Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

Graduate Catalog

School of Extended
Education

For general questions about graduate programs in the Department of Elementary Education, contact Harold Roberts.
For catalog descriptions of the courses, see the Graduate Catalog.
To see if a course is offered next semester, go to the School of Extended Education web site.
Unless otherwise indicated, all courses are completely online.
The Department of Elementary Education is seeking accreditation for the Reading Specialist license. To do so means all reading courses must address the Standards for Reading Professionals developed by the International Reading Association. You will notice that many of these standards require knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to coaching. Students will be coaching colleagues throughout all of the courses in the Reading Specialist license.

EDEL 600 - Basic Concepts in Elementary Education

Summary:

This course examines current topics, trends, and practices that impact today's elementary classroom.

Topics include:

Learning communities
Research-based decision-making
Constructivist learning theory
Differentiating instruction
The role of parents & the school-to-home connection
The use of technology for professional growth and student learning

Typical assignments are:

Book report PowerPoint
Professional growth project: Essay & sharing of information
Participation in discussion boards

Contact Melinda Schoenfeldt for more information.

EDEL 626 - Discipline and Classroom Management: Some Practical Approaches

Summary:

In this course, students evaluate various models of classroom management; compare specific approaches to classroom discipline; examine techniques for establishing and maintaining effective classroom learning environments; and select typical classroom behavior problems and relate them to specific methods of classroom management and prevention.

Topics include:

Classroom organization
Rules
Procedures
Bullying
Interventions
Diversity and classroom management
Classroom management theories

Typical assignments are:

Discussion Board
IRIS
Management inventory
Article Summary
Presentation on Theorist(s)
Culminating Project

Contact Mike Putman for more information.

EDEL 630 - Parent and Community Relations

Summary:

This course emphasizes the critical nature of relationships between school and home, as well as provides practical exercises to enhance teachers' capacity to effectively accomplish this work.

Topics include:

The state of American families
Theoretical perspectives relating to family involvement in education
Research on the benefits of family involvement
A host of strategies to equip professionals to develop educational partnerships with families that are critical to student success

Typical assignments are:

Course readings
Regular participation in discussion forums
One assignment for each module
Literature Review
Final Project

Contact Eva Zygmunt-Fillwalk for more information.

EDEL 640 - Early Childhood Education

Summary:

This is an introductory course on early childhood education with a focus on historical perspectives of early childhood and issues in early childhood education today.

Topics include:

Historical contexts for early childhood education
Current context for early childhood education
Brain development
Developmentally & culturally appropriate practices
Child care in the U.S. and other countries
Other current issues in the field of early childhood education

Typical assignments are:

Impact paper on an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of early childhood education
Two article reviews/critiques from a current journal about early childhood education
Issue investigation - students can choose to do a PowerPoint presentation or a formal paper presenting two sides of an issue in early childhood
Regular Discussion Board entries are required as well.

Contact Linda Taylor for more information.

EDEL 644 - Education in a Diverse Society

Summary:

This course presents a broad understanding of social, economic, cultural, and linguistic diversity, with emphasis on how teachers and schools can respond to issues that arise as our society becomes more diverse.

Topics include:

Cultural, social, economic, and linguistic differences in children and how this relates to concerns as a teacher
Attitudes towards others from cultural, social, economic, and linguistic backgrounds different from one’s own
Ways to move towards greater respect and appreciation of diversity in our society
Curricular approaches that have potential for maximizing learning opportunities for children from diverse backgrounds
Recent literature regarding teaching in a diverse society
The teacher’s role in addressing problems relating to prejudice and
discrimination and in providing a learning environment that promotes equity and social justice

Typical assignments are:

Online discussions
Module assignments
Book discussions (optional book in addition to texts)
Lesson/activity plan that incorporates diversity
Final project

Contact Pat Clark for more information

EDEL 651 - Educational Programs for Young Children

Summary:

This course looks at a variety of program approaches to early childhood education with an in-depth look at each.

