Week+2+stuff

Week 2 Hi again, everybody. This is the assignment page for Week 2.

CHECKING IN/PICKING UP LOOSE ENDS: To break up the text-based nature of this online course, I’m going to occasionally incorporate audio clips so you can listen instead of read. Click the play button below to hear my “check-in” for this week and a few other related items about the course (it's a little over 5 minutes in length).

media type="file" key="Week 2 check-in.mp3" width="240" height="20"

1. WIKI MINI-ASSIGNMENT From the readings we’ve done thus far, it should be clear that the curriculum field over the past 100 or so years has been a contested and contentious space. Multiple perspectives have competed for attention through the years, and while some of the arguments are theoretical or philosophical, many eventually find their way into schools or classrooms in one guise or another.

For this week’s wiki assignment, you will read about four overarching orientations to curriculum study and practice as identified by William Schubert, one of the leading curriculum scholars in the U.S. today (and who I was fortunate enough to have as a professor in several classes during my doctoral program at UIC). After reading the four descriptions, you will then write a brief (140 //characters// or less -- in the mode of Twitter) explanation of why that perspective is closest to your own beliefs and values as a teacher. Click here to get started.  2. ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS - PART A The assigned groups for this week's "Part A" discussions are as follows:

Stacy Brandi Sarah M Kim Anne Hannah || ** Group 2 ** YoungHak Molly Cassy Sarah H Mary Randy || ** Group 3 ** Amy Erik Jodi Jackie Adam || ** Group 4 ** Jill Brandon Michelle Alison Jennifer || Remember, even though you're only participating in one assigned discussion for Part A each week, I would like you to read the other discussion threads as well once all the responses have been posted (this should be by Wednesday of each week). In this way you can "listen in" on other discussions and learn from the insights of your classmates.  3. ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS - PART B This week's "discussion starters" for Part B will be posed by Jennifer, Mary, Jackie, Sarah M, and Molly. They will be posted on this page's discussion board by Wednesday evening. Remember, for Part B discussions you do not have assigned groups, so you can choose which discussion(s) you'd like to join. Those of you who ask this week's questions should join someone else's discussion first (and if you'd like to join your own as well, that's great, too).
 * ** Group 1 **

For some guidance on formulating your discussion questions, click here.