Education Pedagogy Minor

Explores philosophical, ethical, historical, and social foundations of education as these approaches relate to educators as change agents in society. Addresses applications in the context of educational communities and emphasizes critical, reflective, values-based, and philosophic decision-making for the development of competent, caring, professionals. Includes an introduction to standards for professional practice and portfolio development. Fall, every year. [Students will complete one-hour guided observations in each of the following areas: Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Special Education. These observations introduce students to different classroom environments and helps them anticipate future clinical field experiences. Campus Only. Course Fee.

Prepares teacher candidates to use instructional and information technologies to support teaching and learning, manage classroom activities, and enhance scholarship and professional growth. Through hands-on activities, students learn to design and implement technology-supported instruction, launch and maintain online resources, develop multimedia instructional materials, and use technology to communicate, solve problems, and engage in lifelong learning.

Prepares teacher candidates to create learning environments that respond to changing global attitudes and enhance the strengths and abilities of diverse learners. These learners include, but are not limited to, students from various cultural, racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds; students with differing life and learning styles; students who are gifted/talented; and students with disabilities. Focuses on the development of teachers’ attitudes toward diverse learners and skills in developing and using multiple instructional strategies and adaptations to ensure that all students learn. Spring, every year.

Studies physical, emotional, intellectual and moral development during adolescence; adjustment to change; peer, adult and institutional influences, relationships and pressure.

This course examines the importance of content area literacy instruction in grades K-12. Students will learn the compelling reasons for linking effective reading, thinking, and writing instruction with subject matter study. Students will investigate strategies for helping K-12 students remember and apply the informational and narrative texts they encounter in all content areas. Research-based strategies for balancing content and reading instruction will be explored as well as lesson planning and assessment. Fall, every year.

Provide the teacher candidate with a solid foundation in the elements of measurement and assessment that are essential components in measuring instruction’s impact on student learning. Teacher candidates focus on the construction and selection of tests that measure student performance relative to intended learning outcomes and standards. Fall, every year. Prerequisite: ED 151.

Students will demonstrate a competency of basic technology integration. The course will allow students to explore a variety of opportunities in the field through activities and classroom observations. Students will be required to complete observations and field experiences with children as related to this course and a culminating project related to field experience teaching. Course fee. Requires Education Department approval, resume, unofficial educational transcripts, and expanded criminal background history. Requires enrollment in the Educator Preparation Program. Pre-requisite: ED 115.