Dr. Tony Petrosino
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Knowing and Learning
EDC 371 (08040)

Time: Tuesday/Thursday 11-12:15 AM
Room: SZB 316

Personal Information

Dr. Anthony Petrosino
Assistant Professor
Email: ajpetrosino@mail.utexas.edu
Sanchez Building, Room 462-A Office: 512-232-9681 Fax: 512-471-8640

The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712

Office Hours: Tuesday 3-5PM or by appointment

Additional Requirements: Students must use a word processor, e-mail and have access to a web browser. If these requirements cannot be fulfilled, please see instructor.

Required Materials:

How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (HPL)
John D. Bransford (Editor), Ann L. Brown (Editor), Rodney R. Cocking (Editor),
Hardcover - 346 pages
ISBN: 0309065577
National Academy Press
Pub Date: 1999
Available online at: http://www.nap.edu/html/howpeople1/notice.html

Schools For Thought: A Science of Learning in the Classroom (SFT)
John T. Bruer
ISBN: 0-262-02352-0
MIT Press: Bradford Books
Pub Date: 1993

Description: This course focuses on issues of what it means to learn and know science and mathematics. What are the standards for knowing we will use? How is knowing and learning structured and how does what we know change and develop? For the science and mathematics educator, what are the tensions between general, cross-disciplinary characterizations of knowing (e.g. intelligence) and the specifics of coming to understand powerful ideas in mathematics and science? What are the links between knowing and developing in learning theory, and the content and evolution of scientific ideas.

1. Course Expectations

a) Prepare for and participate in class discussion (actual and virtual discussions) and class work.

b) Completion of 4 mini Clinical Interviews with an expert/novice paring on a topic (satisfactory completion of 3 interviews worth 100 points).

c) Class Attendance: Class attendance is vital to the success of any course. Regular attendance is expected with no more than 2 unexcused absences from class for the semester. Violation of the attendance policy can result in no credit for the course.

d) Three Exams (100 points each)

2. Grading Policy

To receive an A:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a and c and 360 or more points from Course Expectations b and d.

To receive a B:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a and c, and 320 - 359 points from Course Expectations b and d.

To receive a C:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a and c and 280 - 319 points from Course Expectations b and d.

To receive a D:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a and c, and 260 - 279 points from Course Expectations b and d.

To receive an F:

Satisfactory completion of Course Expectations a and c, and 259 or less points from Course Expectations b and d.

3. Syllabus

Tuesday January 20 - Introduction to Course

Thursday January 22 - A New Theory of Learning

HPL: pp. 3-27

Tuesday January 27 - A New Theory of Learning

SFT: pp.1-18
HPL: 3-27

Thursday January 29 - The Science of Mind-Tasks and Representations

SFT: pp. 19-50
The Balance Beam Task

Tuesday February 3 - The Science of Mind--Tasks and Representations

SFT pp. 19-50

Thursday February 5 - Modeling Problem Solving - Hobbits and Orchs

Classroom Activity (Lab)

Tuesday February 10 - How Experts Differ From Novices

HPL: pp.31-50
SFT: pp. 51-79

Thursday February 12 - How Experts Differ from Novices

HPL: pp.31-50
SFT: 51-79

Tuesday February 17 - Learning and Transfer

HPL:pp.51-78
SFT: pp51-79

Thursday February 19 - The Design of Learning Environments

HPL: 131-154

Tuesday February 24 - TEST1 (100 points)

Thursday February 26 - How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful

Jasper Activity

Tuesday March 2 - CLINICAL INTERVIEW DUE (33 points)

        How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful
        SFT: pp.81-126

Thursday March 4 - How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful

SFT: pp.81-126
HPL: pp.164-172

Tuesday March 9 - How People Learn: Mathematics Instruction: Making it Meaningful

SFT: pp.81-126
HPL: pp.164-172

Thursday March 11 - Classroom Activity: Modeling Elbows

Tuesday March 16 - SPRING BREAK

Thursday March 18 - SPRING BREAK

Tuesday March 23 - How People Learn: Science Instruction

SFT: pp.127-171

Thursday March 25 - How People Learn: Science Instruction

SFT: pp.127-171
HPL:pp.172-189

Tuesday March 30 - How People Learn: Science Instruction

SFT: pp.127-171
HPL:pp.172-189

Thursday April 1 - TEST 2 (100 points)

       Teacher Learning
       HPL: 190-205

Tuesday April 6 - CLINICAL INTERVIEW DUE (33 points)

        Teacher Learning
        HPL: 190-205

Thursday April 8 - Rethinking the foundations of Assessment

Tuesday April 13 - Classroom Activity: HPL Assessment Tool

Thursday April 15 - Technology to Support Learning

HPL:pp.206-230

Tuesday April 20 - Technology to Support Learning

HPL:pp.206-230

Thursday April 22 - Assessment in Practice

Tuesday April 27 - CLINICAL INTERVIEW DUE (34 points)

        Assessment in practice
         KWSK 221-260

Thursday April 29 - Assessment: Formative and Summative

HPL: pp.233-247

Tuesday May 1 - Test 3 (100 points)

Academic Integrity

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from The University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of The University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

University of Texas at Austin > College of Education > Dept of Curriculum and Instruction > Math and Science Education