EDG 2701 - Teaching Diverse Populations

Spring 2006

Dr. Delia Palermo
palermod@spcollege.edu
Language Arts (LA) 165, Clearwater Campus
(727)791-2684; 791-2548 (leave message with department staff)

A syllabus, sample term projects, fingerprinting and field experience forms are available online:

Go to the college website.

Under location (left side of screen), select Clearwater.

Click on Communications on right side of screen.

Click on Faculty Profiles.

Click on my name.

Click on your course.

Click on Course Syllabus.

**Click on the More Information link to find all forms and the syllabus again.

 
Course description:
This course is designed to introduce prospective teachers to the issues involved in a multicultural approach for American educational systems. It reviews the significance of multicultural worldviews and examines changing demographic patterns which affect school populations, diverse perspectives which impact teaching and learning in educational systems, and effective instructional strategies for working with diverse student populations. Three credit hours weekly plus fifteen hours participation in a variety of classroom and multicultural experiences are required.

In compliance with the Buckley amendment, I will discuss your performance in this class only with you, the student who is registered in this class.
 

Disabilities info:
From Student and Educational Services: If you wish to receive special accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on the Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, or St. Petersburg sites. If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf at (727)791-2628 (V/TDD). Documentation must be presented to your instructor the first week of class if you wish to receive accommodations. If you will need assistance during an emergency classroom evacuation, it is imperative that you speak with your campus Learning Specialist immediately about arrangements for your safety.

Emergency procedures:
Fire alarms and extinguishers are located at building exit doors. If the emergency alarm sounds, leave the classroom immediately, taking your personal possessions with you. Leave the building by the nearest exit and stay at least 100 feet away from the building. Do not re-enter the building until the all-clear (three short blasts) sounds.
 

Cultural diversity (a model):
In order to prepare students to be informed and active members of their communities, the Communications Program values and promotes the study of cultural diversity - an awareness and affirmation of the importance of similarities and differences among people. This study may include multi-cultural readings, class and small group discussions, and oral and written assignments.
 

Florida Department of Law Enforcement:
Federal and State law requires a person designated as a "sexual predator or offender" to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE then is required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant resides, attends or is employed by an institution of higher learning. Information regarding sexual predators or offenders attending or employed by an institution of higher learning may be obtained from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus, by calling the FDLE hotline (1-888-FL-PREDATOR or 1-888-357-7332), or by visiting the FDLE website at www.fdle.state.fl.us/sexual_predators. If there are questions or concerns regarding personal safety, please contact the Provost, Associate Provost, Campus Security Office, or Site Administrator on your campus.
 

Class meeting schedule:

Monday                     7-9:40pm    TS-CE 119  Tarpon campus
Tuesday/Thursday      11:10am-12:25pm - SS132  (CL)
Wednesday                7-9:40pm - SS132             (CL)
 

              Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill, 2005.

The text also provides a helpful website.

Check out disciplinehelp.com and teaching tolerance.org as well.

Attendance policy:
If your class meets three times a week, you may not be absent more than three times. If your class meets twice a week, you may only miss two classes. If your class meets once a week, you may not be absent more than once. Contact me in the event of a major illness or injury. Contact a class member before returning to class after an absence so that you will be up to date on assignments and tests. You will be responsible for tests and assignments due the day of your return, and you must bring with you any assignments that were due while you were absent.

If you ever HAVE to leave class early, you are responsible for seeking out a classmate and discovering what happened in your absence. ALL assignments and tests are your responsibility--just as if you had been there. NO makeups of quizzes given after you left will be permitted and quizzes will not be rearranged to fit the time before your early departure .

The official drop date for this session is April 3, 2006.

