CI5102: Culture, Schools, & Communities: Human Relations I

This course provides teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills to address social and culturaldimensions of education. Students explore a wide range of challenges and dilemmas facingcontemporary educators in the U.S. and in other global locations. They examine original research andtheory from the social sciences, and learn how research and theories have informed various educationalpolicies and actual approaches to teaching. The course begins with a focused study of how U.S.educational history has been shaped by competing norms and purposes. It then moves into the role ofphilosophy in defining those purposes, and shaping actual approaches to teaching. The course thenshifts to examine multiple dimensions of humanity including race, culture, gender, gender orientation,class, worldview, perception, and language in and out of school. These concepts lay the foundation forstudy of cultural transmission and acquisition, the learning preferences of diverse students, andultimately, culturally relevant pedagogy, cultural competence, and cultural intelligence. Throughout thecourse, teacher candidates will consider their own positionality and what that means for their practice. Learning experiences are made up of class meetings involving speakers, simulations, and multi-media presentations; readings; small group discussions, activities, exercises and projects.

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