EDUC 504 - Cultural Perspectives and the Teaching Learning Process

Credit(s): 3
3 semester hours
Required for TESOL and bilingual students only, other students will need chair’s permission. In this course, candidates will investigate those multicultural factors that have the greatest impact on teaching and learning: cultural, racial, ethnic, language and socioeconomic diversity. As a result of scholarly research, classroom presentations and group discussion, students will be able to prepare lesson plans that are culturally and ethnically responsive to diverse learners and that center on issues of social justice and civic action. This course will focus on the selection and integration of teaching strategies, assessment and curriculum in order to reflect language, ethnicity, gender and other components of culture. In addition, students will integrate into the course appropriate learning and performance standards as described in New York State curriculum guides. Research and site-based observations of diverse classrooms will help students acquire the background knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to effectively teach students who are learners of diverse cultural, ethnic and linguistic back-grounds, including special needs. Ten hours of fieldwork required.