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MS_ED 402 - Social Contexts of Education

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  The course examines how social contexts as well as how families, schools and the workplace shape individuals;  how individuals' intellectual and interpersonal capacities, preferences, and goals are shaped by their social contexts. The course also examines the societal structures that organize, supply, and channel individual learning experiences.

MS_ED 403 - Childhood and Early Adolescent Development and Learning

• The course provides an overview of developmental concepts from birth into adolescence. It also examines the interplay of biological factors, individual differences, cultural experiences and relationships among cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural aspects of development and learning. Class participants will study major developmental theories and contexts of the construction of these theories as well as the implications for teaching, learning, and the classroom environment.

MS_ED 406 - Research and Analysis in Teaching and Learning I: Discussion and Question Development

• The course aims to help students meet three goals that will advance the progress of the Master's Project and, at the same time, develop skills of questioning and discussion that are useful in many teaching-learning contexts. The three goals include: the formation of a question which the Master's Project will address; a description of the rationale for the question; and the start of a literature review on the topic.

MS_ED 407 - Research and Analysis in Teaching and Learning II: Literature Review and Methodology

• The course is a forum in which to investigate the paradigms and approaches to educational research that participants can utilize in their Master's Projects. Participants discuss and refine their research questions and examine methods of data collection within the framework of research plans they design for their projects. Teacher research and action research are particularly emphasized for practitioner researchers. Participants investigate criteria used to evaluate research relevant to education and experience peer review of their own research.

MS_ED 408 - Research and Analysis in Teaching and Learning III: Analysis, Interpretation, and Dissemination

• The course helps course participants refine the reflective skills required of educators in complex social institutions such as schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations and develop effective problem-identification and -solving approaches. Intensive analysis and discussion of questions encountered in elementary and secondary schools, administrative, higher education, and corporate settings. Students present their Master's Project in this course.

MS_ED 413 - Problems in the Philosophy of Education

• The course explores classical and modern philosophies of education using text interpretation, analysis of ideas and argument construction. Philosophies are applied to educational issues.  Students develop their own philosophy of education in the course. Course participants prepare for and lead discussion about philosophical works.
  

MS_ED 423 - Foundations of Reading and Language Acquisition: Elementary Teaching

• In the course participants will gain an understanding of the cognitive foundations of reading comprehension and their influence on methods of instruction and assessment, as well as the interrelationships between reading processes and language learning.

MS_ED 425 - Foundations of Writing Processes: Elementary Teaching

• The course presents current theory and practice related to writing processes, with emphasis on personal writing experiences, including topic selection, drafting, conferencing, revising, editing, and publishing. Other topics include evaluation, writing in various genres, motivating students to write and management of writing workshops.

MS_ED 426 - Mathematics in the Elementary School from an Advanced View

• The course provides an overview of mathematical topics taught in elementary and middle school. Course participants learn in small groups and reflect on their own and children's learning. Pedagogical contexts for the mathematical concepts are provided. Review of research on children's conceptions of various mathematical topics, leading to a fuller comprehension of teaching and learning mathematics.

MS_ED 427 - Educating Exceptional Children

• Exceptional children have unique characteristics - physiological, intellectual, and social-emotional. The course examines the unique characteristics of exceptional children - physiological, intellectual, and social-emotional, along with etiological factors. The course also examines trends in legislation, educational programming and approaches to instruction for students with disabilities.

MS_ED 428 - Dynamics of Middle School Curriculum

• In the course participants work to understand the dynamic environment of middle schools and young adolescents, and to consider the impact of middle school principles, structures, and practices on classroom learning and instruction.  Course participants will examine the unique characteristics of middle school learning and the educational needs of young adolescent learners, and they will compare and contrast a variety of middle school models, including policy statements, visions and reform proposals.  
  

MS_ED 453 - Methods and Techniques of Teaching: Elementary

• The course introduces teaching and learning strategies that aid students in becoming effective educators in the elementary school setting.  Emphasizing current research, the course is a comprehensive study of teaching methods in the elementary school. Course participants are exposed to the basic methods of teaching mathematics, social studies, and science. Lesson planning and student progress evaluations are key elements of the seminar.

MS_ED 477 - Practicum Seminar: Elementary Teaching

• The teaching practicum encompasses a ten-week period of part-time experience under the direction of two classroom mentors. It is performed two different sites -- urban and suburban, is organized in conjunction with a subject-specific methods tutorial, and is accompanied by a weekly practicum seminar.
  
  The seminar portion of the course is designed to enrich the practicum/observation experience for elementary teaching candidates.  Through whole class and small group discussion, course participants will have opportunities to share their observations, questions, and reflections.  Each week various topics of teaching and learning will be addressed which will help prepare course participants for student teaching.