Topics include:

Historical perspectives of early childhood programs
Montessori Approach
Developmental-Interaction Approach
Direct Instruction Model
Piagetian-Based Approaches
Head Start
Reggio Emilia
Project Approach

Typical assignments are:

Students select an additional text on one of the approaches and participate in a discussion of the book's content
Three website reviews
Formal paper evaluating a specific program approach
Regular discussion board entries
Textbook and additional readings

Contact Linda Taylor for more information.

EDEL 655 - Principles of Differentiation in the Elementary Classroom

Summary:

This course will focus on differentiation strategies for mixed-ability classrooms. It will focus on creating a differentiation plan for use in an elementary classroom.

Special Requirements:

Access to an elementary classroom in your school or community is required for this course.

Topics include:

Differentiated curriculum
Creating learning environments for mixed-ability classrooms
Differentiated assessment strategies
Creating unit plans for differentiated classrooms

Typical assignments are:

Two discussion boards
Reading from textbook
Classroom learning profile
Differentiated assessment assignment
Unit plan with differentiated lesson plans

Contact Nancy Melser for more information.

EDEL 657 - Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Programs for Gifted/Talented

Summary:

This course covers the basic ideas behind creating a gifted program at the elementary level. Students will learn how to establish, implement, and evaluate programs for gifted learners.

Special Requirements:

Access to information on gifted programming in your school or community is needed for this course.

Topics include:

Characteristics of gifted learners
Differentiation strategies
Resources for gifted classrooms
Creating gifted programs

Typical assignments are:

Participation in two discussion boards
Creation of two differentiated lesson plans
One management and anchoring activity assignment
Creation of one gifted resource handout
Reading from textbook
Creation of a final paper that focuses on program design

Contact Nancy Melser for more information.

EDEL 676 - Research in Elementary Education

Summary:

This course is designed to help individuals learn how to be consumers of research. The course addresses the basic vocabulary and concepts necessary for understanding educational research reports. Finally, the course provides the opportunity for students to apply their new knowledge by designing, conducting, and sharing a mini action research project/study.

Special Requirements:

In order to complete the research project for the course you will need access to one or some of the following: students, parents of students, other teachers &/or administrators.

Topics include:

Overview of educational research
Comparing traditional to action research
Developing a research question reviewing the literature
Planning an action research study
Methodology (data collection and analysis)
Developing an action plan and sharing the study

Typical assignments are:

Research question and mini review of the pertinent literature
Research plan and project timetable
Explanation of how data analysis is being addressed
Action plan based on findings from the study
Final product to share the research project with an audience
Small group discussions related to course topics

Contact Karen Ford for more information.

EDEL 680 - Problems in Teaching Lower Language Arts in the Elementary School

Summary:

EDEL 680 is a graduate Language Arts class. This class would be helpful for practicing teachers who want to improve their language arts instruction.

Special Requirements:

You will be teaching several writing lessons to at least three "target" students throughout the semester and evaluating their performance on these lessons.

Topics include:

Instruction and assessment of all 6 modes of the language arts (reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and visual representation).

Typical assignments are:

Professional readings
Discussion boards
Classroom application projects

Contact Diane Bottomley for more information

EDEL 740 - Recent Research in the Education of Young Children

Summary:

This is a hybrid course. EDEL 740 is open only to doctoral students and other graduate students with permission from the Chair. It is designed for graduate students in Early Childhood and Elementary Education as well as students from other departments and colleges. The course will cover significant research in early childhood education and application of the results of selected research studies to program development and teaching procedures. Students will identify areas in which research is needed.

Topics include:

Current issues in early childhood and elementary education
Reading, analyzing, and reflecting on how recent research impacts or could impact early childhood practice
Sociocultural and political aspects of educational policy and issues
Reading and analyzing refereed journal articles utilizing journal review sheet
Conducting a literature review of a topic related to program development or teaching procedures
Developing an outline, draft, and final manuscript about selected topic
Utilizing and writing in APA format
Understanding the AERA's ethical standards of writing and authorship

Typical assignments are:

Developing an podcast about article selection and review (online)
Reviewing recent journal issues and analyzing manuscripts for topics, methods, and themes and the applicability to classroom instruction and teaching practices (in class)
Reviewing recent refereed journal articles utilizing the journal review sheet (online)
Developing a chart for all pertinent research related to the selected topic (online)
Selecting a topic related to teaching practice and instruction and conducting a literature review, developing a manuscript outline, draft, and final version

Contact Deb Ceglowski for more information.

