EDCI 1301 380: Intro to Teaching Profession

Field Experiences

The 16 hours of field experiences will be completed by watching pre-recorded observation teacher videos.

Acronyms to Recognize and Foundations to Teaching in Texas

1. BTLPT Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test, Spanish  
2. CCRS College and Career Readiness Standards, Texas (see TCCRS)  
3. PPR Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Standards (EC-Grade 12)  
4. T-CERT (TExES Certification Exam Review for Teachers) The purpose of this website is to help teacher candidates, novice teachers, and experienced teachers pass TExES (Texas Examination of Educator Standards) exams. The Texas A&M University System and the Texas Education Agency have teamed up to provide this test preparation site.  
5. TCCRS Texas College and Career Readiness Standards
6. TEA Texas Education Agency  
7. TEKS Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills state standards for what students should know and be able to do. The State Board of Education (SBOE) has legislative authority to adopt the TEKS for each subject of the required curriculum.

Submission of Assignments. Assignments are DUE at the time designated in any announcement/syllabus/assignment instruction. The opportunity to submit your assignment early is welcomed once the dropbox is available. For most assignments, you will be able to resubmit your assignment if the dropbox is still available. There is a grace period for most assignments, which includes a window of time after the set deadline to submit your assignment to account for any unforeseen issues. The dropbox will close once the grace period has closed. (For example, the deadline is set for Friday at 11:59 PM and the grade period ends Saturday at 12 PM). Assignments not submitted by that time are given a zero (0). Arrangements can be made for extenuating circumstances prior to the due date. Any technical maintenance processes happening thru OIT during the due date is not an excuse. Make arrangements to submit beforehand. 

The policy at TAMIU for absences and make-up work will be followed. No work will be made-up unless you have an excusable absence that is submitted in a timely manner as stated in TAMIU policy and approved by the instructor. Once approval is given, arrangements can be made to make-up and submit the work by the given deadline. Any work submitted after the due date and not approved by the instructor remains a zero (0). No assignments will be accepted after the last day of the semester. (see Attendance, Engagement, and Professional Expectations in COE Undergraduate Policies and Class Attendance under Course Policies).

Please be aware that this course is not self-paced. Students are expected to meet specific deadlines and due dates provided in the LMS for each week. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of the weekly course schedule of topics, readings, activities and assignments due.

APA. All assignments will follow the APA 7th edition student paper format. It is the student’s responsibility to view all resources provided by the instructor in Blackboard and research the information. The expectation is not to memorize the format, but to use the references to guide your formatting and citation requirements as needed. Points will be deducted for improper use in all assignments. Not using in-text citations or not listing references is considered plagiarism and will be affect your grade.

In addition, be extremely mindful of your writing, the sources you use, and the format for citations and references. Plagiarism can occur even if not intentional for lack of correct citation of sources. Use the resources provided to you in Blackboard and rely on them for every assignment. Your grade can be affected and well as further disciplinary action (see TAMIU Honor Code:  Plagiarism and Cheating under University Course Policies and Academic Integrity in the COE Undergraduate Policies).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has existed for quite some time and within many of the ongoing apps and systems you already use such as Blackboard, Echo360, and Grammarly. However, since the end of 2022, there have been many generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) tools emerge for various functions whether writing, conversing, video editing, drawing, summarizing, or other functions. Based on data and surveys conducted, the trajectory of using any type of AI will be a vital skill for future careers. As future educators, you will need to know about AI tools for teaching, learning, and assessing. In this course; however, you will use Gen AI in limited cases. Some sample activities or tasks may include (not limited to these)

• Developing an outline for an essay

• Creating a rough draft or brainstorming ideas for an essay

• Assistance in grammar check or other writing conventions

• Drafting research or other questions for an essay

• Developing essential, higher order questions or drafting in class activities

• Developing a rubric

• Comparing different lesson plan drafts

• Assistance in any of the formal, submitted, graded written assignments listed in for this course

For the course, the instructor will inform students about any assignment where Gen AI (i.e. LLMs like ChatGPT) can be used and for what purpose.. There are few key ideas to emphasize:

• Academic Integrity is a core value at this university that must be upheld even when using Gen AI tools.

• The use of Gen AI is to assist or enhance assignments that are primarily created by the student. It will NOT be used to created the entire assignment.

