Courses
The Master of Science in Education with Specializations in Teaching and Learning And Exceptional Student Education are offered in: Kingston, Manchester, and St. James
Teaching and Learning:
Each course is offered on weekends: 5:00pm-9:00pm on Fridays and 9:00am-5:00pm on Saturdays.
Courses also require that readings be accomplished in advance, with additional assignments due after on-site classes meet. Additional interaction with faculty occurs via email.
Exceptional Student Education:
Each course is offered on weekends: 5:00pm-9:00pm on Fridays and 9:00am-5:00pm on Saturdays.
Courses also require that readings be accomplished in advance, with additional assignments due after on-site classes meet. Additional interaction with faculty occurs via email.
Teaching and Learning course description:
- Educational Research for Practitioners (3 credits)
This course emphasizes the skills needed by school-based practitioners in accessing, reviewing and utilizing research. These skills include the use of bibliographic databases, interpreting published research for applications in the classroom, developing objectives for evaluating applied research projects, and collecting and analyzing classroom data. The course also covers the sources of published research and data-gathering techniques unique to elementary and secondary education.
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- Technology and the School Curriculum (3 credits)
This course examines the role of technology in the curriculum and its impact on school change. Research on the design of computer aided instruction and computer utilization in the K-12 classroom will be explored. Methods of educational software evaluation, selection, and acquisition are introduced. Students will apply the modern technologies and principles of curriculum development in producing programs of instruction.
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- Psychological Foundations in Education (3 credits)
This course establishes a psychological foundation for teaching. Developmental theories, diversity, approaches to instruction, differentiation, exceptional students, and assessment are studied and practiced. Emphasis is placed on the implications of developmental processes for the
design of appropriate curriculum and instruction.
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- Curriculum and Instruction (3 credits)
Using the principles of curriculum development and related research, students will develop a plan for a unit of instruction, including a needs assessment, use of resources, implementation specifications, and assessment of instructional effectiveness. In addition, this course covers the topics above as they apply specifically to the participant's area of specialization.
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- Student Evaluation (3 credits)
This course emphasizes the practical skills in student evaluation required for curriculum planning in the classroom and the school. Areas covered include understanding of content measured by state achievement tests, reading and interpreting data, and using data to improve student achievement. Emphasis will also be placed on the development of effective teacher-made tests, the utilization of standardized test results in the development of intervention and remediation strategies for both individuals and groups of students, and recommended instruments and alternative practices for the assessment of multicultural students.
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- Classroom Management and Organization (3 credits)
This course assists students in integrating teaching methods, principles of curriculum development and evaluation, and methods for dealing with student behavior into a cohesive, well-managed educational program. The course also covers techniques for communicating with parents and methods for working effectively within the school's administrative structure.
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- Survey of Exceptionalities of Children and Youths (3 credits)
This course provides students with fundamental information on the history, laws, policies, and practices in exceptional student education and on specific categories of exceptionality, including definitions, prevalence, causes, assessment techniques, educational treatments strategies, and current and future trends in the field of exceptional student education.
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- Contemporary Foundations of Reading (3 credits)
Students will become familiar with current theories of learning as related to reading at the elementary and secondary levels with an emphasis upon learning styles, cognitive development models, and computer-based learning experiences in reading. Adaptive instruction as it applies to meeting individual needs will also be explored.
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- School and Society (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to examine various K-12 educational systems in the global society as we enter the 21st Century. Students will be asked to compare schooling in various societies and examine how the educational systems are organized to meet political, social and economic agenda of the 21st Century. Students will recommend strategies to ensure capacity and compliance of their home systems. Students will also appraise their own educational systems within the global educational community with ramifications for standards, development and curriculum alignment. Research and presentation skills as well as the use of technology will be emphasized.
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- School Leadership (3 credits)
Students will explore and demonstrate knowledge of basic theories of leadership, change process, group dynamics, and motivation.
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- Applied Research Practicum - Part 1 (3 credits)
Part One: Participants will examine both the art and science of professional development for educators. Teachers will engage in analysis of current classroom issues and challenges to explore and practice action research methods as a logical extension of classroom instruction. Integral to the process will be the development of Action Research Project proposal project design. Concurrently, participants will engage in reflective insight in the context of personal professional development and growth.
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- Applied Research Practicum - Part 2 (3 credits)
Part Two: Participants will examine both the art and science of professional development for educators. Teachers will engage in analysis of current classroom issues and challenges to explore and practice action research methods as a logical extension of classroom instruction. Integral to the process will be the development of Action Research Project proposal project design. Concurrently, participants will engage in reflective insight in the context of personal professional development and growth, and will initiate organization and development of the comprehensive professional portfolio.
