Teaching and Learning (MS)

Summary

Thesis Plan - 34 credits
Alternate Plan Paper - 34 credits
Creative Project - 34 credits

The Master of Science in Teaching and Learning emphasizes improvement of teaching skills and an increased understanding of learners. The program is available to all teachers who wish to broaden their knowledge base, enhance their classroom performance and better serve the needs of learners. It is standards based and includes many of the components necessary for preparation for National Board of Teachers Standards Certification.

The MS in Teaching and Learning is designed around a variety of certificate options,including:

  • Learning Communities and Leadership
  • Culturally Responsive Teaching
  • Educational Technology in the Classroom
  • Instructional Media in the Classroom

This structure provides students with the flexibility to custom design a Masters degree of their choice, choosing from a combination of courses within certificates listed above. Students have the option of completing three certificate options and the research core, or completing two certificate options, the research core, or in consultation with their advisor, selecting nine courses (27 credits) from any of the course options or any 3 courses from their teaching field.

 

Catalog Year

2019-2020

Degree

Master of Science

Total Credits

34

Locations

Online

Accreditation

CAEP

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Apply

Program Requirements

Common Core

KSP 609 or its equivalent is a prerequisite for KSP 610

Designed to provide a learning experience in utilizing techniques and procedures in scholarly writing.

Prerequisites: none

Students will align classroom assessments with state or national standards to develop clear and comprehensive learning targets. Students will design and align several types of assessments to learning targets to increase student learning and motivation. Students will also integrate technology into assessment practices.

Prerequisites: none

This course focuses on the examination of the role of the professional teacher as leader and scholar. Students analyze professional standards and theories for teaching, leading, and scholarship in the 21st Century and assess themselves and their school settings for areas of strength and improvements. Students develop plans for professional growth as well plans to implement changes in schools.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

The research process is one that is complicated, and nonlinear, and very often difficult for students to understand and see its strengths and weaknesses. This course will introduce students to research methodologies as applied to research and evaluation. The course will focus on developing skills and applying different methodologies in a research plan.

Prerequisites: none

Restricted Electives

Choose one area of specialization.

Education Specialization - Choose 21 Credit(s). A total of 34 credits is required for the degree with the Education Specialization.

This course uses experiential, intercultural activities to examine how our own world view impacts the curricular choices we make while teaching. Learners will develop a plan to integrate a multicultural world-view and culturally responsive teaching into their current curriculum.

Prerequisites: none

Improving student achievement through differentiated curriculum and instruction; learning about and applying best practices; teaching for understanding, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making; and accommodating teaching and learning styles.

Prerequisites: none

This course includes in-depth modules presenting various applications for the classroom. Current software applications and hybrids will be explored to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each. This course establishes both theoretical and practical application and integration of technology into the classroom.

Prerequisites: none

This course will provide the students with a philosophical, professional, and practical framework for the integration of computer technology into differentiated instruction in the K-12 classroom using integrated instruction and web-based software. Students will explore learner characteristics, student needs and elements of differentiated instruction and will design and implement differentiated technology-integrated lesson plans.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on the content area classroom and will examine the interaction between first and second language literacy. Students will learn strategies for helping English Learners (ELs) improve reading skills and develop content area literacy.

Prerequisites: none

Students will develop cooperative and collaborative classroom learning communities to address authentic issues through problem-based learning. The course also focuses on effective instructional and assessment approaches that increase student-teacher, student-student, and student-community relationships.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on the various stakeholders involved in educating diverse student populations. Students will become familiar with the culture, norms and assets of the broader community and how they influence student learning. The need and strategies for collaborative practice will be examined.

Prerequisites: none

Students will learn how to develop, lead, maintain, and sustain learning communities focused on increasing student and professional learning and systems thinking. They will assess stages of learning community development in a school setting and develop plans for inclusion of essential elements of effective learning communities.

Prerequisites: none

Students will use theories for organizing and managing curriculum to: align standards with outcomes, curriculum, instruction, and assessment; develop deep curriculum alignment; develop skills for assisting colleagues with aligning school improvements in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to promote a culture of collaboration, inquiry, and student achievement through data informed decision making. Methods of data collection and analysis will be examined and used by students to develop a data driven school improvement plan.

