Assignment - Reflective Classroom Observations

Assignment: Philosophy Concept Map
Due Date: January 23 (Sections 001/004); January 25 (Section 002)
Link to Word File: http://coe.nevada.edu/ckeeler/SSM/Assignments/PhilosophyConceptMap.doc
Description:

Use concept mapping software to illustrate your philosophy of elementary-level social studies education. Readers of your map should be able to discern what you believe your role as an elementary-level social studies teacher should be. Do NOT include a section that lists the social studies curricular areas, but integrate these areas throughout your map. For each idea, you must explicit state the social studies connection (e.g., “Daily history journals,” “Student-developed rules to support a democratic citizenry”). You may wish to address the following:

Various curricular and thematic areas of the discipline
Anticipated expectations of your students
Preferred styles of teaching and instructional methods
Preferred methods of addressing students’ individualized learning needs
Feelings about interdisciplinary approaches to curriculum and instruction
Assessment perspectives
Personal expectations regarding professionalism and professional development
Examples

Be creative, thorough, detailed, and focused on elementary-level social studies education, integrating the curricular areas throughout your map. Be sure to include your name on your map and to maintain a copy for your portfolio. Turn in a hard copy of your map attached to the assignment expectations (on the other side).

Philosophy Concept Map Grading Rubric

Name: ________________________________________ Course: __458 __658 Section: __001 __002 __004 Total: ___/30

	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	Score
Professionalism of Product
Professional appearance and syntax					Utilizes Inspiration software effectively to visually communicate personal philosophy. Includes graphics and an orderly schema. Free of syntactical errors.	Utilizes Inspiration software effectively to communicate personal philosophy. Includes graphics and an orderly schema. Few syntactical errors.	Utilizes Inspiration software effectively to visually communicate personal philosophy. Few syntactical errors.	Utilizes Inspiration software to visually communicate personal philosophy. Some syntactical errors.	Utilizes Inspiration software to visually communicate personal philosophy. Many syntactical errors.	Does not utilize Inspiration to communicate philosophy.
Creativity
Reflective of individual personality						Detailed map clearly identifies beliefs and preferences of the author. Map includes visual and textual elements unique to the author.	Map clearly identifies beliefs and preferences of the author. Map includes visual and textual elements to the author.	Map clearly identifies beliefs and preferences of the author.	Map identifies some beliefs and preferences of the author.	Map appears to address philosophical compoents that do not align with the author's personality.
Honest									Clearly represents personal philosophy.	Philosophy does not appear to reflect personal beliefs of author.
Content
Description is clear and detailed	Description is clear and detailed both textually and visually. Writing style and tone are consistent with professional expectations. Content includes sufficient detail to inform reader of author's personal philosophy as it relates to elementary social studies education.	Description is clear and detailed both textually and visually. Content includes sufficient detail to inform reader of author's personal philosophy as it relates to elementary social studies education.		Description is clear and detailed both textually and visually. Content includes sufficient detail to inform reader of author's personal philosophy.	Description is clear and detailed both textually and visually.	Description is clear and detailed.		Description is clear.		Description lacks clarity.
Thoroughly addresses philosophy	Philosophy clearly and thoroughly addresses issues of social studies curriculum, instruction, and assessment using research-based contemporary educational practices. Addresses issues of differentiated learners.	Philosophy clearly and thoroughly addresses two of the following educational areas: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Areas address research-based contemporary educational practices.	Philosophy clearly and thoroughly addresses one of the following educational areas: social studies curriculum, instruction, and assessment.		Philosophy clearly and addresses issues of social studies curriculum, instruction, and assessment.		Philosophy addresses issues of social studies teaching and learning.			Philosophy is not clearly communicated or does not address issues of social studies teaching and learning.
Focus on elementary-level social studies education								Focus is clearly and explicitly on elementary-level social studies education.	Focus is on elementary-level social studies education.	Focus is either not on elementary- level or is not on social studies education.
Total											___/30