GE 6136 - Educational Trends and Development

This course will focus on the major trends in education, the successes, best practices and the failures of the educational system. The emphasis of this course is to help students develop into teachers who become reflective practitioners who are well aware of issues pertaining to the educational profession. The course will explore the social, cultural, political, historical, and philosophical contexts of schools, and use the perspective gained from this course to consider present day educational issues. Educational issues are pressing concerns in our society. The course will help develop understanding of the background of today’s public debates around schooling and will introduce ways in which educational thought and research address big topics. It introduces the students to the various issues affecting teachers. Its primary focus will be on contemporary issues teachers and administrators face in today’s schools. Throughout the course, several aspects of the teaching profession will be incorporated from the diversity of students in the classroom, to school organization and governance, to teaching standards and expectations. This course provides a foundation for understanding the educational profession while staying abreast of current educational trends and changes.

3 credits