EDUC 606 - Critical Persp on Identity & Soc Systems

3 credit(s)
Through the lenses of historical, cultural, social, philosophical, financial, legal, and ethical perspectives, this course uses systems theory to examine issues of schooling. Students explore social identity markers such as race, ability, gender, socioeconomic class, special education status, sexual orientation, language, and immigration, and develop awareness of how their own backgrounds and positionalities influence who they are as teachers. Through developing awareness of positionality and social context, the course calls attention to the teacher’s responsibility to understand difference in order to engage in equitable teaching practices and pedagogy. Critical questions addressed in this course: How do I understand myself in relation to society and the needs of others within the context of a learning community? How can I use my position as a teacher to become an advocate for all students? How does my understanding of equity affect my choices and those that schools make for meeting the needs of all students?