Overview
EDUC 201: The Profession of Teaching is an introductory level, three-credit course that provides those interested in becoming teachers with a general and balanced overview of the profession. You will look closely at what teachers do and how they do it, and in the process you, as a prospective teacher, will gain a better grasp of the reality of classroom teaching.
Outline
EDUC 201 consists of twelve units, each of which examines a particular aspect of teaching:
- Unit 1: Laying the Groundwork
- Unit 2: What Should We Teach?
- Unit 3: Being in Charge
- Unit 4: Teaching
- Unit 5: Learning
- Unit 6: Inclusion
- Unit 7: Indigenous Education
- Unit 8: Planning for Teaching and Learning
- Unit 9: Assessment
- Unit 10: Computers and the Classroom
- Unit 11: Issues in Education
- Unit 12: The Complexity, Challenges, and Rewards of Teaching
Evaluation
To receive credit for EDUC 201 you must complete all of the assignments and achieve a minimum course composite grade of D (50 percent), and a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the final examination. The weightings for each of these activities are as follows:
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| Assignment 1 | 15% of final grade | End of Unit 4 |
| Assignment 2 | 25% of final grade | End of Unit 6 |
| Assignment 3 | 20% of final grade | End of Unit 9 |
| Final Examination | 40% of final grade | End of all units |
| Total | 100% | |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Beauchamp, L., & Parsons, J. (2000). Teaching from the Inside Out. Edmonton AB: Duval House.
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Beauchamp, L., McConaghy, G., Parsons, J., Sanford, K., & Ford, D. (2000). Teaching from the Outside In. Edmonton AB: Duval House.
Stamp, R. (Ed.) (2005). My Most Memorable Teacher: 100 Stories Celebrating 100 Years of Alberta Teaching Excellence. Calgary: Red Deer Press.
Gish, S. (1994). Mr. Gish, May I Go to the Bathroom? My First Year as a High School Teacher. Port Angeles WA: Deer Park Publications. (PDF)
Other Materials
The course materials include a study guide, course manual, with online readings.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for EDUC 201 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
Challenge for credit course registration form