Introduction to the Teaching Profession Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

EDUC-1301-003 Introduction to the Teaching Profession

Prerequisites

Course Description

An enriched, integrated pre-service course and content experience that provides active recruitment and institutional support of students interested in a teaching career, especially in high need fields. The course provides students with opportunities to participate in early field observations at all levels of P-12 schools with varied and diverse student populations and provides students with support from college and school faculty, preferably in small cohort groups, for the purpose of introduction to and analysis of the culture of schooling and classrooms. Course content should be aligned as applicable with State Board for Educator Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities standards; and the course must include a minimum of 16 contact hours of field experience in P-12 classrooms.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Students should be active participants to gain valuable knowledge and skills to impact the lives of others through EDUCATION!

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hr; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Textbook
Bingham, T. (2021) TEACHING TEXAS:  A Complete and Practical Approach to Understanding and Applying the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) TExES, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company,  6th Edition, ISBN:  978-1-7924-6179-8

Supplies

A computer/laptop with Internet access to Blackboard Learning.

The required textbook listed above.

Student Performance

The purpose of this course is to provide students with information about the teaching profession and an opportunity to observe public school teachers, K-12, in their teaching environments.

Students will also receive information on:

• The process of becoming a public school teacher
• Becoming certified to teach in the state of Texas
• An introduction to the Approved New Educator Standards in Texas
• An overview of the Educators Code of Ethics
• An overview of the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities of teachers

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

 

1. The assigned work is due on the due date listed in the modules.  Late work is accepted, but grading will be at the discretion of the instructor.
2. Your participation in class helps you learn and makes the class more interesting.
3. Ask questions.  Ask more questions. We will all learn together.
4. Students are expected to follow the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct.
5. Respect and honesty are key to education.  We will be working with sensitive topics. We will learn how to handle confidential information in professional ways. Keep respectful and honest practices in the front of your mind.
6. Any student, who because of a disabling condition may require some special arrangement in order to meet course requirements, should contact disAbility services at 806-371-5436 as soon as possible.
7. If for some reason you are unable to complete this course, be sure to notify the instructor and complete the necessary drop information.
8. Completion and verification of the 16-hour observation log sheet and journal is mandatory in order to receive credit for this course.  The start/end dates for observations will be discussed online in class. 

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria
Observation Journal & Log Sheet  = 40% of Final Grade
Learning Activities = 35% of Final Grade
Projects =  20% of Final Grade 
1^st Week Virtual Visit = 5% of Final Grade 

Grading Scale
A =100-90
B = 89-80
C = 79-70
D = 69-65
F =  64-0

**At the end of the semester, the lowest 2 Learning Activity grades will be dropped.

**If a student does not complete the observation and journal requirements as designated, a grade of “F” will be given for the course. 

**If there is a complaint from a teacher about a student’s behavior on campus, a grade of “F” may be given for the course.     

Assignments, projects, and observations are due on the dates stated. Work that is submitted late will not receive full credit and grading is up to the discretion of the instructor.  Partial credit is better than no credit.

Attendance

This is an online class and attendance is based on the completion of work assigned in the course modules.  Modules will be open for you to work ahead.  Generally speaking, modules start on a Tuesday morning and run through Monday evenings at 11:59 pm.  That means, all course work for that particular module is due at 11:59 pm on Monday evenings.  Please see the calendar below for more exact due dates.

If you have an emergency and are unable to complete the coursework on time, please email the instructor as soon as possible.  

Late work is accepted but will not receive full credit.  “Partial credit is better than no credit!”

Calendar

Additional Information

Observation Guidelines
What a wonderful opportunity it is to step into a classroom to increase knowledge and begin to put ideas into your repertoire to become a fabulous teacher! Young students are excited for you to enter into their classroom to observe their learning environment. You will receive guidelines for the observations in class that will assist you in the most successful experience; not following these procedures can cause the student to have points deducted from the observation grade.  The value of the points may vary depending on the offense.  Professionalism cannot be stressed enough!  You are not only representing yourself, but you are also representing Amarillo College, and you are a role model to students you will be observing.  This is an awesome responsibility and we know you will take this experience seriously!

 

This course is a field-based course for all education majors to give students an overview of schooling and classrooms from the perspectives of language, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic, and academic diversity and equity with an emphasis on factors that facilitate learning. It provides an opportunity to participate in P-12 special population classrooms. 

 

The course aligns with the State Board for Educator Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities and Technology Application standards.

 

This course consists of an additional “lab” component and public school observation piece.  This is not an instructor’s option or an optional activity.  It is a state mandate and students not completing these requirements will not receive credit for the course.   

 

Students need to be aware of these requirements and plan accordingly when scheduling work, family responsibilities, and other course load to prevent frustration and disappointment in one of the areas.  Completion and verification of the 16 hours of public school teacher observation is mandatory in order to receive credit for this course.