Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
Teaching strategies, instructional resources, and school organization designed specifically for meeting the unique needs of young adolescents in the middle level/junior high school setting.
Delivery
This course is available in an online format using eLearning, a Blackboard learning management system requiring Internet access and a web browser. While most students encounter very few technical difficulties, our team of support specialists is available to assist you as needed.
Prerequisites
UNI students: Level I of the Professional Education Requirements; junior standing; prerequisite or corequisite — Level II of the Professional Education Requirements; EDPSYCH 4152/EDPSYCH 5152 (200:152)
Instructor
Donna S. Douglas, Associate Professor
Evaluation
13 assignments, 1 additional assignment for graduate level credit, 2 exams, professional portfolio
Course overview
Middle Level Curriculum is designed for students pursuing either secondary or elementary certification and a middle level major or endorsement or for practicing teachers who seek the middle level endorsement for Iowa. Students with the professional goal to teach youth between the ages of 10 to 15 years would most benefit from this course.
This course examines the curriculum of a middle school/ junior high school. For this class “curriculum” will have a broad and inclusive nature. The subject areas of math, science, social studies, and language arts will be addressed, but they are not to be the sole focus of this course. This course is designed for pre-service and practicing teachers to develop knowledge, skills, and a personal understanding of the multiple roles a teacher assumes in a middle level school. Although instructional strategies may be modeled and discussed, this is not a methods course.
This 3-credit hour course fulfills Iowa Department of Education Middle Level Teacher Endorsement requirements for work in middle level curriculum. Students who have completed the guided independent study course 210:186g Studies in Middle Level Curriculum cannot enroll in this course without permission of the instructor.
Course expectations
Keep Assignment Duplicates
Students are responsible for making a copy of all written assignments turned in with the exception of exams. Save work on a computer disk as well as print a hardcopy. All graded work is to be organized and saved until graduation or receipt of certification verification.
Assignment Submission and Quality Required
All assignments for this course must be completed and turned in to receive a grade of C or higher. All work is to reflect proper word usage, spelling, punctuation, organizational style, and clarity of thought. It is important to proofread and edit all work prior to submission! Points may be deducted from assignments for errors of this type.
Exams
In addition to the assignments, there will be two exams, Exam 1 and Exam 2. You may request Exam 1 after you have completed Assignment 4 and you may request Exam 2 after you have completed Assignment 8. (See Course Content for Exam Request forms) Exam 1 and Exam 2 will each consist of multiple-choice items, fill in the blank items, and short essay questions. There will be a two-hour limit for both exams.
Graduate Credit
Students seeking graduate credit for this course will be required to complete a 4-10 page research paper using at least 4 scholarly documents. The topic of the research paper should be a subject related to middle level programs and practices and be approved by the professor in writing via eLearning or email, prior to work on the paper. In addition, active and accessible URLs or scanned copies of at least three of the resources cited in the paper must be provided upon submission of the paper. Use of APA writing and citation guidelines are required. The research paper will be scored based on a maximum of 50 points possible.
Grading
Assignment 1 (A and B) - 40 points
Assignment 2 - 25 points
Assignment 3 - 30 points
Assignment 4 - 33 points
Exam 1 - 82 points
Assignment 5 - 10 points
Assignment 6 - 30 points
Assignment 7 - 15 points
Assignment 8 - 8 points
Exam 2 - 42 points
Assignments 9-13 - 350 points
Assignment 14 - 60 points
Total - 725 points
Grading scale is based on percent of total points possible earned during the course.
100%-96=A
95-93=A-
89-92=B+
85-88=B
80-84=B-
76-79=C+
72-75=C
69-71=C-
65-68=D+
64-66=D
61-63=D-
Below 61%=F
Textbook(s)
REQUIRED
Manning, M.L. & Butcher, K.T. (2005). Teaching in the Middle School (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
OPTIONAL
Campbell, D.M. et al. (2007). How to Develop a Professional Portfolio: A Manual for Teachers (4th ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Texts are available from www.bookfinder.com
University Book and Supply carries most books used in guided independent study.
To search for textbooks by course, click on "Select a Campus Term" and select Univ.Northern Iowa - Guided Independent Study
Visit the store at 1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing and Distance Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
For more information
Diane Tournier
Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing and Distance Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
gis-program@uni.edu