Purpose:

This activity is designed to help students apply concepts addressed in class to local teaching and learning situations.

Objectives:

• Develop understanding of the complexities of teaching environments
• Reflect on differences/similarities between experienced professionals and novices in their thoughts and opinions about teaching and learning

Student Project:

This activity involves setting up a series of interviews with local teachers, administrators, and parents. The interviews will be framed around issues you discuss throughout the semester.

Assessment:

Each assignment requires the student to develop a set of specific questions, which the instructor may approve or alter. A series of short papers or journal entries could be compiled based on the following interviews. These papers/journals could be submitted for a grade or provide the basis for class discussions.

Questions:

1. Interview a teacher about what he or she perceives as the main issues related to teaching. What does the teacher perceive as the differences between the attitudes and techniques of expert and novice teachers? Ask the teacher how he or she knows the students have learned. Ask what system the teacher uses for grading and whether he or she uses tests. If yes, what kind? If not, what does the teacher use to assess students' progress? Ask about the most difficult aspect of giving students grades and for any advice for new teachers about setting up a grading system. How does the teacher keep students motivated? What is the role of the teacher in the classroom? Ask about how the teacher communicates with parents and administrators.
2. Interview a principal about how his or her school is doing on standardized achievement tests. Ask the principal about his/her feelings about the movement toward more authentic assessment. Will it affect the school? How? Ask about the roles of teachers, administrators, and parents in the school. How are issues of management and discipline handled within the school?
3. Interview a parent about his or her experiences with the child's school. How does the school facilitate communication? What role does the parent play in the education of his/her child? How is this supported/refuted by the school? Ask about how the parent communicates with the teacher and administration. Ask about the parent's understanding of assessment issues. Find out the parent's thoughts about standardized testing.

Variation:

1. The class could be divided into groups, with each group responsible for interviewing a group of teachers, administrators, or parents. Each group could develop a profile of the collected responses, comparing it to information available from state or national resources (e.g., through ERIC).
2. Bring a panel of one or two teachers, administrators, and parents to the class. Have each present his/her views on the current status of standardized testing or other educational issue. You can engage in a discussion with the panel.