Education General (EDG)

This course is designed to provide students with guided field experience in global issues facing education worldwide. The education system will be explored through teaching experiences in local schools outside of the United States. The students will travel to a supervised international site and experience local culture through guided studies and field experiences within the education system. Students will reflect on the challenges facing education outside of the United States including access to quality education, effects of poverty, exceptionality, race, ethnicity, language, and gender. This course may be taken for a maximum credit of 6.

This course is a study of human development from infancy through adulthood. Application of theory to the school setting in the areas of learner development, learner styles/differences, the nature of the learner, and learner motivation are discussed. Topics include current psychological and cognitive (developmental and behavioral) theories; the impact of culture and diversity on learning; language development, social development, family and school influences, self-concept and self-esteem, adolescent cognitive development, separation and individuation, temperament, moral development, and development of identity. The focus is on biological, social, emotional, and intellectual aspects across the lifespan, and individual application is emphasized.

This course provides a foundation for understanding various pedagogical and assessment methodologies and their impact on student learning. Students will effectively integrate and apply technology into instruction to develop and deliver curriculum. Other course topics include: motivational concepts, diversity issues, planning techniques, team-based learning, interactive and experiential case-based practices.

Students are provided the opportunity to participate in curriculum design, instructional strategies, classroom management, and assessment practices within a K–12 educational setting. This course combines field observation experiences and full-time teaching. The Florida Educator Pre-professional and Accomplished Practices are incorporated into the 30 hours of direct field experience/service-learning component. To complete the direct field experience, students must undergo a district approved level two security clearance.

This course provides student-teachers with an understanding of how to manage a K-12 classroom effectively and safely. The focus is on best practices in the classroom with an emphasis on practical, contemporary classroom techniques and strategies including initial classroom organization to development of specific classroom management plans, time utilization, implementing strategies for managing individual and large group student behaviors, lab activities, and other arrangements for classrooms in general and special education. Additionally, this course focuses on cognitive-behavior modification with an emphasis on tools and techniques future teachers can use to achieve effective communication and help motivate students to change and manage their own behavior. Course covers basic federal and state laws as they pertain to the legal procedures for all teachers, including students with disabilities and English as second language (ESL) students. This course is correlated to the Florida Reading Competencies and Educator Pre-Professional and Accomplished Practices and contains a mandated 15 hours direct field experience/service-learning component. Students must undergo district approved, level two security clearance to complete direct field experience.