• The use of Gen AI by a student indicates it was not created by the student; therefore, any instance of Gen AI requires a citation in any formal submitted assignment.

• AI of any type will not be used for selected-response assessments or other quizzes. No cheating.

More information will be provided during the course on proper citation format and other guidelines with the specific assignments when Gen AI can be used. NOT citing Gen AI properly by the student in any formal, submitted assignment or assessment constitutes a violation of the TAMIU Honor Code and will be reported to the Honor Council with potential consequences. (see TAMIU Honor Code:  Plagiarism and Cheating under University Course Policies and Academic Integrity in the COE Undergraduate Policies).

Participation, Attendance, Late Arrivals, and Early Departures. 

Students are expected to have read the material assigned BEFORE class time and be prepared to participate in all activities and discussions. You must show evidence that you have prepared for class by actively participating in discussions, expressing your opinions, sharing your knowledge and experiences, raising important issues, and formulating questions. You must keep organized and submit assignments on-time. If synchronous learning is scheduled, video and audio are required. Be prepared from day one, which includes:

• ensuring you have met all the technical requirements needed for the entirety of the course.
• ensuring you have acquired the required textbook for the duration of the course.
• researching APA 7th edition for students for correct formats and guidelines for all assignments.
• ensure communication with the professor if you are concerned with a grade.

Attendance. It is the expectation of TAMIU and the College of Education that you actively attend to this course by logging in frequently and being present online to use the resources available, complete assignments, meet with the professor, or connect with your peers. In general, assignments are expected on time and by the due date. Please refer to Student Absences under University Course Policies at the end. TAMIU’s policy on attendance will be used in this course. The policy at TAMIU for absences and make-up work will be followed. No work will be made-up unless you have an excusable absence that is submitted in a timely manner as stated in TAMIU policy and approved by the instructor.

Students are expected to attend every scheduled class meeting. Be prompt. Students are expected to have read the material assigned BEFORE class time and be prepared to participate in all class activities and discussions. It is of import to note: there is substantial ongoing in-class participation that is an integral part of this course and course grades. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of those days. Changes to the due dates may occur if there are unforeseen circumstances (ie. pandemic of COVID-19); the instructor will modify to student needs/new schedule.  

**NOTE: Final Exams are posted and scheduled thru TAMIU registrar’s office. The exam date is listed in the schedule. Make arrangements now to be available for the exam. There will be no exceptions to the final exam date and time. ONLY documented accommodations with the Student Disability Services will be honored. The instructor will determine if any unforeseen emergency is honored/acceptable with documentation provided. You must be present for the date and time of the final exam. If you cannot make it or are absent, you will not take the test and receive a zero (0).

BlackBoard. All assignments will be submitted exclusively through Blackboard. If you have issues with submission, contact OIT for assistance (information at the end of the syllabus). Ensure you have received confirmation of your submission or I will not see the assignment, and no credit can be provided. I do send a notification that I am not able to view, open, or otherwise grade an assignment. It is your responsibility to check your email for any notification and proceed with correcting the issue. It is the student’s responsibility to frequently login to Blackboard to check folders, course information, announcements, and read assignment instructions. Announcements will always be posted in the announcement area and emailed to you. You can attend trainings by TAMIU’s OIT for further support on Blackboard.  

Respondus LockDown Browser Requirement. This course requires the use of LockDown Browser and Monitor for online exams. Respondus is free for students. Watch this short video to get a basic understanding of LockDown Browser. A student Quick Start Guide (PDF) is also available. For more information, visit the TAMIU OIT Respondus website. More information will be available through Blackboard. You may use an iPad and Google Chromebook with Respondus. Other software may be used such as Proctorio depending on device or availability. **NOTE: For any assignment or exam that uses both lockdown and monitor, you will need 2 cameras. Be sure to have that ready on day 1.

DuoMobile. As a member of the A&M system, you are required to use a two-factor authentication when using any app used by A&M to safeguard your identity. Issues with DuoMobile are the responsibility of the student. Lack of access does not constitute an excuse to not complete assignments. The student must still meet the deadlines accordingly.

