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Educational Philosophy Paper | Miscellaneous Course Handouts and Other Items of Interest


Miscellaneous Course Documents and Resources

The items on this page are resources for further in-depth inquiry into the topics and themes discussed in this class. While most are not required reading, they are provided as a convenience for follow-up on these topics.


Index for this Page:
(Click on the links to jump to that section)

Go to--> Graduate Reading Assignment for EDC 580 --> See link on moodle home page for this course
Go to--> Review Questions for Course Readings
Go to--> Course Handouts, Overheads. and Links to Course Videos
Go to-->
Curriculum and Learning Resources
Go to-->
Links to Sites on Asset-Building and Positive Youth Development
Go to--> Other Miscellaneous Readings and Resources on the Web


Review Questions for Course Readings (These questions may be used as prompts for the reflective essay or take-home exam assignments.)

icon_Sullo's Activating the Desire to Learn--A Review Sheet

icon_Glasser's The Quality School--A Review Sheet

icon_Perricone's Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching--A Review Sheet

icon_Kohn's The Schools our Children Deserve--A Review Sheet



Course Handouts/Overheads/More Information About Course Topics

The remaining items on this page are recommended articles, videos, and resources. While not required, these links are provided as a convenience for further in-depth research on the topics discussed in this course.

*_Experiential Learning Cycle Graphic

icon_Minnesota Analysis of Beliefs in Education (Educ. Philosophy Test from 1st class meeting)

*  Educational Philosophies Definitions and Comparison Chart (Originally downloaded from this link.)

*  Study links restricting screen time for kids to higher mental performance Parents who possess the resolve to separate their children from their smartphones may be helping their kids' brainpower, a new study suggests.

*_Types of Power x Consequences for the Powerholder Graphic

*  Managing Polarities: How Practicing Leaders Can Manage Paradox, Dilemma and Polarity -- An online reference for the concept of polarities as discussed in class

*_Polarity 2 x 2 Table Graphic

*  Regression Towards the Mean -- A useful concept in understanding why people believe the common misunderstanding that rebukes improve performance and praise seems to backfire. This concept was discussed in class in reference to why many people mis-apply behavioral techniques. The original article Judgment in Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases is also helpful in understanding many common fallacies used (and misused) in daily decision-making.

*
  Pace and Lead: The Grammar of Rapport--An online reference for the concept of "Pace and Lead" discussed in class

*  PowerPoint Slide defining Pace and Lead
* Classic "Peanuts" cartoon perhaps discussing the same topic?

*_A Theology of Education: How does your theology effect your education? (Questions that may have been discussed in class)

*  A Humanistic Approach to Seating Arrangements in a K-12 Classroom

*  William Glasser's Web Site (www.wglasser.com)

*  Alfie Kohn's Web Site (www.AlfieKohn.org)

icon  Alfie Kohn References (In the speech Alfie Kohn delivers on C-SPAN, he refers to two studies proporting to demonstrate his points about testing and "tougher standards." Here are those citations and a brief abstract of each study.)

*  John Perricone's Web Site (www.JohnPerricone.com)

*  Blogs by Prominent Educators: Several prominent educators keep their own blogs going with their observations about education, schools, and politics. Follow them at the following links:
*  Partnership Education (Information about the concept of Partnership Education and the work of author Riane Eisler. This is discussed in the video Tomorrow's Children.)

*  Learning First Alliance: The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of 16 education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools. Go to this website to find examples of success and efforts aimed at the continual and long-term improvement of public education based on solid research.

*_Principles for Building a Learning Community Graphic

icon_Characteristics of Excellent Teachers

*  Model Code of Ethics for Educators

icon_Japan's Schools: Five Lessons

icon_Five Guiding Principles of Constructivism

*_EDC 490--School and Society Course Conceptual Grid

icon_Academic Controversy: Materials and More Information

*_Conflict Analysis Matrix (based on work by Deutsch et al.)

*_Your Classroom: Simple Ways to Create a Positive Learning Climate (A PDF document to download)

*  To move forward, black youth must be seen as part of 'we,' not as 'you'   (Article describing the gulf that remains between minorities and the dominant culture and how to overcome this alienation.)

*  Effects of Inequality and Poverty vs. Teachers and Schooling on America’s Youth (A paper written by David Berliner discusses the question, "why so many school reform efforts have produced so little improvement in American schools"?)

*  Multicultural Experience Enhances Creativity: The When and How  (PDF file of a 2008 American Psychologist article by Leung et al. discussing the conditions in which multicultural experience enhances personal creativity. This article illustrates the format of an APA article that does not follow the traditional 5-part format.)

* Sample Job Application Questions: Some sample questions from the employment applications of the Eden Prairie and South Washington Co. Public Schools. As you'll see, they are based on the same philosophical reflection and beginning teacher standards you see in the format of your portfolio.

* Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination - Click Here to Visit the 2 Million Minutes Website

* Education Reform: A View From the Trenches --> Click Here to View Online Video

* Finland's Formula for School Success --> Click Here to View Online Video

*_A Model Lesson (Finnish educator Pasi Sahlberg discusses the approach Finns have taken to improve their educational system.)

*  The Purpose of Educators Blog: A Place To Talk About Big Ideas and The Purposes of Education--Sponsored by Education Week

*  iTunes U -- Download Free Assessment Videos Produced by the George Lucas Educational Foundation (Edutopia)

*  Teachers in America: No Matter Where They Work, They Feel Disrespect (A recent USAToday Special Report)

* TEDxTC - Peter Benson talks about "Sparks: How Youth Thrive"

*  How to Use New-Media Tools in Your Classroom | Edutopia: Click this link to see seven short videos about how to use new-media tools in the classroom.

*  TED Talks for Teachers | Edutopia: Click this link to view a selected group of TED Talks aimed at sharing teaching approaches and tools for teachers, especially teachers interested in using the new learning "teach-nologies." Great brain food for inquisitive minds -- and inspiration for classroom lessons. Some of the videos may also be useful for ideas for your philosophy paper.
*  The Art (& Science) of Great Teaching (Sam Chaltain, education activist and writer, talks about the challenges facing teachers today in a recent TED Talk.)
*  Our best hope for education solutions: teachers (On Oct. 16, 2014, Tom Rademacher, Minnesota's Teacher of the Year, gave a speech at the Minnesota Professional Conference to a crowd of teachers working one more extra day to be better for the students who need them most. In that speech, he called on teachers to stand up for their students on the educational issues that matter outside of their rooms. A short excerpt of the talk is streamed below. A brief text summary is found here.


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Curriculum and Learning Resources

 *  Psychology in the Schools and Education Website

This APA-sponsored website provides resources for teachers based on the latest research on teaching and learning. The Center for Psychology in Schools and Education (CPSE) promotes the high quality application of psychological science to programs and policies for schools and K-12 education. The office serves as a liaison both within APA and with national educational and scientific societies, federal agencies, and the general public concerning the education and development of children and adolescents.
 *  How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class  
When students let their minds drift off, they're losing valuable learning time. Here are ten smart ways to increase classroom participation.

*  Assignment Calculator

This web site assists learners in planning and organizing a large assignment such as a research paper. It helps you break down the key steps and set reasonable goals and deadlines to accomplish your objectives.


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Other Miscellaneous Readings on the Web:
These are readings I have found or have been suggested by your classmates in previous terms. Many of these readings may be helpful in preparing your educational philosophy paper, preparing for job interviews, or just debating your local "naysayer" who doesn't understand educational research and policy.

*  How Exactly Does Minnesota Pay for Schools? Here's a quick review of the history and current formula for state funding---it's not what most people think.

*  School vs. Society in America's Failing Schools  Here’s the good news: American schools may not be as bad as we have been led to believe. Ah, but here’s the bad news: The rest of American society is failing its disadvantaged citizens even more than we realize. The question is, Should educators be responsible for fixing this?

*  Students Think They Can Multitask. Here's Proof They Can't  This brief review rehearses several recent articles and studies discussing the latest research on the topic of multitasking and its impact on student learning.

*  Standardized tests with high stakes are bad for learning, studies show  Standardized achievement tests have long been a routine part of our efforts to measure the educational progress of students.In the distant past, testing days came and went with little notice or fanfare for students, parents and teachers alike. That's not true anymore...

*
 Goodlad on school reform: Are we ignoring lessons of last 50 years? John Goodlad, author of more than three dozen books, is president of the Institute for Educational Inquiry in Seattle and has held professorships at Emory University, the University of Chicago, the University of Washington and UCLA, where he was dean of the Graduate School of Education from 1967-1983. His 1984 book “A Place Called School,” is often credited with launching research efforts on school improvement. This is long for a blog post, full of reflections by Goodlad about his own life, educational history and schools today, but it is worth your time. Goodlad always is.

*  Learning by Giving: Community Service as Classwork  An edutopia article highlighting the use of service-learning in K-12 schools across the country.The article includes links for more information and assistance with planning a service-learning lesson in your classroom.

*  Mike Rose: If You Have Been Called to Teach... In this recent editorial, UCLA education professor Mike Rose, author of Why School?, asks new teachers to reflect on the state of our profession and our motives for being in it.

*  Creating a National Culture of Learning  The solution to more standards and high-stakes testing? One group proposes a shift to developing a "culture of learning" in American schools.

*
 The Broken Society  New York Times columnist David Brooks explores the roots of crisis in the cultural and market revolutions, and how to rebuild trust from ground up.

*  When "City Connects" Helps the Whole Child, Achievement Gaps Shrink  An innovative program out of Boston College is making a big difference for children in 11 Boston elementary schools. City Connects (CCNX) works with the schools to link each child to a "tailored set of intervention, prevention and enrichment services located in the community."

*
 "Carrots and Sticks Are So Last Century": A Conversation with Author Dan Pink  Best-selling author Dan Pink looks at current schemes for motivating teachers and students, and he finds them wanting.

*  Scholar’s School Reform U-Turn Shakes Up Debate: Diane Ravitch, the education historian who built her intellectual reputation battling progressive educators and served in the first Bush administration’s Education Department, is in the final stages of an astonishing, slow-motion about-face on almost every stand she once took on American schooling.

*  Testing, Testing: A commentary, written by the Forum for Education and Democracy executive director George Wood, discusses some key aspects of education policy and "quick fixes."

*  Approach on Education Needs an Overhaul: A proposal from George Wood, executive director of The Forum for Education and Democracy.

*
 Sustainable Workplaces, Retainable Teachers: The sense of calling that compels educators to persist through difficult times and cope with stressful situations also puts educators at risk for burning out. A Phi Delta Kappan article by Nathan Eklund from Search Institute.

*  Rethink Learning. Now. The Rethink Learning Now campaign is supported by a growing coalition of individuals, education advocates, civil rights groups and philanthropic organizations, each of whom shares a commitment to focus the country's attention on three core pillars of successful education reform – learning, teaching and fairness.

*  Accountability for Performance – How Do Other Sectors Do It?  It is conventional to say that holding educators accountable and paying for higher test scores will improve performance. Yet in reality, private sector pay is almost never based primarily on quantitative performance measures.

*  When a Parent’s ‘I Love You’ Means ‘Do as I Say’ A New York Times article by Alfie Kohn discussing the current state of research on rewards, punishment and disciplining children.

*  Waldorf-Inspired Public Schools Are on the Rise: An edutopia foundation article looks at The John Morse Waldorf Methods School, in Sacramento, California, which provides a different vision of education, complete with art, music, and movement. Other articles on this site discuss additional aspects of this educational approach.

*  What Are Schools For? An article by education scholar John Goodlad makes an argument for why we have schools in today's environment and what we need to make them successful.

*  Why Send My Son to Public School? Five Freedoms Network director Sam Chaltain discusses four things we could do that would make a difference in choosing and improving public schools.

*  Where We Stand: America's Schools in the 21st Century This PBS Frontline special reviews the current state of American schools with special emphasis on many of the most important issues facing schools today including testing, funding, and globalization. Watch the entire show on-line.

*  Blame for School Achievement Gap Misplaced  This synopsis of a recent book by Arizona State University's David Berliner restates a theme about which we've been talking in this class--the causes for school achievement gaps are generally outside of the control of schools and teachers.

*  Rewards for Students Under a Microscope  This recent New York Times article discusses recent research on the effectiveness of rewards for school children.

*  The 22 essential things that you should take away from every job interview. A StarTribune column from February 2009--some good thoughts from columnist (Outswimming the Sharks) Harvey MacKay.

Icon_Circles of Influence: Educational Disparities (ecological family development model adapted by U of M researchers, originally created by Bronfenbrenner)

* Why We Still Need Public Schools: Public Education for the Common Good (This report highlights the history and importance of public education in the United States.)

* Learning to Teach: Ms. Moffet's First Year--a series of articles chronicling the first year of a new teach in New York City elementary school.

* What No Schools Can Do (New York Times Magazine article)

* What Should Children Learn? (Atlantic Monthly article)

* The Near-Myth of Our Failing Schools (Atlantic Monthly article)

* Building Successful Partnerships (a resource of the National PTA)

Go to www.pta.org, then look under "Topics" and you will find a link to "Parent Involvement." This the the national PTA's parent involvement initiative which promotes the National Standards for Parental Involvement Programs.

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Schools as Factories: Some Articles and Lectures to Continue the Discussion

*  Schools as Factories: Metaphors That Stick  Stanford Professor Larry Cuban discusses the persistence and possible future for the factory metaphor.

*  Metaphor and School Transformation  A new superintendent makes an argument for why the metaphor must change and suggests several for her school district.

*  Schools as Factories? Alternative Metaphors for Thinking about Digital Age Schooling: A discussion of the power and importance of metaphor, and a roster of 15 alternate metaphors we might use to envision the task of schooling in the 21st Century.

*  Should Our Schools Be Like Factories? According to Justin Baeer, the answer is "yes!"  He says, "schools should be a bit like factories. I’m pretty confident in saying so, but I’m not sure Sir Ken Robinson or Seth Godin would agree with me."

* Changing Education Paradigms: Lecture by Sir Ken Robinson on the nature of the emerging revolution in teaching and learning in the 21st Century.

*Schools of the Future: Time to Develop Your Metaphor: TEDTalk by Pepperdine University University education professor Jack McManus on the importance and transformative power of metaphor and some possible metaphors to consider.

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Main | Course Syllabus | Supplementary ReadingsLearning Portfolio
Educational Philosophy Paper | Miscellaneous Course Handouts and Other Items of Interest