Teaching Journal Posts

ASSIGNMENTS

The Introductory Post Must Be Completed As Early As Possible – 2.5 points Briefly explain to me and the class why you decided to take this class (50 words minimum, but you may write more if you wish.) Please complete this assignment first.

The Syllabus Quiz Must Be Completed As Early As Possible – 2.5 points After viewing the introductory video and reading the syllabus in great detail, please complete the syllabus quiz. This will automatically award you 2.5 points.

Reading Quizzes – Required for Module Access (The Module’s Reading Quiz Must Be Completed by 11 pm each Tuesday) Quizzes over the reading material will take place at the beginning of each week. You must read the text and complete each quiz to continue in that module. You will receive 1 Extra Credit Point for each 100% grade on a reading quiz [total of 5 Extra Credit points for the course].

Teaching Journal Posts: 5 points each – 25 points total (Teaching Journal Posts Must Be Posted by 11 pm each Wednesday) This assignment consists of your ongoing reflections and a collection of ideas that relate to teaching, learning, education, and film criticism as suggested or inspired by film viewings. Topics can consist of: pedagogical practices; teaching as performance; classroom management strategies; curriculum design ideas; teacher-student relationships; cautionary advice; teacher wellness; case studies; student challenges; administration; teacher-parent relationships; school policies; personal concerns and fears; pre-service development; things that surprise, intrigue, or disturb you about in-class film screenings; personal memories about your education/schooling; current news/media stories about education; anything and everything to do with the classroom and educating young people; and comments and reflections on film production practices, actor performances, screenplay effectiveness, and other media-related topics – use the “Film Critique Sheet” (pg. 18) as a guide.

Though it is difficult to prescribe a specific length since quantity doesn’t always equal quality, a weekly entry consisting of at least 250 words is the minimum requirement. I value honesty and depth more than I value a long response. Don’t write what you think I want to read; write what’s truly running through your mind. Date each journal entry and give it a subtopic title (example: Nov. 9, 2011- Reactions to It’s Elementary).

Discussion Board Response Posts: 5 points each – 25 points total (Response Posts Must Be Completed by 11 pm each Thursday) Since this is an online course, actual class discussion cannot take place. In order to facilitate discussion, I ask that you read several of your classmates’ Teaching Journal Posts and write a minimum 100-word response to ONE of them. You may agree, disagree, or pose questions for the writer in your discussion board post. When I read these, I will be looking for the level of

5

critical thought you placed in your written response posts. A high level of thought will receive full credit. [Note: Since you are doing 5 Teaching Journal Posts, you are responsible for a minimum of 10 discussion posts in total (five original and five responses).]

Film Viewing Report: 5 points each (5 assignments) — 25 points total (Film Viewing Reports Must Be Completed and Uploaded by 11 pm each Fri.) These five reports consist of your out-of-class viewings of films and media materials that relate to the subject of the course. They should each be approximately 2 to 3 pages in length, single- spaced. In all our Film Viewing Reports, you should examine the content of the film on several levels. First, give your personal reaction to the film. Second, discuss how the film reflects and/ or critiques our present system of education. Third, comment on the aesthetic properties of the film. Use the “Film Critique Sheet” (see final page of this syllabus) to guide your writing for the last portion of the report. Each assignment can only be uploaded one time, so make sure you upload a final draft.

Therefore: 20% of the paper is your personal reaction; 60% of the paper is how the film reflects and/or critiques our present system of education (put information from my lectures and the textbook in this section); 20% of the paper is on the aesthetic properties of the film

Report #1 – Viewer’s Choice: Select a film title (no TV series) that we’ve only seen excerpts from during class time that interested you and screen the entire film for your report (see this syllabus’ Filmography for approved titles); or select another film title that has not been fully screened in class and recommended in The Hollywood Curriculum’s chapters or Filmography (e.g., Educating Rita; Oleanna; Doubt; Chalk; To Sir, With Love; other titles), and newer titles or recent releases such as Easy A.

Reports #2 and #3 – Film Documentaries about Education and Childhood: Select a non- fictional/documentary or teacher “training” film title that relates to education or childhood and screen it. Below is a recommended list from which to draw, but check with the instructor first if you have other documentary titles to propose for your reports. The * titles are highly recommended but not required. [See Titles, on next page]

Report #4 and #5 – Viewer’s Choice: Select a film title (no TV series) that we’ve only seen excerpts from during class time that interested you and screen the entire film for your report (see this syllabus’ Filmography for approved titles); or select another film title that has not been fully screened in class and recommended in The Hollywood Curriculum’s chapters or Filmography (e.g., Educating Rita; Oleanna; Doubt; Chalk; To Sir, With Love; other titles), and newer titles or recent releases such as Easy A.

6

Documentary Titles: * 2 Million Minutes: A Documentary Calculating the Educational Divide American Teen Born Into Brothels * Bowling for Columbine The Boys of Baraka * Class Act (2006) * The First Year Frontline: College, Inc. Girlhood High School Boot Camp Hoop Dreams Jesus Camp My Kid Could Paint That Nursery University * Paper Clips Please Vote for Me Prom Night in Mississippi Real Life Teens: Bullies * Spellbound To Be Hear

7

Personal Philosophy of Teaching: 10 points (Your Philosophy of Teaching must be submitted correctly by Friday of the 6th week of class.) This assignment consists of a one-page single-spaced narrative that describes your personal values, attitudes, and beliefs about teaching and young people at this point in your pre- professional development. The specific content and format will be outlined on a detailed assignment description sheet. This assignment can only be uploaded one time and automatically checked by TurnItIn.com, so make sure you upload a final draft.

At-Home Final Exam Project: 10 points (Your At-Home Final Exam must be submitted Via the correct prompt by Friday of the 7th week of class.) The at-home exam will integrate the course’s subject matter and issues. The completed assignment (uploaded via the indicated prompt) will be turned in on the last day of class and automatically checked by TurnItIn.com.

To prepare for the exam throughout the semester, pick one traditional subject area from the grades K-12 school curriculum–e.g., language arts (reading, literature, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and other elements), math (addition, fractions, geometry, and other elements), social studies (geography, history, government, and other elements), science (biology, chemistry, physics, and other elements), or fine arts (music, visual art, dance, theatre)–and research specific film scenes or specific TV episodes that are appropriate for young people’s viewing that relate to the subject area. For example: a scene from A Beautiful Mind or Little Man Tate that shows mathematics problem-solving at work; a scene from The Nutty Professor that illustrates working in a laboratory; a scene from The Sound of Music that shows children learning about musical notes; a scene from WALL*E that comments on technology or environmental issues.