Focus of Study Options
Curriculum and Instruction
After establishing an environment for diverse learners in the classroom, this focus of study provides ways to enhance the feel of community through collaboration and outreach within the school and beyond, into the surrounding neighborhood.
Differentiated Instruction
Building on classic concepts, the Differentiated Instruction focus of study recognizes how the mental landscape of current learners has been shaped by multimedia, changing how they think and reason when learning. Key components of differentiated instruction are revisited in relation to how new literacies have influenced changes in learner needs. Integrating theory and practice, students create professional learning communities, establish approaches for learner collaboration, and explore current frameworks to deliver content and concepts to meet the wide range of learning needs. Throughout the coursework, students shift perspectives to view differentiation as a scholarly practitioner and academic leaders, shaping instruction to create educational opportunities for 21st century learners.
Digital Learning and Teaching
The focus of study in Digital Learning and Teaching is designed to help educators re-examine technology, student learning, and classroom structure, as well as the roles of teacher and student. The focus of study explores how to design learning environments supported by technology, integrate digital technology into curriculum to maximize student learning, and evaluate emerging technology for personal and professional productivity.
Effective Classroom Management
The focus of study in Effective Classroom Management is designed to help P-12 educators effectively address students’ social, emotional and behavioral concerns. Developed in collaboration with Howard M. Knoff, Ph.D., creator and director of Project ACHIEVE, this program utilizes research-based strategies and best practices for developing effective instructional programs and managing safe, supportive learning environments. Courses focus specifically on Positive Behavior Support Systems (PBSS), social skills instruction, development of student self-management, and the needs of behaviorally challenging students. Current topics such as bullying and cyberbullying are addressed in-depth.
Elementary English Language Arts and Literacy
Designed to support educators in the primary grades, the Elementary English Language Arts and Literacy focus of study prepares teachers to utilize strategies and approaches to engage students in foundational skills required for effective reading and ELA instruction. These include phonology, phonics, and vocabulary development as they relate to comprehension and fluency. Directly related to increasing student performance, principles of learning are integrated with practical approaches to foster reading across disciplines and in a variety of settings and to support skills to adapt teaching and curriculum in English Language Arts.
Mathematics
The focus of study in mathematics prepares educators with the knowledge and skills to adapt teaching and curriculum in the field of math. The coursework uses a discovery model in mathematics to help instructors identify problems in their curricula and adapt these by adding or subtracting information, critiquing scenarios, providing overarching data, and allowing students to create predictive models to test against the gathered data to determine accuracy. The courses are crafted to enhance teaching strategies while modeling intellectual processes essential for solving real-world problems.
Science
The Science focus of study prepares K-16 teachers in pedagogy, andragogy, multiple intelligence theory, social learning theory, exchange theory, and the utilization of digital resources to foster the innovative engagement of diverse learners associated with integrated science programs. The courses offer a holistic overview of historical and current issues and trends impacting integrated science education while cultivating research-based strategies to improve student learning. The courses are sequenced to provide the educator of an integrated curriculum with the technological and didactic skill sets required for empowering 21st century learning in a global, digital society.
Secondary English Language Arts and Literacy
Designed to support educators at the secondary level, the Secondary English Langue Arts and Literacy focus of study prepares teachers to utilize foundational skills to influence the selection of strategies and instructional approaches aligned to secondary student needs. Consideration is given to the range of abilities found at the middle and high school levels which vary with background experience, prior instruction, and language barriers. Directly related to increasing student performance, practical approaches to foster reading across disciplines and in a variety of settings are integrated with skills required for content, real-life application, and readiness for future learning. Educators are prepared to integrate ELA applications to support student learning across disciplines.
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