Fall 2009 Course Descriptions

U ED. 73100 Area Seminar in Pol: Theory and Methods in Policy Research, Jean Anyon, Wednesday, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
This course is designed to develop awareness and understanding of available theories, research designs, and methods for students engaged in education policy research. Course utilizes a workshop method and is highly individualized. See Professor Anyon if interested.

U ED. 71100 Area Seminar in AHSS: Educating Bilingual Students: Global Perspectives, Ofelia Garcia, Monday, 4:15 – 6:15 PM
Throughout the world students are increasingly bilingual. How do school systems prepare to educate different kinds of bilingual students? What policies and practices lead to various types of bilingualism and biliteracy? This course will consider bilingualism and biliteracy in education, as it reviews educational policy in the United States and the world. Bilingualism in curriculum and assessment, as well as bilingual and biliteracy pedagogical practices are also discussed.

U ED. 72100 Area Seminar in SMT: Mathematics Education, Eileen Donoghue, Wednesday, 4:15 – 6:15 PM
The focus of this seminar is on learning mathematics in urban environments, particularly in secondary schools. A framing question for the course is, What is mathematics and why should students learn it? We will explore three areas:
1. Learning. A critical examination of selected theoretical perspectives on learning. How do these perspectives inform our understanding of how students learn mathematics?
2. Affect and motivation. An examination of aspects of the learning environment that can influence students’ inclination or ability to engage in learning mathematics. What are characteristics that may support (or fail to support) learning mathematics?
3. Curriculum. An exploration of theoretical and practical issues pertaining to the mathematics curriculum. What do we expect students to learn? Algebra will be a particular focus.
Class sessions will center on discussion of assigned readings taken from research journals and related publications. Two research papers (mid-term and final, 10-15pp. each) will be required.

U ED. 75100 Program Seminar: Politics and Ideology of American Education, Joel Spring, Thursday 4:15 – 6:15 PM
This course will explore the educational agendas of political parties in the United States. In addition, the course will examine the political activities of nongovernment organizations such as teachers’ unions, think tanks and private foundations, professional education organizations, business associations, religious interest groups and other organizations influencing educational policies. Also, the course will explore the ideologies and politics supporting educational policies such as choice, home schooling, creationism, charter schools, state testing and standards, bilingualism and English-only, multiculturalism and monoculturalism, human capital economics, compassionate conservatism, social justice education, and the teaching of traditional American cultural. Reading! s in the course will include basic texts in the politics of education and knowledge, and primary sources justifying various approaches to educational policy.

U ED. 75100 Program Seminar: Studying Educators Lives: Using History and Biography, Susan Semel, Wednesday 6:30 – 8:30 PM
This course examines the history of educators in urban schools, beginning with the progressive era in which the most dramatic reforms took place that continue to shape our urban schools today and the lives of teachers and administrators in these schools. Through a number of biographies of city teachers and leaders, histories of teachers and leaders, and histories of teaching methods, students will analyze the ways in which urban teaching and administration has changed over time and how, despite significant social, political and educational change, there has been significant constancy. The course will examine a number of themes, including issues of race, social class, ethnicity and gender, differences in place (Are urban schools really different?), differences in types of schools (i.e. public vs. private), and the role of teachers in school reform. Particular attention will be given to methodology; that is, the ways in which historians learn about teachers’ lives and teachers’ practice.

U ED. 75100 Program Seminar: Higher Education Policy and Practice: The American Academy’s Past, Present and Future, Anthony Picciano, Thursday 4:15 – 6:15 PM
This seminar examines the policies and practices that are shaping American higher education and that will continue to influence its evolution in the decades to come. The importance of student access, globalization, technology, corporate involvement, for-profit entities and the relationship of research and scholarship to teaching and learning will be examined. This seminar considers the ways in which universities have evolved to provide opportunities for people of color, immigrant populations, and adult learners. Every student considering a career in academia will benefit from exploring the topics in this seminar.

Philosophy 77900 ACADEMIC ETHICS, Steven Cahn Mondays 11:45-1:45
4 Credits
Just as medical ethics examines moral problems that arise in the world of medicine, and business ethics examines moral problems that arise in the conduct of business, so academic ethics examines moral problems that arise in the process of education. In this course we shall concentrate on higher education and consider a variety of ethical issues raised by professorial practices and university life. Among the topics to be considered are academic freedom, tenure, academic appointments, faculty rights and responsibilities, affirmative action, and peer review.