Prof. Margie Patrick

This course introduces the life of the professional teacher and lays the foundation to future courses in the teacher education program. The course consists of two activities: lectures exploring basic educational concepts and in-school observation of these concepts at work. Students participate in the life of classrooms and work with children at both elementary and secondary school levels. Please see the current EDUCATION 251 PRACTICUM MANUAL for special information pertaining to the evaluation of this course.

This course examines a variety of curriculum orientations and their implications for educational goals, pedagogy, student evaluation, and school structure at the elementary level. Students will also be introduced to the rigors of curriculum design; they will be required to construct a major unit plan asthe culmination of weekly lab exercises. This course is open only to students in the B.Ed (AD) program. Students with credit in EDUC 503 cannot receive credit in EDUC 303.

This curriculum and instruction course provides in depth study of the methods and materials used in the teaching of junior and senior high school English language arts and social studies with a special focus on the Alberta curriculum guides for subjects. This course is closely coordinated with the EDUC 353 first practicum; classes are conducted as a regular course for six weeks and as a weekly 3 hour lesson study seminar during the six week practicum. This course helps English language arts and social studies preservice teachers to understand both the theoretical and pedagogical underpinnings of their major and minor teaching area. Topics covered include the basic functions of teaching, planning, managing, and assessing.

Theories of classroom management and evaluation practices in the elementary school are explored. There is an emphasis on practical applications of those theories which are congruent with a Christian view of the child, authority, learning and responsibility. This course is only open to students in the B.Ed. (AD) program.

This course focuses on the teaching of English Language Arts and Social Studies at the Senior High level (grades 10-12). The programs of study of the Alberta government are examined and pre-service teachers are introduced to learning strategies, assessment theories and practices, and instructional management issues appropriate for Senior High students. The course is closely coordinated with the EDUC 453 12 week practicum. Pre-service teachers are encouraged to be intentional about the strategies they use and reflective about their philosophy of education, view of human nature, and assumptions they employ. Finally, pre-service teachers have the opportunity to begin planning for the courses they will teach in their practicum.

This course includes a 12 week practicum experience in a secondary level classroom plus a one-week concluding seminar. The course is integrally connected with EDUC 420 and EDUC 430 which provide curriculum and instruction support one afternoon per week during the practicum component. The instructors of these support courses and the faculty supervisor(s) will work with at least one master teacher as an instructional team to both support the pre-service teacher and enhance teacher induction of new staff at the school. Details of the teaching requirements and evaluation criteria are provided in the EDUC 453 Practicum Manual. Students who receive a grade of less than B- on the Alpha 4.00 scale for EDUC 453 will not be recommended for a temporary provincial teacher's certificate.