Foundations of Education and Instructional Assessment/All Chapters
Foundations of Education
editEducator as a Professional
- Why do teachers teach?
- Why do teachers leave the profession?
- Is teaching a profession?
- How do the ideals of teacher training differ from reality?
- What do I need to do to become a teacher?
- Are the best teachers highly qualified?
- What are some non-traditional educational careers?
Educational Philosophy
- What are philosophies of education?
- What is the purpose of education?
- How is Plato a philosophical leader in education?
- What is constructivism?
- What is the difference between teacher-centered vs. student-centered philosophies?
History of Education
- What are the educational milestones of the 17th and 18th centuries?
- What are the educational milestones of the 19th century?
- What are the educational milestones of the 20th century?
- What are the educational milestones of the 21st century?
- What is the history of teacher education?
Educational Reform
- What are the effects of educational reform in the classroom?
- How do magnet and charter schools represent new visions of public education?
- What is the case for and against vouchers?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of home schooling?
- Is the NCLB Act a cure or a curse?
- What is the purpose of school?
- Are we really a nation at risk?
- Are for-profit schools and corporate sponsorships viable?
Diversity: Classroom Practices and Law
- What is inclusion?
- What can be done to handle students with ADHD in the classroom?
- How can we teach English language learners?
- How can we be culturally responsive in our teaching?
- How can we be sensitive to gender issues?
- How does code-switching come into play in the classroom?
- What issues do lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students face in the classroom?
- Gifted students can take care of themselves, right?
Sociological Influences: Economics and Culture
- What is the effect of poverty on learning?
- How do we combat learned helplessness?
- How does racism affect students?
- How do we create safe schools?
- What are the ways in which sex education can be taught?
- What is the influence of peers and youth culture inside and outside the classroom?
- What effect does student mobility have on productivity?
School Organization
- Are all schools created equal?
- How are individual schools governed?
- What are the roles of local, state and federal agencies in education?
- Should I join a union or professional organization?
- Who decides if I am successful, and how?
Curriculum
- Is it still the "three Rs"?
- Is there a "hidden curriculum"? Where is it hiding?
- Who decides what is taught?
- Are we moving toward a national curriculum?
- How can we prepare all students for life after high school?
- What are the effects of standardized testing on school curricula?
Effective Schools
- What makes a school effective?
- How can mentoring support new teachers?
- Is pre-kindergarten the solution to early intervention?
- What are the benefits of school and community partnerships?
- How can we create positive learning environments?
Effective Teaching
- Are teachers born or made?
- What are the differences between direct instruction and discovery learning?
- How can we teach to meet all students' needs?
- What are the theories of multiple intelligences and emotional intelligence?
- What is the nature of cooperative learning?
- What is the effect of having high expectations for students?
- How can teachers continue to learn throughout life?
Classroom Management
- What is the importance of keeping students engaged in learning?
- Is positive discipline all about being nice?
- How can brain research help teachers understand their students?
- When should students be rewarded or punished?
- Should students be praised?
- How can students be motivated both intrinsically and extrinsically?
Ethics and Law
- How can we create equity in the classroom?
- What are teachers' rights and responsibilities?
- What are students' rights and responsibilities?
- What does it mean to be an ethical teacher?
- How should teachers teach ethics?
Technology
Instructional Assessment
editInvolving Students in the Assessment Process
- What is locus of control? How is it related to student achievement and assessment?
- What are the benefits of students as self-regulated learners?
- How can we help students set goals and monitor their own learning?
- How can early elementary students be involved in the assessment process?
- How can upper elementary students be involved in the assessment process?
- How can secondary students be involved in the assessment process?
- When is peer reviewing effective?
- Can and should students grade each other?
Grading
- Should we even give grades? What kind?
- What should a teacher do about zeroes and missing work?
- Should teachers allow extra credit?
- Should students be graded on effort?
- What is the process for providing effective feedback?
- Should praise be given to students or not?
- Can teachers grade students of varying abilities fairly?
- Should students have differentiated assessments based on their needs and abilities?
- Are report cards the best way to measure progress?
- How are portfolios an alternative way to measure progress?
Performance Assessment and Rubrics
- What are the pros and cons of using rubrics?
- How can students be involved in the creation and use of rubrics?
- What kind of rubric is best for a particular project?
- What performance assessments can be used for elementary language arts?
- What performance assessments can be used for elementary math?
- What performance assessments can be used for elementary science?
- What performance assessments can be used for elementary social studies?
- What performance assessments can be used for elementary art?
- What performance assessments can be used for elementary physical education?
- What performance assessments can be used for secondary English?
- What performance assessments can be used for secondary math?
- What performance assessments can be used for secondary science?
- What performance assessments can be used for secondary social studies?
- What performance assessments can be used for secondary foreign languages?
Assessment Strategies
- Should I give a multiple-choice test, an essay test, or something entirely different?
- How can student journals be used for assessment?
- How can classroom discussions be used for assessment?
- How can personal conferences be used for assessment?
- What is the best way to write good multiple-choice questions?
- What are the benefits of essay tests?
- How can portfolios be used for assessment?
Standardized Testing
- What is the case for standardized testing?
- What is the case against standardized testing?
- What are Advanced Placement tests?
- What college placement tests are available?
- Why are there achievement gaps between races and economic classes?
- What do teachers need to know about using assessment results to improve their instruction?