-MON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Spring Semester 2000

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Prof. Meguido Zola

Special Topics:

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Office: MPX 8630

Selected Questions & Issues in Education

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Tel: 291-3259

Wednesdays & Fridays 9:30-11:20 ?

D01.00 ?

E-mail: zola@sfu.ca

PREREQUISITE

None.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

• This is an introductory course aimed at beginning students not necessarily already committed to,

or interested in, pursuing educational studies.

• The course introduces you to a small but representative sample of questions and issues of

importance to education and of interest to educators today.

• You will examine questions relating to: the concept or idea of education; learning and the

learner; teaching and the teacher; disciplines and discourses of education; and the broader

contexts of education in the global village and the postmodern world.

• You will be introduced to ways of exploring educational questions and issues, from

philosophical and critical analysis, to historical and cross-cultural studies, to empirical research.

• The course models a range of instructional strategies, including: lecture, panel-discussion and

workshop; discussion and debate; story; case study, and simulation game.

• The course offers a range of learning experiences, including: reading and responding orally and

in writing; discussion in tutorial and on-line; library research and field-work.

TOPICS

A detailed outline of topics and presenters will be available at the first class.

REQUIREMENTS

• Weekly discussions on-line and in tutorial - 50%

• Written responses to selected course readings - 30%

• Final exam - 20%

• Regular attendance is required

The completion of course requirements forms the basis for evaluation. The final evaluating

process will comprise both your own self-evaluation and evaluation by the course instructor and

tutorial leader/s.

REQUIRED READINGS

Sinclaire, Carollyne. (1994). Looking for Home: A Phenomenological Study of Home in the

Classroom. NY: SUNY. ISBN 0-7914-2040-X.

Palmer, Parker. (1998). The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life.

San francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 0-7879-1058-9.

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

Note:

You will be required to install, with guidance, a simple piece

of

free software on your

home computer

(if

you have one) and, at no extra cost to you, you will be required to conference