Communication. Communication of instructions, announcements, and other reminders will be conducted in person, posted on Blackboard announcements, and sent through email. Responses to questions or concerns will be provided within 24 hours. If you need to communicate with me, please follow the student hours to meet virtually or email me to schedule an appointment. Blackboard messages is an option to communicate in this course. **NOTE: Only your TAMIU email should be used for any email communication. The instructor will not response to emails from any other source or platform (outlook, Gmail, etc.)

Additionally, if unforeseen circumstances arise where we need to change from F2F or in-person, the use of Blackboard Collaborate and Google Voice will also be used for virtual meetings or text messaging. Keep communication open. Please refer to UConnect, TAMIU Email, and Dusty Alert under College of Education Policies. 

Student Hours. Students may at times need additional instructor support or would like to visit and discuss other related topics. Students should schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss course related requirements such as grades, assignments, progress, other requirements. Likewise, you may visit to discuss career advice, student success and progress in general, or educational interests such as technology. If you are not able to meet with me during student hours, email me to schedule an appointment with suggested dates/times.

Classroom and Online Etiquette. Please refer to Classroom Behavior under University Course Policies at the end. Additionally, exercise positive and effective communicative skills when engaging online and in person. Students must be mindful of the language, tone, and academic responses e-mailed or posted when communicating with the professor or with other students. Students may not copy, distribute, or share any course images, assignments, guides, or recordings including recorded lectures (if any) without the explicit written permission of the instructor. This is considered a violation of copyright infringement. Any resources created by the instructor are the intellectual property (IP) of the instructor. 

Technology Tools. Living in the 21st century, we are well aware of the technology that surrounds us. This presents opportunities to interact with and use technology in the classroom to enrich learning and create purposeful and active learning environments to fit everyone’s needs. In the class, we will actively use a variety of technology applications. You are not required to have a laptop; a mobile device will suffice. Some of the technology applications that are part of the university system that may be used are BlackBoard Ultra (and apps within in). Other possible apps used in class will be Google Suite, Microsoft Office 365 apps, Wakelet, and Microsoft Education Center/Microsoft Learn to name a few. For specific university-based apps, you can attend trainings by TAMIU’s OIT eLearning team or email the team at elearning@tamiu.eduAdditionally, please refer to Technology Issues under College of Education Policies for any help.

Current Course Learning Environment. The course is all online instruction. You are required to login to Blackboard consistently and frequently during the entire course time to access reading materials, complete assignments and assessments. For attendance, not logging in for a few days nor seeing any participation in Blackboard for any assignment, assessment, discussion, or other will constitute your absence. No matter the delivery if changed at any point, you are responsible to view the materials, follow along, and uphold the expectations of the course regardless if remote or F2F. 

1. The student investigates the aspects of creating positive learning environments and the relationship between school and community.
2. The student explores educational issues impacting teaching and learning in contemporary schools.
3. The student investigates the requirements for Texas certification and the TAMIU programs leading to teaching credentials.

• Objective 1: Identify current issues influencing the field of education and teacher professional development.
• Objective 2: Analyze the culture of schooling and classrooms from the perspectives of language, gender, socioeconomic, ethnic, and disability-based academic diversity and equity.
• Objective 3: Provide examples from classroom observations and course activities that demonstrate an understanding of educational pedagogy and the professional responsibilities of teachers.
• Objective 4: Evaluate personal motivations, educational philosophies, and factors related to educational career decision-making.
• Objective 5: Recognize various learning styles to be able to implement instructional practices that meet the needs of all students.

** Note: Course description and objectives follow the THECB's Common Course 'EDUC 1301 Introduction to the Teaching Profession.' This course is part of the 'Lower-Division Academic Course' listings of "approved courses for general academic transfer."

Technology Applications EC-12: (Standards approved 2016)

• All teachers use and promote creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge, generate new ideas, and create products. (Technology Application Standard I)
• All teachers collaborate and communicate both locally and globally using digital tools and resources to reinforce and promote learning. (Technology Application Standard II)
• All teachers acquire, analyze, and manage content from digital resources. (Technology Application Standard III)
• All teachers make informed decisions by applying critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. (Technology Application Standard IV) 
• All teachers practice and promote safe, responsible, legal, and ethical behavior while using technology tools and resources. (Technology Application Standard V)
• All teachers demonstrate a thorough understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. (Technology Application Standard VI)
• Teachers know how to plan, organize, deliver, and evaluate instruction for all students that incorporates the effective use of current technology for teaching and integrating the Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) into the curriculum. (Technology Application Standard VII)

ISTE Technology Standards: Educators

• 2.1 Learner. Educators continually improve their practice by learning from and with others and exploring proven and promising practices that leverage technology to improve student learning. Educators:
• 2.2 Leader. Educators seek out opportunities for leadership to support student empowerment and success and to improve teaching and learning. Educators:
• 2.3 Citizen. Educators inspire students to positively contribute to and responsibly participate in the digital world. Educators:
• 2.4 Collaborator. Educators dedicate time to collaborate with both colleagues and students to improve practice, discover and share resources and ideas, and solve problems. Educators:
• 2.5 Designer. Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability. Educators:
• 2.6 Facilitator. Educators facilitate learning with technology to support student achievement of the 2016 ISTE Standards for Students. Educators:
• 2.7 Analyst. Educators understand and use data to drive their instruction and support students in achieving their learning goals. Educators:

Citation:  ISTE. (2017). ISTE standards for educators. ISTE. https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-teachers

Teaching Works High Leverage Practices

• Eliciting and interpreting student thinking.
• Talking about a student with parents or other caregivers.
• Providing oral and written feedback to students.

Citation: Ball, D.L. and Forzani, F.M. (2009). The work of teaching and the challenge of teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education, 60, 497-511.

High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS)

• Setting Goals
• Structuring Lessons
• Explicit Teaching
• Worked Examples
• Collaborative Learning
• Multiple Exposures
• Questioning
• Feedback
• Metacognitive Strategies
• Differentiated teaching

Assignments and Exams: 

All assignments will be submitted exclusively through Blackboard including evidence of in-class assignments. Note: In case of an unforeseen circumstance (e.g. COVID-19), the assignments and number of assignments will remain, but will be modified to fit a remote learning environment. Dates may also change depending on the situation. 

All assignments have explicit instructions posted in Blackboard. All writing assignments include a instruction guide to ensure you follow the directions, process, and any information needed to be successful. The instruction guide provides examples of APA 7th edition citations and other formatting essentials.

Required - Course Verification

1. Syllabus Scavenger Hunt Quiz and Confirmation. The syllabus scavenger hunt quiz will guide you to understand the details and expectations for the course. The confirmation attests that you have read through the course guidelines and understand them.
2. Academic Integrity Module. Reviews the expectations of all students to hold academic honesty.
3. APA 7th Edition Module. Reviews the writing style of APA for written work. COE follows APA style of writing.
4. Intellectual Property Acknowledgement. Confirms the student is aware that all materials, assignments, and resources are property of either the designate publisher or the instructor. Students may not copy, distribute, post, revise, or do anything with these resources.

Required - Assignments

1. Discussions: Online discussions where students will demonstrate knowledge of topics and participate actively in discussion with peers.
2. Field Experiences Log: Part of this course is also having field experiences to explore and observe the life of an educator. You will need to complete minimum 16 hours through video observation. You will submit a log verifying your time.
3. Competencies Reflection Journals: In conjunction with your field experiences observations; you will complete weekly reflections. These notes will vary depending on the week's topics but always tied to the Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities (TExES Exam) competencies.
4. Field Experiences Field Notes. In conjunction with your field experiences observations; you will complete weekly field notes. These field notes will assist the students in verifying specific teacher behaviors for better understanding of good teaching strategies.

Required - Assessments

1. Unit Tests: There are 5 units in the course that tie each of the week's topics together. There will be an electronic traditional test format. Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor.
2. Authentic Assessment: A digital teaching statement: Essentially, students will create a multimedia presentation where you will provide your thoughts on What makes a great teacher? and more details about your philosophy. You will receive proper guidance and an instruction guide as we get closer to the deadline. 
3. Final Exam. Summative Assessment. Selected response and short response. Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor.

Instructional Approaches/Methodologies Utilized in this Course include:

Online format, video recorded lectures, online class discussions, online collaborative group activities, technology application.

Final grades in this course are calculated as:

Assignments (220 points TOTAL)

1. Syllabus Acknowledgement and Quiz (10pts)
2. APA Module (4pts)
3. Academic Integrity Module (4pts)
4. IP Acknowledgement (2pt)
5. Discussions (4x10pts=40pts)
6. Field Experiences Log (16pts)
7. Journals (4x20pts=80pts)
8. Field Notes (4x16pts=64pts)

Assessments (190 points TOTAL)

1. Unit Tests (4x15pts=60pts.)
2. Digital Personal Teaching Statement (50pts)
3. Final Exam (80pts.)

TOTAL: 410 points – 100% (308 pts = 75% = C+ = minimum passing grade)

Regular and Substantive Interaction:

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has issued Regular and Substantive Interaction: Background, Concerns, and Guiding Principles which went into effect on July 1, 2021. Under the new regulations, the U.S. Department of Education requires that all online courses and programs for which students may use Title IV funds (federal financial aid) include regular and substantive interaction between students and their instructors. This ruling applies to both synchronous and asynchronous courses, with the primary focus being asynchronous courses. The Department of Education has the authority to audit courses and programs at institutions, like Texas A&M International University, with online offerings.

This course provides for regular and substantive interaction between faculty and students, students and students, and students and content. (C-RAC, OSCQR, QM, SACSCOC, SC)

1. Regular and substantive instructor-to-student expectations and predictable/scheduled interactions and feedback are present, appropriate for the course length and structure, and are easy to find. (OSCQR, SACSCOC, SC)
2. Expectations for all course interactions (instructor to student, student to student, student to instructor) are clearly stated and modeled in all course interactions/communication channels. (OSCQR, SACSCOC, SC)

Online Courses and On-Campus Meetings

Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter J, Section 2.202, defines distance education as the formal educational process that occurs when students and instructors are not in the same physical setting for the majority (more than 50%) of instruction. Distance education includes hybrid and 100% online courses and programs as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB):

• 100-Percent Online Course - A distance education course in which 100 percent of instructional activity takes place when the student(s) and instructor(s) are in separate physical locations. Requirements for on-campus or in-person orientation, testing, academic support services, internships/fieldwork, or other non-instructional activities do not exclude a course from this category.

Course Communication Guidelines (Netiquette)

There are course expectations concerning etiquette or how we should treat each other online. We must consider these values as we communicate with one another. Visit Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ web page on Netiquette for further instruction.

Student Support Resources

The University wishes to have all students succeed in their courses. To provide support to our students, an array of services in the areas of technology support, academic support, student support, and accessibility support may be found at the University. For more information, visit the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services page on University Resources and Support Services.

Computer/Technology Requirements

When participating in distance education courses, it is vital to consider the technology involved in order to have a successful course. Online students will need regular access to a personal computer that runs on a broadband Internet connection.

It is recommended that you meet the technical requirements listed on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage when using the learning management system (LMS) of the University.

Additional Hardware. Recently purchased laptops may have these built-in web cameras.  If you do not have this equipment, it is recommended to purchase a stand-alone webcam, microphone, or a webcam with a built-in microphone from your local electronic store or any online store.

NOTE: Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services may check out available webcams to students on a first-come, first-served basis. To check out a webcam, please stop by Killam Library, Room 259, and request an available webcam.

Additional Software. TAMIU Students may access online versions of this software through their Dusty Office 365 account at https://dusty.tamiu.edu/. This site also provides students access to download the Microsoft suite for educational use. See instructions for downloading the Microsoft Office suite.

Note: Students, if you do not own the required hardware or software or do not have access to the Internet, it will be highly challenging for you to make any progress in this class. However, my goal is to assist you in finding solutions and guide you appropriately most of the required materials can either be found free of charge at TAMIU’s library, classrooms, and available computer labs. Visit Media Services’ web page on the availability of on-campus computer labs. In addition, you may also purchase any of these items at any electronic store.

Learning Management System (Blackboard)

Students are provided with an orientation (*eLearning (Blackboard) Student Orientation*) and access to guides on how to use the Blackboard LMS. Guides may be available at Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services' Student eLearning Tutorial Videos page or by contacting the eLearning team at elearning@tamiu.edu.

Minimum Technical Skills Expected

When participating in distance education courses, it is vital to consider the technology involved in order to have a successful course. Students in distance education should have knowledge of basic computer and Internet skills, as mentioned on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage.

Course Evaluation

At the end of this course, students are encouraged to complete a course evaluation that will be distributed to them via email and through a course link.