Field experience is an important component of the education program. All of our courses involve an observaton component and for students planning to obtain a license throught Grinnell, observations take place in a K-12 setting. In the more advanced courses, we encourage students to complete classroom observation and team teach in classrooms, to develop a well-rounded understanding of the subject matter of their courses. The theory and practice of education must go hand-in-hand.
EDU 101: Education, Priciples in a Pluralistic Society
Students observe (in an educational setting)and participate when appropiate. Students may tutor, work with small groups, or assit the teacher in other ways.
(10 hours)
EDU 21X: Education Psychology
Students observe in an educational setting and, when appropriate, participate. Students may tutor, work with small groups, or assist the classrrom teacher in other ways.
(8 hours)
EDU 250: Differentiating Instruction for All Learners
Students will gain an understanding of the needs of diverse learners, the adoptations regular classroom teachers make for all learners, and the ways in which special and regular education teachers collaborate to meet the needs of special education students. College field experience students conduct a research project (used on participant/observation in the K-12 classroom) topic related to course content.
(24 hours)
EDU 221: Educational Psychology
Students appply Educational Psychology principles to classroom observations. Students are asked to engage in two kinds of activities: observing and assisting. For the first three visits students should observe the entire time. Once students are somewhat familiar with the classroom expectations, schedule, and routines, they should continue to observe for a portion of each visit but should also assist the teacher in any way possible. Since classroom structures vary considerably from first grade to high school and by subject matter, student assistance will also vary. Classes often have some time in which students are doing individual or small group work, which is an appropriate time for the college student to serve as a helper in the classroom. Whole class instruction is a good time for the student to complete the additional observation assignments for the course.
(24 hours)
EDU 341 - 346: Research and Methods in Teaching and Learning
Methods courses involve teaching in local classrooms. Often such teaching is done with peers. At this point in their education students are putting into practice what they have learned in their courses and honing skills they will need for student teaching that follows the completion of methods courses.
(14 hours)
