EDUC 400: Student Teaching in Elementary SchoolOnline Seminar Orientation

Purpose of Seminar

• Integrate your methods coursework into your student teaching.• Mediate your student teaching experience and

apply what you’ve learned in methods and content classes into your practice.• Provide information related to the conceptual

framework• EXPECT to REFLECT• Support you in the development of your portfolio

Communication is key!

• Expect to participate, engage and interact• Announcements (check regularly—it is your

responsibility to remain informed)• Standing discussion forums (optional but it is

recommended you engage/participate and subscribe). • Course Café• Portfolio Support • Bi-Weekly Check-In (starts in week 2)

• Email me for individual questions, concerns, guidance and support.

Pass/Fail Class

• This is a pass/fail class, thus you will not receive a letter grade.• Points will be awarded for assignments.• To pass the class you need to earn 70% or more overall AND

pass ALL assignments (70% or higher).• If you fail an assignment, you will be given the opportunity to

resubmit addressing any issues communicated via instructor feedback.

• All assignments must be submitted on time as per the due dates in UNM Learn and on the syllabus.

• If you fail this course, you must retake it in a future semester, which includes student teaching.

Weekly Discussions

• Central focus of this online seminar-discussions replace the interactions and dialogue you would have in a face-to-face class.

• Critically examine and reflect on the practices/skills and habits/dispositions.

• Examine various readings and resources related to the practices/skills and habits/dispositions to broader your perspective and understanding of these.

• Engage in professional dialogue with your classmates to examine vary perspectives on the discussion topics.

Weekly Discussions

• Confidentiality is an expectation.• By the end of each discussion, you should be able to

formulate an informed definition of each practice/skill and habit/disposition and identify possible artifacts for each for your portfolio.

• Your initial and synthesis response posts serve as a foundation for your portfolio reflections.

• Overall, as a result of these weekly discussions, you should have a deeper understanding of the practices/skills and habits/dispositions and be able to articulate your beliefs about each and how each plays out in your practice.

Discussion Goals

• Reflect on various readings and resources related to the practices/skills and habits dispositions.

• Identify implications and applications for your practice.

• Interact with and analyze the concepts per the discussion topic.

• Make connections with the readings and resources to support reflection (integrate quotes to support reflection and assertions).

• Share your own perspectives and experiences related to the topic.

Discussion Timeline*See recommended schedule in syllabus

• Read discussion topic by the Monday and complete any prep readings or activities.

• Post your initial response to the discussion topic by the following Wednesday.

• Engage in ongoing and meaningful dialogue Thursday through Sunday midnight.

• Read synthesis on Friday (this will be posted by your instructor no later than 5 PM).

• Post your synthesis response by Sunday midnight.

Participation/Interaction

• Except for the introductions discussion, you do not need to respond to all of your classmates’ posts.

• Choose 3-4 classmates to respond to each week (choose different classmates each week so you can be exposed to varying perspectives). Choose posts that resonate with you or spark interest.

• Strive for ongoing and meaningful dialogue (quality vs. quantity).• Responses must occur on at least three different days during the time frame for

discussion demonstrating ongoing dialogue.• Responses to classmates should go above merely agreeing with or summarizing,

to expand on ideas, offer critique, pose thoughtful questions to illicit further meaningful dialogue (keep the discussion going).

• Per the rubric, to receive full points for interaction, you should strive for 10 or more substantive and thoughtful responses (not including initial and synthesis posts), but again, do not focus on quantity. Focus on quality and engaging in ongoing and meaningful dialogue. Most students far surpass the minimum 10 responses.

• You should try to read as many of your classmates’ posts as possible to get a sense of the overall discussion.

Content & Quality

• Content: Be sure to read each discussion prompt carefully and take time to reflect on any readings/resources required for the discussion. Your initial response post must address prompt in full and with adequate detail.

• Quality: Initial response should be thoughtful and substantive demonstrating serious contemplation of the readings and resources. Explicit and relevant connections must be made with the readings and resources (well integrated quotes) demonstrating analysis and synthesis.

Reflection

• Initial response should be Personalized: Clear connections with own experience and practice Identifies implications and applications for own practice

(answers the “So what?” Why is this important, how does it influence my work as a teacher and my students, and what will I do with this information?)

• Initial response is Reflective: Goes beyond merely summarizing content Shows original thought (analysis/critique) Integrates own thoughts and perspectives

Synthesis

• Each week on Friday, your instructor will post a synthesis that identifies themes, poses additional questions, introduces additional resources, etc.

• The synthesis will prompt you to identify your key learning from the discussion, implications for your teaching.

• A major outcome of the synthesis is to formulate informed definitions of the practices/skills and habits/dispositions and to identify artifacts for your portfolio.

• Your response to the synthesis must be posted each Sunday by 11:59 PM MST.

• You are encouraged to also read and respond to some of your classmates’ synthesis posts. This will further inform your understanding of the practices/skills and habits/dispositions, which will support the construction of your reflections for your portfolio.

Format & Mechanics

• Discussion posts should be organized and coherent• No errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling and

sentence/paragraph structure• You may use “I” (reflective)• Quotes are properly cited and well-integrated (APA

format)• Good resource:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/• In-text citations• Reference list (basic rules)

Bi-Weekly Check-Ins

• Starting in week 2 you have the option of engaging in the bi-weekly forum.

• Highlight a question, challenge, idea that you would like feedback on.

• The purpose of this forum is to provide you with a place to give and receive support on specific issues, challenges, successes you may experience during your student teaching.

• Note: If an issue arises in your discussion that has legal or ethical implications, please bring it to your instructor's attention immediately!

Required Assignments

• Must be submitted through UNM LEARN through the appropriate assignment link.

• All assignments can be accessed in the modules and from the “Assignments” button on course menu.

• There is also an “Assignment Resources” button on the course menu that contains resources to support your success with these assignments.

• All assignments must be submitted by designated due dates as listed in UNM Learn and in the assignments. See late assignment policy in syllabus.

• You must submit and pass (70% or higher) all assignments to pass this class.

• If you miss an assignment and do not communicate with your instructor, you may be asked to drop the course.

Portfolio

• Culminating documentation of your learning from your student teaching experience specifically related to elements of the conceptual framework and the habits of mind/dispositions of the program.

• Online students are required to submit an ePortolio (online/electronic).

• The link to your ePortfolio will be submitted online through the appropriate assignment in UNM Learn.

• Resources for developing ePortfolios and sample ePortfolios are provided in the Portfolio Module.

• The Portfolio Module will remain open all semester and you are highly encouraged complete the module and return to it often as a resource.

• There is a portfolio support discussion forum that will remain open all semester. You are highly encouraged to participate and enage in this forum, to give and receive support as you are developing your portfolio.

• There is a mandatory Portfolio Sharing Session that you are required to attend towards the end of the semester. Date TBA.

Portfolio Overview PowerPoint

• In the Portfolio Module, there is a POWERPOINT: Portfolio Overview, Guidance & Requirements. BE SURE TO REVIEW THIS POWERPOINT TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PORTFOLIO.