Donald R. Watson School of Education

Education 587 - Seminar: Programs, Practices and Procedures in Language and Literacy

SYLLABUS - Spring, 2002 - Instructor, Dr. Noel K. Jones

Course Description

(Co-requisite: Edn 586 or permission of instructor). Synthesis of theoretical and practical knowledge of literacy programs, practices and procedures in systems of change and school reform. Students will design and/or be involved in a classroom, school or school system change project and reflect on professional and personal learnings from that involvement. 1 credit hour.

Program requirement

This course is a requirement of the graduate reading program at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

Relation of Course to Conceptual Framework

The focus is teacher decision-making and reflective practice within the context of forces driving and influencing educational change. Collaborative discussions of readings on change topics will draw upon and complement the study of programs and practices in the co-requisite course, Education 586, and upon the students' experiences in completing a project focused on educational change.

Activities

Participants will meet for one-hour weekly discussion sessions or meet with the instructor for individual project conferences. In addition to assigned readings, each participant will complete an educational change project by participating in or studying an educational innovation in a specific setting. Class discussions will focus on processes of educational change and analysis of educational programs. Special attention will be paid to the issue of the potential of educational reform projects for meeting diverse needs of students and the role that technology may play in change initiatives.

Evaluation

Participation in class discussions

Quality of planning and preparation for change projects

Written and oral presentations of educational change projects

Texts:

Hargreaves, M.. & Fullan, M. 1996. What's Worth Fighting For In Schools. New York: Teachers College Press. Required.

Lyons, Carol A. and Pinnell, Gay Su. 2001. Systems for Change in Literacy Education. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Recommended.

Instructor - Dr. Noel K. Jones, King 201-D. PH: 910-962-3382 E-mail: jonesn@uncwil.edu

Fax: 910-962-3988. Web page: www.uncwil.edu/people/jonesn

Class meetings - King Hall 204 - Mondays, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Occasional Wednesday meetings may be planned to compensate for the instructor being away on some Mondays.

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