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Exceptional Student Education course description:
- Educational Research for Practitioners (3 credits)
This course emphasizes the skills needed by school-based practitioners in accessing, reviewing and utilizing research. These skills include the use of bibliographic databases, interpreting published research for applications in the classroom, developing objectives for evaluating applied research projects, and collecting and analyzing classroom data. The course also covers the sources of published research and data-gathering techniques unique to elementary and secondary education.
Back to top^
- Technology and the School Curriculum (3 credits)
This course examines the role of technology in the curriculum and its impact on school change. Research on the design of computer aided instruction and computer utilization in the K-12 classroom will be explored. Methods of educational software evaluation, selection, and acquisition are introduced. Students will apply the modern technologies and principles of curriculum development in producing programs of instruction.
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- Survey of Exceptionalities of Children and Youth (3 credits)
This course will provide students with fundamental information on laws, policies and practices in exceptional student education and on specific categories of exceptionality, including definitions, prevalence, causes, assessment techniques, educational strategies, and current and future trends in the field of exceptional student education
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- Speech and Language Development and Disabilities (3 credits)
This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the nature of speech and language; the developmental progression in language acquisition; and the techniques for evaluating language development and remediating speech, language, and communication disorders in children.
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- Behavior Management of Exceptional Students (3 credits)
This course will provide students with various behavior management techniques of managing classroom behavior, promoting social adjustment of their students, and coordinating the classroom learning environment for the purpose of improving the academic and social development of students with learning and behavior problems.
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- Educational and Psychological Assessment of Exceptional Students (3 credits)
This course will introduce students to the various educational and psychological tests and assessment tools most widely used to evaluate exceptional students, with emphasis on the practical application of assessment in schools and on the assessment process from initial identification through the development of an individualized Education Program (IEP). It will also prepare all those concerned with the teaching-learning process to be sensitive to the social and ethical implications of test use and to be familiar with both formal and informal assessment strategies that will help them contribute to the decision-making process for exceptional students.
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- Transition Skills and Services for Exceptional Students (3 credits)
This course will introduce students to variety of educational, career, and vocational choices available to exceptional students. These choices include academic skills, personal skills, social skills, employability skills, and daily living skills, which exceptional students need in order to actualize their potentials and become contributing members of society. Emphasis will be given to the concept of planning for transitions within the educational program and to the need to plan more carefully for the transition to adulthood.
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- Instructional Strategies for Exceptional Students (3 credits)
This course will focus on the various strategies and techniques used to educate and train exceptional students. Emphasis will be on normalization and on the array of services available to students with disabilities from elementary school to high school. Special attention will be devoted to strategies that help teachers develop individualized educational programs, strategies for classroom organization and management, and strategies to enhance learning through microcomputer technology.
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- Curriculum and Instructional Materials for Exceptional Students (3 credits)
This course will introduce students to the various curriculum and instructional materials used to teach exceptional students. It will provide students with specific suggestions for selecting and modifying the curriculum to promote learning and for developing appropriate materials to use in the classroom. Students will also be provided strategies for adapting curriculum materials, teacher instruction, and student practice activities for both basic and content-area instruction.
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- Consultation and Collaboration in Exceptional Student Education (3 credits)
This course will help students become more proficient in working together within school contexts. Emphasis will be on the context of school and home collaborations, and on the diversity issues that may affect the way people work together. Students will learn that school consultations, collaboration, and teamwork are essential in transforming school learning environments into settings where teachers, administrators, and parents of exceptional students work together and trust each other for the benefit of the students.
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- Applied Research Practicum in Special Education - Part 1 (3 credits)
Part One: Participants will examine both the art and science of professional development for educators. Teachers will engage in analysis of current classroom issues and challenges to explore and practice action research methods as a logical extension of classroom instruction. Integral to the process will be the development of Action Research Project proposal project design. Concurrently, participants will engage in reflective insight in the context of personal professional development and growth.
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- Applied Research Practicum in Special Education - Part 2 (3 credits)
Part Two: Participants will examine both the art and science of professional development for educators. Teachers will engage in analysis of current classroom issues and challenges to explore and practice action research methods as a logical extension of classroom instruction. Integral to the process will be the development of Action Research Project proposal project design. Concurrently, participants will engage in reflective insight in the context of personal professional development and growth, and will initiate organization and development of the comprehensive professional portfolio.
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