Prerequisites: none

All formats of information technology for educational settings-learning about interactive video, microcomputers, computer networks, Internet, electronic information including bibliographic data bases, electronic newspapers, online encyclopedias, and distance education.

Prerequisites: none

History Specialization - A total of 36 credits is required for the degree with the History Specialization.

Education Electives - Choose 6 Credit(s).

This course uses experiential, intercultural activities to examine how our own world view impacts the curricular choices we make while teaching. Learners will develop a plan to integrate a multicultural world-view and culturally responsive teaching into their current curriculum.

Prerequisites: none

Improving student achievement through differentiated curriculum and instruction; learning about and applying best practices; teaching for understanding, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making; and accommodating teaching and learning styles.

Prerequisites: none

This course includes in-depth modules presenting various applications for the classroom. Current software applications and hybrids will be explored to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each. This course establishes both theoretical and practical application and integration of technology into the classroom.

Prerequisites: none

This course will provide the students with a philosophical, professional, and practical framework for the integration of computer technology into differentiated instruction in the K-12 classroom using integrated instruction and web-based software. Students will explore learner characteristics, student needs and elements of differentiated instruction and will design and implement differentiated technology-integrated lesson plans.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on the content area classroom and will examine the interaction between first and second language literacy. Students will learn strategies for helping English Learners (ELs) improve reading skills and develop content area literacy.

Prerequisites: none

Students will develop cooperative and collaborative classroom learning communities to address authentic issues through problem-based learning. The course also focuses on effective instructional and assessment approaches that increase student-teacher, student-student, and student-community relationships.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on the various stakeholders involved in educating diverse student populations. Students will become familiar with the culture, norms and assets of the broader community and how they influence student learning. The need and strategies for collaborative practice will be examined.

Prerequisites: none

Students will learn how to develop, lead, maintain, and sustain learning communities focused on increasing student and professional learning and systems thinking. They will assess stages of learning community development in a school setting and develop plans for inclusion of essential elements of effective learning communities.

Prerequisites: none

Students will use theories for organizing and managing curriculum to: align standards with outcomes, curriculum, instruction, and assessment; develop deep curriculum alignment; develop skills for assisting colleagues with aligning school improvements in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to promote a culture of collaboration, inquiry, and student achievement through data informed decision making. Methods of data collection and analysis will be examined and used by students to develop a data driven school improvement plan.

Prerequisites: none

All formats of information technology for educational settings-learning about interactive video, microcomputers, computer networks, Internet, electronic information including bibliographic data bases, electronic newspapers, online encyclopedias, and distance education.

Prerequisites: none

History Electives - Choose 16 Credit(s). Complete the 16-credits of electives in the History graduate certificate program.

Psychology Specialization - A total of 36 credits is required for the degree with the Psychology Specialization.

Education Electives - Choose 6 Credit(s).

This course uses experiential, intercultural activities to examine how our own world view impacts the curricular choices we make while teaching. Learners will develop a plan to integrate a multicultural world-view and culturally responsive teaching into their current curriculum.

Prerequisites: none

Improving student achievement through differentiated curriculum and instruction; learning about and applying best practices; teaching for understanding, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making; and accommodating teaching and learning styles.

Prerequisites: none

This course includes in-depth modules presenting various applications for the classroom. Current software applications and hybrids will be explored to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each. This course establishes both theoretical and practical application and integration of technology into the classroom.

Prerequisites: none

This course will provide the students with a philosophical, professional, and practical framework for the integration of computer technology into differentiated instruction in the K-12 classroom using integrated instruction and web-based software. Students will explore learner characteristics, student needs and elements of differentiated instruction and will design and implement differentiated technology-integrated lesson plans.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on the content area classroom and will examine the interaction between first and second language literacy. Students will learn strategies for helping English Learners (ELs) improve reading skills and develop content area literacy.

