This course provides participants with a deep dive into best practices in literacy instruction for PreK-12 classrooms. Participants will explore topics that impact literacy development from cognitive, affective, and sociocultural perspectives. The course is grounded in current research and critical theoretical underpinnings that guide best practices. Participants will review strategic actions that support research-based components of effective literacy instruction and apply these components to classroom practice using the gradual release of responsibility. Participants will learn effective techniques to develop strategic readers within the general education and content area settings. They will learn about the importance of a critical approach to literacy instruction and will gain additional knowledge and competencies in the area of information literacy.
Students will continue to develop and apply their understanding of teaching techniques that will serve to maximize the potential of each child through the most contemporary research-based best practices. Students will research and explore the constructivist learning strategy of Project Based Learning (PBL) and collectively uncover the variety of nuances it has to offer in contrast to traditional teacher-centered approaches.
This course is designed to introduce the concepts of change and action research and their importance in the field of education. The experience will provide a theoretical and practical foundation for contemporary educators with emphasis on the relationship among leadership; action research; pedagogy, and the implication for student learning. Students will gain additional insight into the characteristics of effective instruction and further enhance their ability to serve as exemplary teacher leaders in the Information Age. The overall learning experience is organized around an authentic performance task that allows students to demonstrate the extent of their knowledge and skills relevant to applied research and complex change. This overarching task will require students to work both individually and collaboratively on a research prospectus that will address an issue and ultimately serve to improve the performance of the school community within a critical area. The action plan will be presented in a multimedia format and supported by a summary. This course is meant as an overview of the action research process and its components. It serves as a foundation for later courses in which students will write an individual action research proposal and carry it out.