Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus

Prison Education: Past, Present and Future

INSTRUCTOR: Jeffrey Woo, EdD

INSTRUCTOR's Contact Information: jw4739@hotmail.com

FEBRUARY 8th, 2015-APRIL 30th, 2015

SPRING 2015

We are happy that you are joining us in this course.  I hope that we can explore this topic with your colleagues in this course using cooperative and collaborative teaching and learning styles.  My name is Jeffrey Woo and I am excited to be your course's instructor.  To earn my Doctor of Education degree, I wrote a doctoral dissertation on the examination of the prison education and its effect the participants (personally, socially and professionally) in the prison education programs.  This dissertation is available here in this course and please read it at your convenience!  I think this course should not only use for this classroom learning but also to raise the awareness on the importance of the prison education in the United States in the reduction of the general prison population to a great extent.  In doing so, to give the inmates "hope" they need in the post-incarceration personal, family and professional lives.

In the course, I will be delivering prepared lecture notes and I will have links pertaining to the Historic moments of prison reform and prison education.  I believe in learning in a collaborative and cooperative learning environment in this course.    We are going to explore the history of prison education and reforms in the U.S. and other parts of the world as well as the Present and Future. 

This course is not a comprehensive study of the Prison Education subject but rather it is to give, at best, an overview of this topic!  This course is open to everyone!  Any students with experiences in the prison education programs, your perspectives are truly valued and you can help contribute to the learning experience in the course with your Voice! 

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. To gain an understanding of an historic overview of Prison Education.

2. The goal/objectives of the Prison Education in both historical and current perspectives.

3. To gain an understanding of the Prison Education's major historical moments and its significance.

4. Through Collaborative Learning, the students will participate in group discussion forums.

5. Using Critical Thinking skills, the students will write and submit written assignments that will help them analyze and to use sources to support their points.

6. To raise the awareness of the importance of Prison Education in the correctional facilities is crucial in reducing the likelihood of recidivism.

7. Finally, at Lucky #7, just enjoy the joy of learning in our classroom!

Please note that the weekly Lecture Notes are in the Announcement section.

TEXTBOOKS: None (Lecture notes and links will be provided).  Most of the Lecture Notes come from my published dissertation.  Here is an attachment of my dissertation: JEFFREYWOODISSSERTATION_Dec.4-13 (1).pdf.  Most of the Lecture Notes for this course are derived from the Dissertation and the course formulate around this published book.  Therefore, the Dissertation can be the course's textbook.

 

COURSE AND GRADE REQUIREMENT:  PASSING MARK-65%

A.) Two (2) writing assignments=60%, 30% maximum for each writing assignment.  This must be submitted before the deadline in order to gain full credit.

B.) Group Discussion Forum participation=40%, every student must post their response AND respond to at least two other students' posts for each week.

For those who don't want to attend the course's written assignments and/or participate in the group discussion forums are welcome to do so!

 

Modules List

WEEK 1: (February 11th, 2015-February 17th, 2015)

Introduction to the Course, Overview of Assignments, Grading requirement, and Course Learning Objectives

ASSIGNMENT #1 (DUE March 7th, 2015-SUNDAY) Topic-Why is Prison Education is so important?

WEEK 2: (February 18th, 2015-February 24th, 2015)

A close (statistical) look of the Prison Reform and Prison Education Programs

ASSIGNMENT #2 (DUE March 14th, 2015-SUNDAY) Topic-Discuss the significances of the Attica Prison Riot

WEEK: 3: (February 25th, 2015- March 3rd, 2015)

Major Historical Moments of Prison Reform and Prison Education

WEEK 4: (March 4th, 2015-March 10th, 2015)

 Is the Prison Education worth it?  The Success (and Failure) of Prison Education

WEEK 5: (March 11th, 2015-March 17th, 2015)

Prison Education: Past, Present and Future

 

INSTRUCTOR"S COURSE COMMENTS AND MESSAGE:

All students who completed all assignments and participated in the Group Discussion activities, they will be awarded a Certificate of Completion sign by the course instructor!  However, for all those who wish to gain pertinent information from this course's Lecture Notes and not participate in this course's class works are also welcome in this class!

This course is intend to not only for learning and teaching purposes but to raise the general public awareness on the Importance of Prison Education in correctional facilities.

SPECIAL NOTE: Notice the end of the course's Lectures end March 17th, 2015 but the course will be open until to April 30th, 2015.

If you have any questions, comments, and/or feedbacks, please don't hesitate to contact me at my email address: jw4739@hotmail.com.  I hope you will have a wonderful learning experience in this course!  Happy Learning!!!