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Kids in Context Online


Course Outline


Course Description


Many have said that "it takes a village" to educate students. Others seem to believe that the total responsibility sits in the hands of the school. In fact, there has been much debate recently about this phrase. What is not open to debate, however, is that in order to effectively educate our children we need to know and understand their "village"...and the "village" can vary dramatically from student to student.

In order to be effective, educators must study the environments from which their students come. With the diversity in our communities and the significant changes in family dynamics, this can be a real challenge.

Kids in Context explores the backgrounds and experiences of the students who sit in our classrooms thus enabling us, the educators, to design instruction and provide guidance to meet every student's needs. The course will engage participants in a sociological study of young people.

So much of what we know is the result of research conducted with adults-parents, administrators, and teachers. While this research can be enlightening, this course will also explore opportunities to gain insights from students themselves. Their perspective, ideas, and input should be sought and studied.

The assignments in Kids In Context are practical and require course participants to reflect on their students and design motivating, instructional activities.

Objectives


  • Evaluate the context in which today's students exist.
  • Assess the impact of the forces on today's students.
  • Discover that children are the best sources for understanding childhood.
  • Reflect on the environments of the students served in specific communities.
  • Examine the quantitative data available on today's children.
  • Engage in qualitative research in individual school environments.
  • Evaluate the impact poverty, family structure, and socialization have on the school community.
  • Design instruction and activities to meet students' needs.
  • Master the strategies to design motivating, effective instruction.

Curriculum Design & Time Requirements


Module assignments are based on specific module lessons, textbook readings and online research. This is an online sixty-hour, three credit graduate level course that is completed over a thirteen-week period. Each module is one week with Module Eleven running over a two week period.

Hardware & Computer Skills Requirements


Students may use either a Macintosh computer or a PC with Windows 2000 or higher. Students should possess basic word processing skills and have internet access with an active e-mail account. Students also are expected to have a basic knowledge of how to use a Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox etc.

Course Materials


The required text for this course is Kids in Context: The Sociological Study of Children and Childhoods by Sarane Spence Boocock and Kimberly Ann Scott. Published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. A variety of readings will be referenced throughout the course. Other supplemental readings will be provided.

Session Outline

Session 1: Introductions
Contents:
  1. Course Forum
  2. Getting to Know You
  3. Personal Introductions

Session 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Childhood
Contents:
  1. Introduction to Kids in Context
  2. Explain the role of children in America today
  3. Explain various groups in context over a period of time
  4. Evaluate the different sociological perspectives on childhood
  5. Illustrate a personal perspective for studying children

Session 3: Research Methodologies
Contents:
  1. Distinguish between Quantitative and Qualitative data
  2. Recognize differences among research models
  3. Recognize adult ideological bias
  4. Design research to reduce adult ideological bias
  5. Distinguish between formal and action research
  6. Assess and reflect on trends in research

Session 4: The Effects of Family Structure
Contents:
  1. Explain the revolution in family structure
  2. Recognize effects of changes on children
  3. Examine the changes for educators

Session 5: The Effects of Parenting Styles
Contents:
  1. Explain the three main parenting styles
  2. Investigate the structure of homes
  3. Investigate how parenting styles affects children's behavior and achievement

Session 6: Kids in Groups
Contents:
  1. Evaluate factors affecting kids in social situations
  2. Explain the criteria for appropriate play
  3. Assess the five conflict resolution styles
  4. Appraise when each of the conflict resolution styles is appropriate for WIN-WIN solutions
  5. Explain the reasons that inappropriate styles result in stress

Session 7: Kids in School
Contents:
  1. Explain the formal education sphere
  2. Explain the informal education sphere
  3. Explain the manifestations of distress in schools
  4. Assess the problem of bullying in schools
  5. Explain the consequences for misbehavior

Session 8:Diversity and Identity
Contents:
  1. Compare the impact of gender, race, and ethnicity on children
  2. Discover how and when gender, race, and ethnicity are recognized by children
  3. Assess strategies for building community and understanding

Session 9: Kids as Consumers
Contents:
  1. Discover the influence of children on the economy
  2. Understand the marketing implications on food, fashion, video games, and computers
  3. Discover the effect on financial literacy

Session 10: Changing the School Structure
Contents:
  1. Investigate various school structural innovations
  2. Present a studied case for one option

Session 11: Strategies the Work for Today's Kids
Contents:
  1. Investigate various instructional strategies
  2. Develop lessons that incorporate these strategies
  3. Final Integration Project

Session 12: Sharing of Case Studies

Grading


    Assignment Points   Grading Scale  
  Forum Participation   20      100 – 93 A
  Reading/Reflection Assignments   40       92 – 85 B
  Final Integration Project   20       84 – 77 C
    Case Study   20            
  Total Points 100    

Student Requirements

  1. Participation: Actively participate in all Forum activities.
  2. Reading assignments: Complete all readings and reflection assignments.
  3. Students will be expected to study a student or students to gain insights into their perspective. A reflection of the findings is required.
  4. The Final Integration Project will require participants to design a unit for their classrooms which sensitizes students to the diversity in their lives.

Student Academic Integrity


Participants guarantee that all academic class work is original. Any academic dishonesty or plagiarism (to take ideas, writings, etc. from another and offer them as one's own), is a violation of student academic behavior standards as outlined by our partnering colleges and universities and is subject to academic disciplinary action.

Register


To register to take TEI's Kids in Context Online course, go to the Course Registration page.