Orelia Jonathan
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor in Education
Current and upcoming courses
Foundations of Education: An Introduction to Major Themes, Controversies, and Theories in the Field
EDUC212
This course introduces students to the central themes and big questions in education. What is the purpose of education? For whom are schools and teaching methods imagined? What is the role of family and communities in the experience and process of teaching and learning? How should we structure schools and classrooms? What are the political controversies, challenges, and issues of power facing young people and schools? A case study format that focuses on past and current events will allow students to tackle these complex questions in a transdisciplinary way with concrete examples that aid in the development of critical inquiry skills. Together, students will develop informed opinions, make sense of their own educational journeys, and learn the reflexivity necessary to enter the field of education.
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Ivory Towers and Public Good? The Role of Higher Education in Society
EDUC242
This course examines the historical development, contemporary function, and societal role of higher education in the United States. By analyzing the evolving purposes of universities, the institutional structures that shape them, and their relationships with broader society, students will explore critical questions regarding the obligations of higher education institutions. Topics include the impact of universities on social mobility, knowledge production, and civic engagement; the tension between academic freedom and social responsibility; and the historical shifts in access, governance, and institutional priorities. Through engagement with primary and secondary sources, policy debates, and case studies, students will develop an understanding of how higher education both shapes and is shaped by social, political, and economic forces.