email: charles_bingham@sfu.ca

Thursday 8:30-10:20

AQ 3181

PREREQUISITE:

None.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces students to a number of social mechanisms that work inside and outside of

educational institutions. The social mechanisms to be studied will be authority, recognition, reproduction,

and resistance. The assumption of this course is that one cannot be an effective educator, nor can one be

knowledgeable about education in general, without thinking about the ways that social mechanisms inform

educational practices. To that end, one of the goals of this course is to encourage fruitful dialogue about

social issues in class discussions, and to encourage personal re-valuing of some of the ways that we engage

with others in educational institutions. This course is not about a list of facts or certain solutions/outcomes.

It is about learning some of the mechanisms that exist in educational situations, and about becoming aware

of the social dangers and the social benefits that arise during the educational process.

What do you need to participate? You need to be receptive to various perspectives and thoughts on

educational issues. If you can imagine connections between, on the one hand, educational institutions and all

of the things that people do therein, and, on the other, the social dynamics that get enacted in the world

around us, then you will be prepared to participate in this course. Participation includes voicing your

thoughts, completing all of the readings (they are challenging), and doing the required writings and group

projects under the guidance of your tutorial instructors.

COURSE WORK & EVALUATION

• 30% Final paper based on course readings

• 25%

Tutorial participation

• 25%

Two reflective writing pieces

• 20% Group presentation

---

'a

Final Paper

This will be a 12-15 page analysis that is based on course readings. It will be evaluated according to

university criteria. Clear and creative exposition, as well as association of ideas from your own educational

experience and our course readings, are encouraged.

Participation

Attendance and participation are important. Students are expected to attend all lecture sessions and

participate actively in tutorials.

Reflective Writing Pieces

Two reflective writing pieces will be assigned.

Group Presentation

A group presentation, showing a dynamic representation of course themes, will be done in tutorial.

REQUIRED READING:

4 books, 1 small course reader

Books:

Paulo Freire

Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Continuum, 2000, ISBN 0826412769

Vivian Gussin Paley

White Teacher, Harvard University Press, 1989, ISBN 0674951867

Athol Fugard

My Children! My Africa! Theatre Communications Group, 1990, ISBN 1559360143

Herbert Kohl

I Won't Learn From You, New Press, 1994, ISBN 156584095X

Return to Education's Undergraduate

-

2006-3 Course Outlines Main Page.

THIS COURSE MAY BE APPLIED TOWARD THE CERTIFICATE OF LIBERAL ARTS