Course+Overview

=ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY - DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION=

C&I 411: Curriculum
Gregory Michie Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction gmichie@ilstu.edu The study of curriculum models, planning, and evaluation. This course focuses on theoretical, historical, political, social, and cultural influences on curriculum models -- both past and present. Our aim will be to derive a sophisticated understanding of recurring themes in the curriculum field, various approaches to important curricular questions, and the ideas of some of the field's most important thinkers. In addition, we will explore the process of planning, developing, and evaluating curriculum using a model known as "backward design." Upon successful completion of this course, participants will have acquired an understanding of: § Philosophical, historical, cultural and social foundations of curriculum. § Curriculum approaches and models and how they relate to planning, developing, and evaluating curriculum. § The nature of theory and theorizing as it relates to the field of curriculum. § Contemporary and historical curriculum theorists. § The assumptions and value orientations which characterize various curriculum models § Curriculum and its relation to teaching and learning. § Current issues in the field of curriculum. § Planning and developing curriculum. 1. Flinders, D.J., & Thornton, S.J. (Eds). (2009). The curriculum studies reader (3rd edition). New York: Routledge. 2. Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd edition). Alexandria, VA: ASCD. 3. Additional readings to be distributed via email or the wiki.
 * Summer 2010 -- 3 hours -- 100% online**
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Students in need of special assistance or an accommodation regarding any of the course requirements or to fully participate in this class should notify me as soon as possible. Confidentiality will be maintained regarding your special needs. New questions/discussion topics/assignments will be posted on the wiki twice each week: on Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. Click the links in the left column for the appropriate week. You are expected to visit the course website (http://curriculumthing.wikispaces.com/) at least three times each week (for the purposes of this class, weeks will begin on Monday and end on Sunday). These visits will entail answering questions about the readings, engaging in discussions with other members of the class, and/or completing other assignments. In addition, each time you visit the wiki you should also check the “Announcements & Updates” and “Questions about the Course” pages -- that’s where any changes/new information will be posted. I expect you to read all assigned selections and to complete all assignments thoughtfully and thoroughly. Much of your work for this class will be posted on the wiki. Longer assignments will be emailed to me at gmichie@ilstu.edu. //I expect all assignments, including posts on the discussion board, to be carefully proof-read before they are submitted//. For many of us, online communication in our everyday lives is more informal, and grammatical conventions are used less consistently. However, this is a graduate class, so all of your written (typed) communication in this class should adhere to the expectations of an academic setting. That doesn’t mean it needs to be stiff and overly formal (mine certainly won’t be), but it does mean that conventions such as punctuation, capitalization, and correct spelling must be observed. An accumulation of grammatical and/or spelling errors will adversely impact your grade. Please read this carefully. All of your work in this class should be your own. Plagiarism from any source--books, websites, other students’ work, your own previous work, etc.--will not be tolerated**//.//** //Per university policy, any assignment that is plagiarized will automatically receive a failing grade, and more serious disciplinary action could follow.// Using exact words from another published source without quotation marks //is plagiarism//. Taking ideas from another source without acknowledging that source //is plagiarism//. Thinly paraphrasing sections of someone else’s work (especially without attribution) //is plagiarism//. If you have any questions about further defining plagiarism and the university’s policy on it, please ask me. Papers, projects, and other assignments are due on the dates listed on this course outline. Late papers/assignments will not receive full credit unless you have arranged something with me in advance. Still, better late than never. Partial credit is better than no credit. This course embodies the university’s conceptual framework for teacher education, //Realizing the Democratic Ideal//, as it relates to:
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 * reverence for learning and a seriousness of personal, professional, and public purpose
 * wide general knowledge and a deep knowledge of the content to be taught
 * knowledge and appreciation of the diversity among learners
 * understanding of what affects learning and appropriate teaching strategies
 * interest in and an ability to seek out informational, technological, and collegial resources

**__Assignments__**
For course assignments and due dates, go to the Assignments page.