Spring 2025 - EDUC 816 G031

Developing Educational Programs and Practices for Diverse Educational Settings (5)

Class Number: 4566

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Location: TBA

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Investigates theories and issues associated with developing educational programs and practices in various educational contexts. Addresses the development of new programs and their implementation in schools and other educational settings.

COURSE DETAILS:

Meeting Dates:
January 10/11, 24/25
February 7/8, 21/22
March 7/8,
April 4/5.

Meeting Times:
Fridays: 4:30 - 9:00 pm
Saturdays: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

COURSE OVERVIEW

Development of educational programs can be understood in terms of both theory and practice: this course seeks to weave the two together.  Students enrolled in this course will acquire the theoretical and critical background that will enable them to develop sound and imaginative educational programs.  They will have the opportunity to confront educational programming, curriculum models, frameworks, and materials that they have had no part in developing. How to develop a critical understanding of such works, how to use them to build one’s own educational philosophy and methodology, how to study and learn from one’s own practice, and how to work on program and curriculum development with others (children, teachers, administrators, researchers, community members) – these are the central topics of the course. The focus, at the practical level will be on outdoor/nature/place-based imaginative education with the goal that the particular can assist in making sense of each student’s situation.  Reference will be made to concepts and readings from prior courses in the M.Ed. program on “imagination and education.”

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

These are incredibly unusual times for the planet and for education and as a result this course will seek to be unusual in response.  The purpose of this course is to provide students with knowledge of key theoretical touchstones in the development of educational programs, practices, and particular curriculums.  The course will assist students to better understand, and possibly vary, those touchstones in their own practice, in a range of “alternative” educational programs, and with a particular focus on imaginative education and on nature-based learning.

Grading

NOTES:

We will explore the question of evaluation on an ongoing basis throughout the course.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Materials and Readings will be offered by the instructor during the first class and on an ongoing basis thereafter.

REQUIRED READING:

Will be provided in the course outline for the first class

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.