Grades:

• Chapter Quizzes = 160 points ( Buy 10 Scantrons)
• Multicultural Lesson = 15 points
• Term Project = 25 points
• Exam = 50 points
• Responses/Optional Assignments = up to 25 points (used at the professor's discretion)
   
• BONUS for bringing in marvelous guest speakers (professor approval required)
   

Class calendar:

Class policies:

AUDIT W/GRADES:
The grade of "W" can be requested by the student only during the period permitted by the SPC catalog. The "W" may NOT substitute for a failing or otherwise unsatisfactory grade. After the drop date (April 3, 2006), if you stop coming, you will receive an "F." Neither will the "audit" option be used as a substitute for a failing or otherwise unsatisfactory grade. Incompletes are used only in cases of verifiable, serious illness or death in the family (used only at the instructor's discretion).

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Plagiarism includes using the words or ideas of another and passing them off as your own. This includes heavy paraphrasing from printed material  (especially without citation) and allowing someone else to plan the majority of your assignment for you. Disciplinary action will be taken as this is considered a serious offense. You may be failed for the entire course.

PAPER APPEARANCE:
Final drafts should be typed, double-spaced (single spaced for the term project- see sample paper online). Do not use spiral notebook paper. If you do not own a computer, avail yourself of the computer labs in the Learning Support Center or elsewhere on campus. The lab is even open on weekends. Please check schedule.

Assignment/Test details:

MULTICULTURAL LESSON:
Students will prepare a brief (7-10 minutes) multicultural lesson, demonstrating the goals and objectives of the course, celebrating diversity. Students may use PowerPoint. The lesson may be designed for any grade level in any discipline, but it must teach a content area. Be creative; stretch. Videotaped lessons require the professor's consent. This assignment will be done in groups I select. In order to receive a grade, you must be present the day your group presents.

Two handouts are also required:

(1) The student/group will write a one-page summary (typed) for each member of the class--

• Goal -- You cannot succeed if you do not know what you tried to achieve.
• Objective(s)
• Materials
• Resources -- What you need/what you found.  Never forget the SOURCE in resources.
• Plan-- Step by step

(2) The student/group will also prepare a handout for each member of the class to be used during the MC lesson or for homework. Take the lesson beyond the moment.

Try using educational libraries, on-line teaching tips, and creative professionals. Use this as an opportunity to build your portfolio.

TERM PROJECT:
All students will explore teaching/learning/MC situations through some form of field experience. Students must observe for a minimum of 15 hours (to be verified in writing by the teacher or the event coordinator observed). All teaching/learning/MC situations must be acceptable environments. Check with me if there is any question. See also Field Experience handout.

We believe that field experience affords you many opportunities to learn and grow in your commitment to teach. But it may also steer you from teaching to a career you find more desirable or rewarding. The Pinellas County School System requires a screening process before education students are placed in schools. If you do not pass this screening, this may indicate you are unlikely to receive a state teaching certificate after you graduate. See me immediately. Use this information as you would all other aspects of field experience as a way to learn about yourself and to benefit those learners who may be entrusted to you.

Field experience hours are required by the state of Florida. They are NOT optional. You will receive a grade of "I" if you have not completed the 15 hours of field experience. No more than 2 hours per multicultural event may be counted.

Term Project (typed in this format/single spaced) An Online sample is available but may not be perfect.

• I.  Situation

      A.   Physical Environment
      B.   Academic Climate

Include Field Experience Documentation!

 

EXAM: A final exam will be given during exam week. You must take it when it is scheduled.

Link for Volunteer Registration Form

 http://www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/cps/FormPDFs/prefix2/2-2948.pdf

 Link for Volunteer Criminal History Form

 http://www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/cps/FormPDFs/prefix2/2-2288.pdf

 Link for fingerprinting handout (draft version)

FINGERPRINT INFORMATION SHEETrevised.doc

Remember, a syllabus is a goal, a plan, a road map. It is subject to availability of speakers and equipment, class size and ability, and the vagaries of chance. We are all "hostages to fortune." Be patient, be willing to risk, and be ready to embrace diversity in faculty, speakers, students, material and approaches.

Embrace our class code of conduct and your own
teaching philosophy. Let us embark on our adventure . . .

Last revised on 19-Jan-2006
dp