Editor’s note: Due to inaccuracies in this story appearing in the April 3 issue of The Baker Orange, a corrected version appears below.

A few courses in Baker University’s School of Education will undergo significant changes in the fall. Some classes will be added to the school’s curriculum, while others will combine content.

Associate Professor of Education Merrie Skaggs said the changes include combining the content of FA 380 and ED 349, which focus on art, music and physical education for elementary teachers, into a new course known as ED 380.

Instead of taking two practicum courses, each requiring 20 classroom hours, students will only have to take one course in which they spend 30 hours in the classroom.

Jessica Miner, a senior education major, said she wasn’t sure how doing 30 hours of practicum in one semester will work.

“I had difficulty sometimes getting 20,” Miner said.

Skaggs said a big part of this decision is because of placement in classes since there are more students than places to put them in many cases.

Public school teachers also are not always willing to share classroom time because they’re conscientious of time constraints and protecting their students’ learning time.

Skaggs said HI 128 U.S. History since 1877 and PS 115 Introduction to American Politics now will be prerequisite classes in social studies for elementary teachers so they know the material before they begin learning how to teach it.

Skaggs said the department also plans to combine class content from ED 356 Classroom Management and ED 250 English Language Learners courses into a new course ED 364, as well as adding an educational technology course ED 365.

The Undergraduate Teacher Education Committee has approved ED 364 and ED 365. <br/>Assistant Professor of Education Karla Wiscombe said she will be teaching these new courses.Assistant Professor of Education Karla Wiscombe said she will be teaching these new courses.
Assistant Professor of Education Karla Wiscombe said she will be teaching these new courses.

Skaggs said if a student already has taken either of these classes, they will not have to take that portion of the course again.

She said if a student has taken one, they will attend the portion of the class dedicated to the other for fewer credit hours.

Hillary Farmer, junior elementary education major, said her only reservations about the changes are fears she has about a loss on the emphasis of classroom management, where students realize who they are as educators and learn to deal with unruly children.

“You see what your personality will be in the classroom,” Farmer said.

Skaggs said the general education courses for ED 100 Teaching as a Career and ED 243 Introduction to Education now will be offered as social sciences general education credits.

Skaggs said the changes come after the Education Advisory Council, made up of Baker professors and other educators, suggested the department take a serious look at the areas affected. The department did extensive research to find specific areas in need of change.<br/>