Theme & Variations: a content analysis of syllabi in introduction to urban education courses

This qualitative study examines the teaching of urban education in introductory and foundational college courses. The research positions course syllabi as ubiquitous public documents that socialize students into discourse communities, and is framed within theories of social constructivism. An examination of course objectives, course assignments, and core required texts revealed varying levels of consistency in the stated learning outcomes on all (n = 31) syllabi. Overall, five conceptual approaches to introductory courses in urban education emerged: 1) schools and the social order; 2) historical perspective; 3) education policy analysis; 4) professional practice, pedagogy and research persona; and 5) teacher as change agent. Shared organizing features of all syllabi included references to education inequity, social stratification, structural racism, poverty, and social justice; however, the degree of topic emphasis varied substantially. Closer alignment between course objectives and course assignments was identified in two conceptual frameworks: a) schools and the social order and b) education policy analysis. However, minimal alignment between course objectives and assignments was identified on syllabi in c) professional practice, pedagogy; d) teacher as change agent; and e) historical perspective approaches. A review of core texts on the syllabi revealed notable consensus about required titles. Urban education is a field of study inhabited by many different academic disciplines. These findings suggest that for the field’s introductory courses, greater coherence of conceptual approaches and closer alignment of assignments with objectives deserve to be carefully considered.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Campbell, Janis Moore

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Thurman, S. Kenneth

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Smith, Michael W. (Michael William), 1954-
• Davis, James Earl, 1960-
• Schifter, Catherine
• Farley, Frank

• Education
• Teacher education
• Education, Higher
• Course syllabi
• Inter-disciplinary approaches to urban education
• Urban education

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

965642514

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/897