Middle Level Teacher Education: Social Justice Teaching & Adv

Examines social justice issues in education and explores what it means to engage in social justice teaching and advocacy. Critically examines the roles of power, oppression, and privilege in education as students strive to envision ways to disrupt injustice and create a better, more just educational system. Prerequisite: Graduate student or Instructor permission.

Mix of asynchronous and synchronous online; Synchronous online meetings every other Thursday 4:35-6:05 Open to degree and PACE students

In this course, we will examine social justice issues in education and explore what it means to engage in social justice teaching and advocacy. Together we will critically examine the roles of power, oppression, and privilege in education as we strive to envision ways to disrupt injustice and create a better, more just educational system. Since social justice teaching and advocacy necessitate inner work, we will also reflect on our educational experiences and beliefs, engaging in learning and “unlearning” related to social justice issues, especially as they relate to education. This class will be largely guided by discussion, collaboration, and project-based learning. Course assignments will ask you to critically analyze cases of injustice in education, engage in and reflect on unlearning connected to your social identity, plan a social justice learning experience, and engage in social justice advocacy within your sphere of influence.

This course is offered fully online with asynchronous work to be completed each week and synchronous meetings approximately every other week.

This course is proficiency-based and grades are based on student performance in relation to specific learning objectives, which will be assessed at specific intervals using a portfolio of student work.