Course Syllabus ELE 3340 section 1 Project WOW Wilderness or White House Abraham Lincoln shows the way J Barford EIU L Conwell K Miller Carl Sandburg School Spring 2008 image source Department of Early Childhood Elementary and Middle Level Education Eastern Illinois University ELE3340 Social Studies for Elementary School Children College of Education and Professional Studies THEME Educator as creator of effective educational environments integrating diverse students subjects strategies societies and technologies Course Description 3 0 3 Planning and organizing for instruction material selection and evaluation in social studies Field based activities will be provided in conjunction with ELE 4000 Prerequisites Notes ELE 3000 and concurrent enrollment in ELE 3290 ELE 4000 and ELE 4880 or permission of department chair University Teacher Education requirements apply and department requirements for enrollment must be met Credits 3 Textbooks Welton David A 2004 Children and Their World Strategies for Teaching Social Studies Eighth Edition Houghton Mifflin Geneva IL National Council for the Social Studies 1994 Expectations of Excellence Curriculum Standards for the Social Studies NCSS Washington D C Freedman R 1987 Lincoln A photobiography New York Scholastic Inc ELE3340 Barford Readings and Resources Packet may be purchased at the MLK Union Copy Express Recommended Social Studies links Personal LiveText account Flash drive Instructor Judy Barford jbarford eiu edu http www ux1 eiu edu cfjab Office Buzzard Hall Rm 2205 hours Spring 08 MW 10 00 11 00 TR 2 00 3 00 or by appointment Please give notification in advance if you would like to meet during office hours mailbox Buzzard Hall Rm 2216 office phone 217 581 7885 home phone 217 345 9653 FAX 217 5816300 Course Purpose ELE3340 is organized to prepare teacher education students to teach and commit to social studies curriculum in elementary and middle schools and especially to the goal of effective and informed democratic citizenship for all children Project WOW course goals for teacher education participants include a developing relevant social studies curriculum in a collaborative school based setting b increasing knowledge of social studies and technology standards and values c selecting designing and applying materials and strategies for democratic practice d connecting social studies curriculum to real world opportunities and concerns e utilizing diverse technologies in support of effective global citizenship education Unique features of the Project WOW section This is a school based methods course You will be learning by doing social studies with children according to curriculum you develop with children under the supervision of your university professor and two expert classroom teachers This is a technology intensive course Technology is applied in support of social studies curriculum development teacher education and real time children s learning Your personal Web site which you developed in ELE2022 is important preparation for this course Please check your email daily for course updates Because of the complex organization enabling 50 children and 25 pre service teachers to learn in authentic and constructivist settings efficient communication among all participants is essential Course Purpose The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse democratic society in an interdependent world NCSS Expectations of Excellence p vii ELE 3340 is structured to assist in preparing preservice teachers to teach social studies in elementary and middle schools Course goals include helping preservice teachers to develop a confidence in their teaching abilities b knowledge of social studies content and sequences and c the ability to select and utilize developmentally and age appropriate materials and techniques ELE 3340 is essential in helping preservice teachers acquire knowledge interactive and informational processing skills attitudes and commitments necessary for effective teaching of the social studies in elementary and middle schools ELE3340 Outcomes Students will Demonstrate commitment to continuing enhancement of knowledge bases in the Social Studies and in best practice pedagogy Search evaluate and apply appropriate resources including primary sources Develop conceptually connected themed curriculum Ground pedagogy in democratic beliefs and values NCSS Utilize inquiry and critical thinking in curriculum development Place emphasis on reasoned and informed decision making for the common good in a diverse and interdependent world the NCSS definition of competent citizenship the goal of the Social Studies Learning Model Social Systems This model is constructed to take advantage of the collective energy people generate when working together by building learning communities Learning is viewed as an interaction between the student and critical aspects of the school and home environment and focuses on the whole ecosystem not just the learner The model is designed to lead students to define problems explore various perspectives of the problems and study together to master information ideas and skills The teacher organizes the group process and disciplines it helps the students find and organize information and ensures a vigorous level of activity and discourse Joyce B Weil M and Showers B 1992 Models of teaching 4th ed Boston Allyn and Bacon We teach by creating environments for children We believe the strength in education resides in the intelligent use of a powerful variety of approaches We believe the world of education should be a pluralistic one that children and adults alike should have a cafeteria of alternatives to stimulate their growth and nurture both their unique potential and their capacity to make common cause in the rejuvenation of our troubled society Joyce B Weil M 1980 Models of teaching 2nd ed pp xxiii xxxiv Dispositions Teacher candidates in the department of EC ELE MLE will exhibit professional ethical practices effective communication sensitivity to diversity and the attitudes and ability to provide varied teaching practices evidenced in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere for learning CEPS Dispositions Committee F07 Technology outcomes unique to the Project WOW section based on ISTE Professional Preparation Profile numerals refer to ISTE standards for all teachers Outcome WOW Activity Assessment