After Class Eleven

This week we had another round of fine papers.  First, we revisited the "inclusion" question, and heard more details of special needs children.  Second, we considered the impact of technology on education, and how teachers might incorporate it into classroom learning.  Next we heard about "positive curriculum mirroring", and how students who recognize themselves in educational materials (characters in stories, etc.) can develop greater confidence, a sense of belonging and self-esteem.  Fourth, we examined the issues around school closures, and how this might be best approached through Rawls' "veil of ignorance". Then we heard about the ethics of enrolling children in French Immersion, and how this may be distorting values.  Last, we learned about "truth and consequences", and how there may be a greater burden to pursuing the truth and the freedom it entails.  Well done, everyone!
For this week, please choose one of your lesson plans to post on the blog.  Give a brief description of what is involved, and in our next class, students can request e-mails to receive the full plan. 
Next week, Aug. 5, is our last class and we will do a brief self-evaluation activity and listen to our last papers.  We will also have time to celebrate a wonderful semester!  I thank all of you for your thoughtful and active participation.  This class has been a privilege to teach.  Sue

After Class Ten

Many thanks to this week's presenters.  Again we heard about many interesting topics.  First, we learned about ethics and classroom management, including ways to handle problems.  Then we explored the more ethical possibility of teaching ESL students in their own languages.  We also revisited inclusion and utilitarian views.  Then we examined the question of indoctrination and education in religious schools.  We looked at animal rights, moral concerns and how we can teach children to expand their respect for all living things.  Lastly, we looked at issues connected to public/private/segregated schools.  Well done, everyone.

Next week, July 29, your three lesson plans will be due.  You should have three separate plans, but one "plan" might be a series of classes or a unit plan.  The rationale should explain clearly how ethics plays a part, either in how the lesson is taught, how it is embedded in the curriculum or with what specific ethical issues students will engage.  Tell me your reasons for teaching the lesson in this way and what ethical objectives you hope the students will achieve.  The plan itself can be according to a template or point form:  just clearly show what will be happening.  Please note:  each lesson plan should be about one and a half pages, with the rationale a minimum of a half page.  (This is different from what I originally wrote in the syllabus.)
Due to time constraints with the paper presentations, we will no longer do lesson presentations in our last class, Aug. 4.  I would ask that you choose one lesson to share on the blog next week and write up a short description.  This should be posted between July 29 - Aug. 4.  This way, if someone in class is interested in your lesson, you could e-mail a copy to him or her.

Enjoy the lovely weather!

After Class Nine

Many thanks to our presenters today -- another round of excellent papers.  First we heard about the various ideas around "rewards and punishments" and Kohlberg's levels, in contrast to intrinsic motivations for good behaviour.  Second we looked at Montaigne, the ethics of standardized testing and the role of dialogue in education.  Third, we examined the boundaries for student-teacher relationships and Aristotle's Golden Mean.  Next, we learned about assessment, the fairness of teaching to the test and what to do about cheating.  Then we looked at how the educational goal of critical thinking may be at odds with Divine Command Theory and the role of faith in learing.  Lastly, we discussed the moral issue of allowing sex education of children to be optional for some families. 
As I mentioned in class, some SFU Educ Master's students are doing research on online learning.  If you would like to give an hour of your time to this study, please contact Farshid Marbouti at fmarbout@sfu.ca
Just a friendly reminder:  your blogs are due next week, July 22.  Please send them to me via e-mail in one Microsoft Word document.  The three lesson plans will be due the next week, July 29.
Enjoy the beautiful weather!

After Class Eight

Today we were treated to four presentations of papers.  For this posting, you have the option of commenting on any or all the topics and bringing in any of your related ideas and experiences.  The first paper dealt with the highly ethical conflict of inclusion of students with learning/physical disabilities in the regular classroom and the concept of utilitarianism.  The second paper looked at First Nations education and what can be done about the huge gap in high school graduation rates both on reserves and overall in Canada.  The third paper explored how to promote multicultural education and gave some fine examples of student responses to Western teaching practices.  Lastly, we learned about another ethical approach to education from antiquity, that of Epictetus, a Greco-Roman Stoic, who sees teaching as putting the students' best interests first, emphasizing a practical approach to education, less performance-based than developmental.
Just a few reminders:  first, in two weeks, your blog entries will be due.  Hopefully you are saving them in one Word document, dated chronologically.  Feel free to edit or add to postings before you submit.  I am only grading what you send me.  Secondly, the following week, July 29, three lesson plans and their rationales will be due.  The group lesson plan we worked on in class can be one of those.  You can submit a plan identical to your group members' plan or take the ideas you discussed in your group and develop it in your own way.  The other two plans should be original, developed by you.  Please submit these as one document by e-mail on July 29.  If you still feel you would like to discuss the structure of a lesson plan, I'll be happy to stay later next week after class.
Last but not least, presenters for next week, July 15, should e-mail me their papers and discussion questions by 6 pm Wed. before class.  Stay cool!