Required Text: 

Spring, Joel, American Education 18th edition.  Routledge.  ISBN 978-1138087255

Optional Texts:

During Week 1 Class, a project will be introduced that will allow students to gather research and electronic sources or select one of the following texts (recommended):

Gordon, John. The Shark and the Goldfish (Hoboken: John Whiley and Sons, 2009) ISBN: 978-0-470-50360-7

Johnson, Spencer. Who Moved My Cheese (New York: Putnam, 2002). ISBN: 978-0-399-14446-2

Lundin, Stephen C, Harry Paul, and John Christensen. Fish!: A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results (New York: Hyperion, 2000). ISBN: 978-0-786-86602-1

Rath, Tom and Donald Clifton. How Full is Your Bucket (New York: Gallup Press, 2005). ISBN 978-1-595-62003-3

Other readings are provided as handouts posted on myCMU

This course will focus on the review and appraisal of contemporary trends and practices in education.  Emphasis will be placed on social and multicultural issues in American education. Educational theories and curricula will be critically analyzed within a variety of educational settings.

Upon successful completion of the course, each participant should be able to:

1. Express a basic understanding of the concepts and major issues affecting education today.
2. Recognize, be able to discuss, and analyze multiple points of view regarding current issues facing education today.
3. Present research and be an agent for change on a current educational issue of your choosing.
4. Be able to apply highly effective teaching strategies demonstrated in this class to your own classroom.