N FRASER UNIVERSITY

Spring Semester 2004

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EDUC 100

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Selected Questions & Issues in Education

Mondays & Wednesdays

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E01.00 ?

17:30-19:20 in EDB 7600F

Bonnie Waterstone

Office:

Phone:

E-mail: bwaterst@sfu.ca

PREREQUISITE:

None.

This is an introductory course aimed at beginning students who are not necessarily already committed to

pursing educational studies. The course introduces you to a small but representative sample of questions and

issues of importance to education and educators today. We will examine questions relating to the concept of

education; learning and the learner; teaching and the teacher; discourses of education; and the broader contexts

of education in the global community and the postmodern world. We will broach questions such as, What are

and what should be the goals of education? Whose voices contribute to current educational debates? Whose

voices should be considered? These and other educational issues will be critically examined through oral and

written discussions of course readings and issues arising in the media during the term as well as through

reflection on your own experiences of learning/teaching. You can expect to work independently, in collaborative

groups, and online. Critical reading and writing skills will be cultivated through in-class work and assignments.

There is a required online component for this course. If you do not have access to a computer and the Internet

at home, facilities are available on campus.

REQUIREMENTS

Weekly attendance and participation in activities /discussions (online and in class) 20%

Written responses to readings and to a fieldwork experience 40%

Educational narrative (autobiographical) 20%

Critical review of issues 20%

REQUIRED TEXTS

Codell, Esme R. (1999).

Educating Esine: Diary of

a teacher's first year.

Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books.

Sterling, Shirley (1992).

My name is Seepeetza.

Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre.

James, Carl E. (Ed.) (2000).

Experiencing difference.

Halifax: Fernwood Publishing.

Other readings will be available from time to time in class.