EDRDG 545 - Using Computers in Reading Instruction

Summary:

This course is designed to assist elementary school teachers in making effective use of computers and related technology in the teaching of reading and writing. It will emphasize how to select and integrate the best of what is available in the area of technology into the elementary classroom literacy program.

Topics include:

New literacies
Interactive online stories
Social bookmarking
Blogging
Internet-based literature lessons
Rubric generators for assessment
Online survey tools

Typical assignments are:

Online readings
Responses to reading
Designing a blog
Creating an online survey
Generating a rubric
Review of new technologies
Final project

Contact Susan Tancock for more information.

EDRDG 610 - The Teaching of Reading in the Elementary School

Summary:

This course aims to improve reading instruction in the elementary school by developing fundamental teacher understanding and competencies in order to carry out effective reading programs in the elementary classroom.

Topics include:

Nature of the reading process
The literate culture in the classroom
Effective instruction in literacy for children
Organizing and managing an elementary classroom reading program to promote maximum literacy development for all children
Assessing and interpreting children’s progress in literacy
Techniques for integrating technology into the literacy curriculum
Surveying reading research and continue professional growth in literacy

Typical assignments are:

Small and whole group discussions
Written assignments that involve evaluating different aspects of reading and the literacy environment
Self-evaluation as a reading teacher
Internet-based activities, such as scavenger hunts
Final course project. The student will chose from among: developing a literacy resource web page, writing a paper on a topic in literacy, developing a power point presentation to share with a specific audience or developing an instructional action plan for updating his/her literacy instruction.

Contact Susan Tancock for more information.

EDRDG 615 - Early Literacy Development

Summary:

This course is a theory into practice opportunity. Students will consider several timely topics related to early literacy and have opportunities to read current literature from web sites for each topic. As a community of learners, students will participate in discussion board activities for each module. Finally, each module will include a DO IT! section where students will put theory into practice by creating an activity that is practical; that is, it will be designed with the student's educational setting in mind.

Topics include:

Overview of early literacy development
Early literacy assessment
Literacy and diversity: Meeting the needs of children with special concerns
Language and vocabulary development
Strategies to figure out words
Developing comprehension of text and concepts about books
Motivating reading and writing

Typical assignments are:

Professor Lecture - an overview of each topic, guiding thinking through PowerPoints
Read About It - articles and web sites for students to visit with specific readings
DO IT! - the actual "theory-to-practice" part of the module where students will complete practical activities that are connected to the student's educational setting

Contact Scott Popplewell for more information.

EDRDG 620 - Content Area Reading

Summary:

The focus of this course is the concept of using "reading to learn." It emphasizes the teacher's role in helping students of varying abilities, backgrounds, and needs learn from a variety of printed materials (textbooks, online texts, written directions, etc.)

Topics include:

Understanding the need for a course like this
Definition of content literacy
Helping students navigate their textbooks
Reading comprehension and how to facilitate it through various lesson formats and strategies
ELLs in the subject matter classroom
How RTI impacts the subject matter classroom

Typical assignments are:

Small and whole group discussions to process reading and learning on topics from the course
A variety of "comprehension constructors" to process course readings
A course project that addresses the concept of content literacy or content area reading

Contact Karen Ford for more information.

EDRDG 630 - Psychological Foundations of Reading

Summary:

This course focuses on the various topics and issues that affect our understanding of how reading behaviors develop. In the process, the psychological factors that contribute to the physical nature of skilled reading are examined more closely. Weekly, a classroom scenario is presented to guide the discussions and to help graduate students to understand how the course content applies to their classrooms, i.e., how children learn to read as well as the types of instruction that support successful reading behavior.

