EDU 200 Introduction to Urban Education and Reflective Teaching

This course provides an introduction to urban learners, urban teaching, and urban school systems using case studies and first-person accounts of teaching and learning in an urban environment. Current issues facing urban P-12 students, teachers, schools, districts, and communities will be discussed. Society's responsibility to urban schools will be examined along with the roles that teachers and schools play in increasing student achievement and leading school improvement. Key concepts of the Urban Teacher Program will be introduced including the importance of high expectations, student and teacher resiliency, educational equity, using the community as a resource, and reflection. Various perspectives and dimensions of the achievement gap will be examined, including causes due to discrimination and perspectives on what constitutes high educational achievement for culturally and linguistically diverse youth. Students in this course are expected to explore and express their own experiences, assumptions, beliefs, motivations, and commitments related to teaching and learning in the urban environment. Various types of teacher reflection will be introduced as important means for continual professional growth to meet the needs of urban learners. Clinical field experience hours are part of the course requirements.

Special information

Note: This course is required for admission to the Urban Teacher Program. Clinic field experience hours are a part of the course requirements.