Prerequisites: none

Students will develop cooperative and collaborative classroom learning communities to address authentic issues through problem-based learning. The course also focuses on effective instructional and assessment approaches that increase student-teacher, student-student, and student-community relationships.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on the various stakeholders involved in educating diverse student populations. Students will become familiar with the culture, norms and assets of the broader community and how they influence student learning. The need and strategies for collaborative practice will be examined.

Prerequisites: none

Students will learn how to develop, lead, maintain, and sustain learning communities focused on increasing student and professional learning and systems thinking. They will assess stages of learning community development in a school setting and develop plans for inclusion of essential elements of effective learning communities.

Prerequisites: none

Students will use theories for organizing and managing curriculum to: align standards with outcomes, curriculum, instruction, and assessment; develop deep curriculum alignment; develop skills for assisting colleagues with aligning school improvements in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to promote a culture of collaboration, inquiry, and student achievement through data informed decision making. Methods of data collection and analysis will be examined and used by students to develop a data driven school improvement plan.

Prerequisites: none

All formats of information technology for educational settings-learning about interactive video, microcomputers, computer networks, Internet, electronic information including bibliographic data bases, electronic newspapers, online encyclopedias, and distance education.

Prerequisites: none

Psychology Electives - Complete the 16-credits of electives in the Psychology graduate certificate program.

Capstone Course

Education Options - Choose 1 Credit(s).

For students completing a Masters degree with the alternate plan option.

Prerequisites: none

For students completing a Master's degree with the creative projects option.

Prerequisites: none

For students completing a Masters or Specialist degree with the using the thesis option.

Prerequisites: none

History Option - Choose 2 Credit(s).

Psychology Option - Choose 1 Credit(s).

This course involves the preparation of a professional portfolio showing the connection of current work related to psychology to content, theories, and / or ideas within the discipline.

Prerequisites: none

Degree Plan

The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 6 Credits

Improving student achievement through differentiated curriculum and instruction; learning about and applying best practices; teaching for understanding, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making; and accommodating teaching and learning styles.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on the various stakeholders involved in educating diverse student populations. Students will become familiar with the culture, norms and assets of the broader community and how they influence student learning. The need and strategies for collaborative practice will be examined.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 6 Credits

This course uses experiential, intercultural activities to examine how our own world view impacts the curricular choices we make while teaching. Learners will develop a plan to integrate a multicultural world-view and culturally responsive teaching into their current curriculum.

Prerequisites: none

Students will use theories for organizing and managing curriculum to: align standards with outcomes, curriculum, instruction, and assessment; develop deep curriculum alignment; develop skills for assisting colleagues with aligning school improvements in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Prerequisites: none

Summer - 6 Credits

Students will align classroom assessments with state or national standards to develop clear and comprehensive learning targets. Students will design and align several types of assessments to learning targets to increase student learning and motivation. Students will also integrate technology into assessment practices.

Prerequisites: none

This course focuses on the examination of the role of the professional teacher as leader and scholar. Students analyze professional standards and theories for teaching, leading, and scholarship in the 21st Century and assess themselves and their school settings for areas of strength and improvements. Students develop plans for professional growth as well plans to implement changes in schools.

Prerequisites: none

Second Year

Fall - 6 Credits

The research process is one that is complicated, and nonlinear, and very often difficult for students to understand and see its strengths and weaknesses. This course will introduce students to research methodologies as applied to research and evaluation. The course will focus on developing skills and applying different methodologies in a research plan.

Prerequisites: none

Students will learn how to develop, lead, maintain, and sustain learning communities focused on increasing student and professional learning and systems thinking. They will assess stages of learning community development in a school setting and develop plans for inclusion of essential elements of effective learning communities.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 4 Credits

Designed to provide a learning experience in utilizing techniques and procedures in scholarly writing.

Prerequisites: none

For students completing a Masters degree with the alternate plan option.

Prerequisites: none

Summer - 6 Credits

This course will focus on the content area classroom and will examine the interaction between first and second language literacy. Students will learn strategies for helping English Learners (ELs) improve reading skills and develop content area literacy.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to promote a culture of collaboration, inquiry, and student achievement through data informed decision making. Methods of data collection and analysis will be examined and used by students to develop a data driven school improvement plan.

Prerequisites: none