INTEGRATED GEOGRAPHY FOR SOCIAL STUDIES AND

SCIENCE TEACHERS
ED 738 – Section 400
Three credit hours
Summer II 2010
University Center of Greenville
M-Th, 9:00 – 10:55, Room 506 and On-line
Note: Blended Class Meetings

The Mission of the Eugene T. Moore School of Education is to prepare caring and
capable professionals through intellectually engaging experiences in theory, method,
and research that connect them to the communities in which they live and serve.

Academic Integrity Policy

“As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited Thomas Green
Clemson’s vision of this institution as a ‘high seminary of learning.’ Fundamental to this
vision is a mutual commitment to truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, without which
we cannot earn the trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that academic
dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate
lying, cheating, or stealing in any form.”

If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, you must notify the
professor in writing during the first week of classes. It is University policy to provide,
on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who
have disabilities. Students are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services to
discuss their individual needs for accommodation.

Students at Clemson are expected to wait 15 minutes if an instructor is late. I will

notify you if at all possible if I will be late to a class meeting.

Please Note: Products from your work in this class may be included as evidence in the
School of Education Assessment System.

Instructor: Ron Knorr, PhD

Office location: 207 MAT Office –
University Center
Phone: 864.360.0082
Email: rknorr@clemson.edu
Office Hours 30 minutes before and after
face-to-face classes and by
appointment

Course co-requisites:
Admission to MAT program, or instructor’s permission. Knowledge of pedagogical
techniques from educational psychology (specifically, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Gardner’s
Multiple Intelligences, and other learning theories/techniques applicable to early
adolescents). It is assumed you are proficient in World and US Geography.

Knorr ED 738 INT GEOG-SOCST & SCI Summer II 2010 1 of 4 05/24/10

SYALLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Required materials (3):
1) Summary of Geography for Life http://www.hawaii.edu/hga/Standard/Standard.html
2) State Standards for Science and/or Social Studies for Grades 6-8 – Available from the
SC Department of Education website http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Standards-and-
Learning/Academic-Standards/old/cso/
3) Required Website: http://www.learner.org/workshops/geography/index.html

Required articles and other resources:

1) Content Area Textbooks in Social Studies and/or Science (for reference)
2) Articles and other resources will be posted on the internet and assigned to provide help
and clarity for course materials and assignments, as needed (check daily).

Course description:
This section of ED 738 is a special topics course. The special topic for this class section
is Integrating Geography into the SC Middle Grades Curriculum in Science and/or Social
Studies. This class focuses on both the content area and applicable pedagogy for
instruction of that content, with an emphasis on the use of appropriate technology. It is a
blended course requiring internet access.

Objectives:
The objectives of this course are to provide the content knowledge of geography, along
with pedagogical techniques and understanding, in order to teach the subject in a manner
appropriate for middle school.

Instructional strategies employed:

Discussion, reflection, critical reading, presentation, and lecture.

Assessment strategies employed:

Presentations, projects, mid-term examination, final examination, class participation.
NOTE: Late assignments will be penalized 10% of the grade for each day late.

Technology, equipment, or skills required:

You should check your Clemson e-mail every day and before coming to class. For
reading class resources and communication, internet access, your Clemson e-mail
account, and the ability to read PDF files (Adobe Reader or compatible) are required.
For exams and other document submissions, Word compatible files are required. For
class presentations, PowerPoint is suggested, but is not required. Other technology may
be required as well.

Attendance policy (For Face-to-Face Classes):

This class is a graduate-level, compacted summer course. In order to receive an “A” in
this course, you are expected to attend every class session. Exceptions, of course, will be
made for those students who need to miss class for extreme and documented
emergencies. In such a case, you must complete a make-up assignment in order to catch
up on the material discussed. If such an emergency occurs, please let me know as soon as
possible.

Knorr ED 738 INT GEOG-SOCST & SCI Summer II 2010 2 of 4 05/24/10

SYALLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Assignments at a Glance:

Weight

Postings/Class/Lab Participation 25
Mid-term Assessment 20
Unit Presentations (2) 30
Summary Project 25

Grading Scale out of 100 total points:

A: 92%-100%
B: 85%-91%
C: 75%-84%
D: 70%-74%
F: <70%

Assignment Details:
Postings/Lab/Class Participation: Preparation for class participation consists of
attendance and engaged and critical reading outside class (see reading for discussion).
Active involvement in internet postings, computer labs, classroom discussions, listening,
and respectful attention during classroom discussions are illustrated by the student’s input
in our daily discussions. Participation grades are in my sole judgment of your class
participation, as measured weekly, of your active engagement in our classroom
discussions.

To foster understanding, promote critical thinking, encourage personal interaction,

and to illustrate respect for your class, please refrain from the use of laptops and
cell phones during face-to-face lectures, discussions, and presentations, except as
indicated by your professor.

Mid-term Assessment: The mid-term assessment consists of essay questions to measure

the student’s knowledge of integrating and teaching geography in the content areas. I will
give additional directions on a separate sheet.

Unit Presentation: Each student will present two lessons during the course (on the days
of his/her own choosing) on that week’s class topic. The lesson must address one or
more State Department of Education Standards, applicable to that week’s topic.
Additionally, the lesson must utilize learning theories applicable to early adolescents,
embedded in the lesson. A written lesson summary is required, along with a copy of any
PowerPoint slides used. The presentation should last 20-30 minutes. I will give additional
directions on a separate sheet.

Summary Project: Each student will present individually, or as part of a team, an

original research assignment on an aspect of geography , reflecting investigation and
application of the topic and providing educational content in alignment with state
standards for teaching content. I will give additional directions on a separate sheet.

Knorr ED 738 INT GEOG-SOCST & SCI Summer II 2010 3 of 4 05/24/10

SYALLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 Course Schedule
Reading for
Date # Class Topic Assignment Homework Location
Discussion

Introduction
6/30 1 See Blog/ e-mail See Blog/ e-mail Course Bio Internet
to the Course
Introduction Standards
7/1 2 See Blog/ e-mail See Blog/ e-mail Internet
to Standards Assignment
7/5 Holiday No Class Discussion Prep
6 Themes of
7/6 3 See Blog See Blog Discussion Prep UCG
Geography - I
6 Themes of
7/7 4 See Blog See Blog Discussion Prep UCG
Geography - II
7/8 5 Lab/Guest Day See Blog See Blog Discussion Prep UCG
7/12 6 Intro to Geo. See Blog Workshop 1 Discussion Prep Internet
7/13 7 Latin America See Blog Workshop 2 Discussion Prep Internet
7/14 8 N. America See Blog Workshop 3 Discussion Prep Internet
7/15 9 Presentations UCG
7/19 10 Mid-Term Exam Internet
7/20 11 N. Africa/SE Asia See Blog Workshop 4 Discussion Prep Internet
7/21 12 Sub. Africa See Blog Workshop 5 Discussion Prep Internet
7/22 13 Russia See Blog Workshop 6 Discussion Prep Internet
7/26 14 Presentations UCG
7/27 15 Europe See Blog Workshop 7 Discussion Prep Internet
7/28 16 Global Impact See Blog Workshop 8 Discussion Prep Internet
7/29 17 South Carolina See Blog Workshop 9 Discussion Prep Internet
8/2 18 Presentations UCG
8/3 19 Projects UCG
8/4 20 Final Exam Internet

Note – We will not meet Sat. July 10, as is stated in the university calendar.

Knorr ED 738 INT GEOG-SOCST & SCI Summer II 2010 4 of 4 05/24/10

SYALLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE