Teaching as a Profession
Instructor: Brenda Straley
Program Description:
What is the goal of education? How do you, individually, learn? How is that different than those around you? And how can we, as a society, structure learning to influence change and become the best versions of ourselves?
We will be asking big questions, having important discussions, and getting excited about the field of education. This is a CTE course designed to help students learn about the role and characteristics of an effective educator. Students will observe and participate with teachers and students in the classroom. Major topics include exploring current teaching methods and instructional strategies, assessments and when/how to use them, how students learn and what instructional strategies can be implemented, and how to assist all learners.
Program Objectives:
- Explore career options and employability skills needed for gaining and maintaining employment in education, licensing, and professional practice.
- Examine different learning preferences and how they relate to student learning.
- Identify effective instructional strategies, and analyze the standard and objectives of a lesson plan.
- Evaluate the role of technology in the classroom
- Understand the role of feedback in the learning process Identify and analyze how culturally responsive teaching meets the needs of diverse learning, and explore landmark court cases and the current impact on the learning environment.
- Understand strategies and methods to manage the learning environment
Costs/Fees:
Brenda graduated with a B.A. from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and her M.Ed from the University of Utah.
My first teaching experience was in a small village in Rukungiri, Uganda, in East Africa. I went on to teach at a therapeutic wilderness program in Montana until I began graduate school. After graduate school, I taught special education for seven years before teaching at Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers. I have taught concurrent enrollment classes for over 13 years and have developed and managed Jordan School District’s Teacher Education Program during that time. I currently serve as an adjunct professor at both Salt Lake Community College and Utah State University. CTE is my passion and I love finding new teaching methods that increase student motivation and learning.
I enjoy spending time hiking, gardening, woodworking, guitar, camping, and traveling off the beaten path with my family. The more obscure, the better as I love a good adventure!
To-Do List for Accepted Students: