EDU 506 Educational Foundations

Students will study a variety of competing factors (philosophical, historical, sociological, and political) that have influenced past and present debates, theories, and developments in education. The influences of such factors on current models of curriculum and instruction and on state and national K-12 standards will be considered. The consideration of these factors will trace the development of programs for pupils with diverse needs. Students will investigate and analyze the interrelationships of the individual, the home, the community, and the society with regard to schooling. Students will examine their personal educational perspectives and, through reflective study, develop new understandings of the purposes of schooling, the nature of the learner, and the roles of teachers, including the role of the teacher as an agent of change. Basic elements of planning (educational aims, goals, and objectives) and research-based practices are introduced. A five-hour field experience is required. Students must obtain fingerprint clearance prior to beginning field experiences. Fall, Spring, Summer. (3 credits)