This course is designed to introduce students to research, including action research, as well as users of research information. The user of research information needs this knowledge base in order to evaluate critically the research of others and to be able to translate available research into plans of action that can be carried out in schools and other professional settings. The course will aid professionals in their abilities to locate research studies, interpret and understand them, and to decipher their symbols and terminology.
This course provides a historical review and philosophical analysis of the basic theories of education. Major emphasis will be on the educational philosophies underlying present practices, curriculum and pedagogy and their implication and application in schools. Historical patterns and events as they relate to education and curricular practices today are covered in this course. The last part of the course is spent analyzing and evaluating the historical and philosophical implications of the topics and ideas covered and determining how they relate to best practice in K-12 classrooms today.
This course provides for a broad study of foundations and principles of curriculum in today’s PK-12 schools. Areas of focus include philosophical, historical, psychological and social foundations of curriculum as well as curriculum design, development, implementation and evaluation. Course includes a review of international curriculum trends and issues.
Does merit pay for teachers improve their students’ performance? Are charter schools more effective than their public school counterparts? Do rewards and punishments facilitate learning? Should a struggling student be held back a grade? Teachers face all of these questions. This course will study these “hot topics “in the field of education. We will separate the truth from the myths and work to answer these and several other thought provoking questions. By studying the latest research in the field of education we will aim to bring clarity to topics that are commonly blurred by heated debates.
This course explores race, ethnicity, and language in American education, along with the teaching theory of differentiated instruction. Additionally, the course intent is to increase student self-awareness related to diversity issues. Prejudices, stereotypes, discrimination, and privilege of diverse cultural groups in relation to schools are explored. Students examine differentiating instruction as a way of better helping students in diverse classrooms. Personal growth through increased awareness, sensitivity, and appreciation for diversity is facilitated.
This course is designed to inspire educators to use instructional technologies that engage students in learning and that enrich teaching to improve student performance. Current and future technology trends in education will be explored. This course will examine practical technology application in learning.
This course requires the completion of a substantial research synthesis project planned and completed under the direction of a graduate faculty mentor. The project allows students to conduct an in depth study of a topic of professional interest related to the selected area of concentration in the Master of Arts in Education program. The project allows students to integrate the theory and perspectives gained in previous courses. As the culminating project for the program, it should demonstrate competence in conducting an extensive research review, wiring professionally, and applying theory to future practice.
Educators interested in integrating individual courses toward a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) model, developing a larger-scale STEM initiative in their school or enhancing an existing STEM program will find value in this course. Learn why STEM matters, the benefits of various STEM models, strategies to overcome challenges associated with a move toward STEM, and what teachers need to know and do to successfully implement STEM initiatives.
This course considers how STEM education can facilitate connections. Planning effective STEM lessons requires educators to consider multiple factors which woven together help ensure lessons have the greatest positive impact. Through the context of planning for STEM lessons, teachers will investigate various models of technology integration, evaluate how the teacher role transforms with STEM education, and investigate the untapped potential in community and in-school resources can be used to support students and teachers who want to transition to STEM education. Additionally, teachers will consider strategies to support students with disabilities and opportunities to embrace and celebrate diversity through STEM education.
This course is designed to help STEM educators move from ideas for STEM implementation to action. STEM lesson ideas and best practices anchored in science, mathematics, engineering are reviewed. Educators in elementary, middle and high school will be prepared to take their classrooms to the next level of STEM via investigation of ideas for STEM implementation in specific grade levels. Finally, best practices for assessing integrated and authentic STEM lessons will be presented to help teachers reflect and revise STEM lessons as they work toward a culture of continuous improvement.
This course takes an exciting look at 21st century themes and concepts. You'll learn tools and techniques that will help you to engage the digital learners in your classroom. Through the development of lesson plans and activities you will gain insight into ways in which you can thoughtfully transform your classroom with meaningful use of technology. You'll have the opportunity to write a lesson plans incorporating 21st century concepts and learn how to use a wiki to house your online content. This course is your guide to building an online environment for your students.
This course will prepare you to take your classroom to the next level using a host of Google tools. You'll learn how to create and share Google documents and spreadsheets online, access your documents from anywhere on any computer, import your existing documents, and organize your work into folders. You'll also be guided through publishing your documents, and you'll learn how to collaborate online with other users in real time. Using Google Earth you'll fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others. Finally, using Google' SketchUp, you'll quickly learn that there's no limit to what you can create.
The digital world can be overwhelming; this course is designed to help teachers explore the online realm in small, manageable bytes. Teachers gain an understanding of a wide variety of online tools to enhance the classroom and instruction. Overall guidance for the new digital learner and in-depth direction for the more advanced will be provided.
Struggling to address learning difficulties prior to special education services? Learn about the innovative model that is sweeping the country, RTI. Response to Intervention (RTI) assists is raising all student achievement and provides an alternative process for student identification, using proven methods and instructional tools/strategies to support the learner.
Filled with the latest information on how the brain learns, this course will energize and inspire! Learn how to teach in a more meaningful, powerful manner. Explore the role of emotion, retention, windows of opportunity, the primacy-recency effect, and much more. Regardless of your grade level, you will find a wealth of usable strategies.
Inquiry learning can be effectively integrated into all classrooms (K-12). Explore the critical ingredients of inquiry and inquiry circles, delving into foundational concepts of comprehension instruction, classroom collaboration, and classroom management as they relate to inquiry success. Join with your students to explore rich content inside and beyond the curriculum — to wonder, question, build knowledge, care, and take action in the world.
How can you engage the disengaged, connect with the disconnected, and reach the growing number of students in your classroom that are considered at-risk? Gain a better understanding of the contributing factors that put your students at risk and arm yourself with strategies to reach and teach this challenging population of students.
Finally, a course specifically designed to help you work with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Explore the following important components: characteristics and types of ASD, the role of assistive technology, intervention models, proven instructional approaches, parent involvement techniques, and available support services
Assessments, grading and the use of data are the focus of this course. Graduate students will also analyze the use of language and how discourse enhances instruction and student motivation. The course includes strategies and techniques piloted in actual classrooms and grounded in solid research. This course will expand your repertoire of teaching strategies and help all students on the road to literacy.
This course provides numerous strategies to assist the struggling student with reading comprehension. The first section of the course will focus on the elementary student providing real life examples and dozens of scenarios/examples demonstrate effective ways to: select the perfect books, model think-alouds, assist students in making important connections, and empower students to have meaningful conversation about the texts they are reading. The second, addresses first and second draft understandings, explores the use of fix-it strategies, collaboration techniques, the use of metaphors to further understanding and the role reflection plays in comprehension for the intermediate and middle school student.
This course will enable teachers of all content areas to teach their students how to be better readers. The strategies in the course text will make the teaching of reading a practical, achievable goal in every subject. This course contains dozens of proven strategies that help students develop their vocabularies, comprehend informational and narrative texts, and engage in meaningful discussions of what they read. In addition to reading strategies, this course also explores critical elements of reading, strategic processing, and the creation of a classroom environment conducive to reading.