Course credit
1 credit hour
Course description
Designed for students pursuing either secondary or elementary certification and a middle level endorsement in the State of Iowa. The primary objective of the course is to develop knowledge, skills, and a personal understanding of the multiple roles a teacher assumes in a middle level context.
Students with the professional goal to teach youth between the ages of 10 to 15 years would most benefit from this course.
Delivery
This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and WebCT, a computer conferencing program. WebCT requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
Prerequisites
UNI students: junior standing; must be pursuing the Iowa Middle Level Endorsement
Instructor
Donna S. Douglas, Associate Professor
Evaluation
8 assignments, 2 exams
Course overview
"Studies in Middle Level Education" is designed for students pursuing either secondary or elementary certification and an Iowa middle level endorsement. 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 course, "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 teachers to develop knowledge, skills, and a personal understanding of the multiple roles a teacher assumes in a middle level school.
This 1-credit hour course may fulfill some of the credit toward the Iowa Department of Education Middle Level Teacher Endorsement requirements for work in middle level curriculum. The primary purpose of the development of this correspondence course was to supplement the course work completed in "Elementary Curriculum" and allow students to substitute the course 210:152 for 210:150 at UNI while meeting the criteria for middle level educational programs.
Students enrolled in this course, 210:186g, may not take 210:150g at UNI for 3 years following the completion of "Studies in Middle Level Education" without prior approval of the coordinator of the Middle Level Education Program in the UNI Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
Course goals
Upon completion of this course:
In the area of LEADERSHIP, students will be able to...
In the area of SCHOLARSHIP, students will be able to...
The area of UNDERSTANDING THEORY AND RESEARCH, students will demonstrate knowledge of...
In the area of APPLICATION of theory to practice, students will be able to:
Instructor’s Note: INTASC Beginning Teaching Standards are listed in parenthesis at the end of each goal. See list of INTASC Standards included in this course packet in Assignment 1 for titles and descriptions of each of the standards.
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, a Midterm and a Final. You may request your Midterm Exam after you have completed Assignment 4 and you may request the Final Exam after you have completed Assignment 8. (See Course Content for Exam Request forms) The exams 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 the Midterm and Final Exams. The Final Exam is comprehensive and addresses content learned in Assignments 1-8.
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 WebCT 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 - 40 points
Assignment 2 - 25 points
Assignment 3 - 30 points
Assignment 4 - 33 points
Midterm Exam - 82 points
Assignment 5 - 10 points
Assignment 6 - 30 points
Assignment 7 - 15 points
Assignment 8 - 8 points
Final Exam - 42 points
Total - 315 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 the vendor of your choice or
University Book and Supply
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 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
Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu