ED 618

Multicultural Education

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Unit 1

 

Unit 2

 

Unit 3

 

Unit 4

 

Unit 5

 

Unit 6

 

Expert teachers are able to do the following:

By Patricia S. Cunningham
http://music.utsa.edu/tdml/conf-II/II-Cunningham.html

Teacher knowledge is messy, complex, and difficult to learn. Teacher knowledge requires flexibility of application, potential for juxtaposition of seemingly disparate knowledge, and the ability to analyze critically and decide a course of purposeful action. Thinking like an expert teacher demands a new way of thinking. Linear, close-ended, over generalized thinking is not appropriate for the domain of teaching.

1. Avoid oversimplification and over-regularization. Expert teachers recognize the importance of contextualization and synthesis and the danger of reductive biases. While it may be initially attractive, the best teachers do not look for conformity or prescriptions for teaching or learning.
2. Present multiple representations. Any variation on the theme of being able to teach one thing one hundred different ways is connected to this aspect of CFT. Even more so, multiple representations speak to the expert teacher's ability to view the same situation from several perspectives, to analyze each, to design probable scenarios and outcomes, and make informed decisions.
3. Present the centrality of cases. Expert teachers can integrate foci of real-time situations because they are apparent to them.
4. Situate conceptualization. Expert teachers unite conceptual knowledge and knowledge-in-use. There is synergy between theory and practice.
5. Have flexible schema assemble. Expert teachers are able to move from a rigid or fixed schema to a more flexible schema. They do not expect to have all of the answers, but feel confident in developing new and useful schema as needed.
6. Noncompartmentalize concepts and cases. Expert teachers are able to make multiple interconnections.
7. Engage in active participation and provide tutorial guidance. Expert teachers are active participants in the environment. They function as facilitators for the learner's knowledge acquisition.