Instructor: Anna Marie Frank, Ed. D.
Office: Meyer Recreation Center #128
Telephone: (773) 325-1689
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1-3:00

NO REQUIRED TEXT

Suggested Text: DANCE A WHILE. Harris, Pittman, & Waller Macmillan Publishers, 6th edition, 1988.
                           (not available in bookstore)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to introduce the student to the fundamental skills, techniques, terminology, and teaching principles necessary to teach both Folk and Social dance in a school setting. Content is devoted to the study and understanding of numerous cultures through dance as an expression of the people of those cultures.
 

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

To support the Urban Professional Education Model that informs the Physical Education Program knowledge base, the following program objectives are relevant to this course. A future urban professional multicultural educator will:

• Identify the role of social forces in determining the purpose, content, and arrangement of the educational enterprise of Western Society and to recognize trends and developments in education in the context of ethnic concerns in a pluralistic society.
• Understand human development and human behavior and the relationship of both to formal and informal teaching and learning.
• Understand and respect individuals with respect to difference in attitudes, values, and needs.
• Understand the needs of developmentally diverse children including those with special needs, and recognize the conditions which require assistance from other professionals.
• Be aware of the need for safety and the prevention of injuries in all aspects of physical education.
• Be aware of value issues and the existence of codes of ethics in professional life.
• Understand cultural diversity as it applies to working with and communicating with families within various communities.
• Be familiar with educational concepts, language, and methodologies as reflected in professional publications.
• Develop a strong respect for and loyalty to the teaching profession by studying education's critics and attending professional meetings.

At the completion of this course students will:

• Appreciate the importance of folk and social dance as an integral part of the physical education curriculum and how dance can be used to integrate other areas of the school curriculum.

• Understand the significance that dance has had as part of every culture as a reflection of the human condition, while being introduced to many different cultures as they learn a variety of Folk dances.

• Appreciate dance as a form of exercise and socialization.

• Become proficient at a wide variety of dance steps and become competent in dance instruction in order to teach dance at all grade levels, early elementary through secondary. Cueing dances and using instructional cues throughout dances will be focused and practiced by students.

• Become familiar with the basic choreography required to create and perform an original dance or dance production.

• Acquire knowledge of dance terminology, progression, dance injuries, music, and the use of dance in order to become an effective physical education teacher.

EVALUATION SUMMARY:        Majors         Non-majors

1. Attendance:                             100 pts         100 pts

2. Teaching:                                 100pts

3. Assignments:                          100 pts

4. Skill:                                         100 pts         100 pts

5. Cognitive:                                 100 pts         100 pts
 

ATTENDANCE:

Attendance and active participation are required as part of this activity course. Each student will start the quarter with 100 points. Failure to attend class will result in the loss of five points. Failure to participate in class will result in the loss of three points, tardiness, inappropriate behavior or lack of effort result in the loss of one point.

SKILL PERFORMANCE:

Each student will be required to successfully demonstrate each of the basic dance steps presented in class and perform several dances. A practical exam will be given during the final week of the term. Skill will be assessed in four different area; knowledge of dance steps, rhythm, styling, and ability to adjust to other dancers while dancing.

TEACHING:

Each physical education major will be required to effectively teach a dance lesson to the class. The specific dance taught by the student will be pre approved by the instructor after discussion with each student. A written lesson plan must be reviewed with the instructor prior to teaching the lesson. Students must be able to cue the dance as the class practices the dance being taught. The cultural significance of the dance and information related to the country of origin should be presented as part of the lesson. Suggestions for integration of other areas of the curriculum should also be included.

ASSIGNMENT:

Each physical education major will be required to complete a unit plan of instruction on dance for a specific grade level. This unit plan is due the last week of the term. Specific requirements of the unit plan will be outlined on a separate page.

COGNITIVE:

One written exam will be given during the final week of the quarter to test the students' knowledge of dance steps, terminology, instructional strategies and use of dance in physical education.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

Several methods of instruction will be used throughout this course: mirror imaging, exploration, modeling/demonstration, whole group direct instruction, in class independent group work, peer teaching and review, mini presentations, and guest presenters. All students will use mirror imaging with music of their choice to warm up the class.