK TOGETHER WITH COLLEAGUES TO CREATE EQUITABLE, RIGOROUS LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS?
WHAT ARE SCHOLARLY DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS, AND HOW CAN THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR UNDERSTANDING AND EFFECTIVENESS AS PRACTITIONERS AND LEADERS? - WHAT QUESTIONS EMERGE AS WE OBSERVE, AND BECOME IMMERSED IN, A LEARNING ORGANIZATION?
For my final project for this course, I wrote a reflection on my experience in the HTH Odyssey.
Final Paper - I Used to Think...Now I Think...
As part of the coursework, we wrote a reflective paper that combined our own experiences in new teacher training (called Odyssey at High Tech) as well as the reading and research from the course itself. In my final paper for the course, I discuss what I have observed and learned in my first few weeks at High Tech as well as what I aspire to. Though I found that it was difficult to fit all of my thoughts into a cohesive (and reasonably concise paper), the three areas I focused on were building a strong collaborative adult culture, broadening my understanding of equity, and working towards deepening my practice of reflection.
Personal Learning Plan
We also developed a personal learning plan that will guide us throughout the year. This plan outlines both strengths and grow areas as well as an evolving set of questions. These questions will grow into action research as the year continues. Right now I am most interested focusing on either equity issues and/or how leaders build culture in schools (both among adults and students). If you have any ideas about either of this topics (or how to choose!), please reach out to me.