Topics include:

Scholars (historical and current) who guide our understanding of the reading processes are identified. General topics covered within the course include:

The study of human processing—How does the brain process information while reading?
The study of eye movement – How do the eyes contribute to reading?
The perception of the written word—How are words received (in parts or whole)?
The study of how one comprehends—How does one organize information in memory and what does this have to do with instruction?
The various theories that have evolved through the decades based on the reading research are examined.
An introduction to various disabilities that may affect reading, e.g., types of dyslexia

Typical assignments are:

Article summaries—Students reflect on what is learned from research and how they can apply this information to their teaching.
One book summary—The text covers very clearly how memory collects and stores information. This book is quite helpful in understanding how one makes predictions.
A final paper—Students synthesize the information learned in class and apply it to their teaching.
Weekly discussions are assessed for level of participation.

Contact Linda Martin for more information.

EDRDG 640 - Issues in the Teaching of Reading

Summary:

This course targets current trends in the teaching of reading. Students will explore the "hot" issues in reading instruction through the use of web resources and text-based literature. These resources will identify research findings and opinions on the topics. Finally students will examine "cutting edge" materials designed to facilitate reading instruction.

Topics include:

Overview of the "hot" issues in reading instruction
Early literacy and intervention
Comprehension
Diversity & literacy
Adolescent literacy
Assessment-driven instruction
RTI (Response to Intervention)
Literacy leadership

Typical assignments are:

Small and large group discussions of topics covered in the course
Completing or designing scavenger hunts of professional sites related to reading or topics in reading instruction
Writing personal reflections on lesson readings
Using the "comprehension constructor" format to process lesson readings
Self-reflection and application to course topics

Contact Karen Ford for more information.

EDRDG 650 - The Organization and Supervision of a School Reading Program

Summary:

This is a course designed to teach students information about supervision and guidance of school, as well as district, literacy programs. Information about planning, mentoring, and assessing in these settings is covered.

Topics include:

Understanding the role of assessment in planning school-wide district literacy programs
Culture and the role of language
Conducting staff development
Developing school literacy teams
The roles of literacy coaches and reading specialists

Typical assignments are:

Read and reflect on an article
Participate in a discussion board
Create a school literacy team
Design a workshop including assessments plan for continued professional development
Grant activity including examining information related to grantsmanship

Contact Carolyn Walker for more information.

EDRDG 680 - Classroom Reading Diagnosis

Summary:

This course is designed to update and extend teacher knowledge and/or skills for diagnosing student literacy abilities in the reading classroom and then providing the appropriate intervention. The course uses the most recent resources for exploring the various areas of reading assessment.

Special Requirements:

In order to complete some of the course assignments, you will need access to a student or small group of students.

Topics include:

An overview of the reading process
Assessment-driven instruction
Assessing word knowledge and reading fluency
Assessing comprehension and composition
Looking across assessments...from classrooms to schools

Typical assignments are:

Small and whole group discussions to help process readings and learning in the lessons
Written assignments, which may include written reflections on assigned readings, written reports from conversations with or observations of others and/or the development of materials to use with a specific classroom assessment
"Hands-on" practice with conducting and interpreting assessments

Contact Karen Ford for more information.

EDRDG 690 - Reading Practicum

Summary:

This is the capstone course for the reading specialist license. This class
involves teaching a student with reading disabilities. You will use a variety of the specialized techniques and materials selected and designed in light of extensive diagnostic information.

Topics include:

The use of assessment results to plan and implement an effective instructional program is the major focus of this class.

Typical assignments are:

An extensive case study is the major assignment in this course. This will include diagnostic information as well as an explanation of the effectiveness of the instructional program for your student.

Contact Diane Bottomley for more information.

EDRDG 692 - Clinical Diagnosis of Reading Diagnosis

Summary:

The psychology of reading difficulties, individual diagnostic techniques, and the planning of reading programs for severely disabled readers in a clinical setting.

Special Requirements:

You will be administering a variety of formal and informal assessments to at least two students (one primary and one intermediate) throughout the semester. If you can schedule EDRDG 692 in the Fall Semester, then you can work with the same students in EDRDG 690 in the Spring Semester.
You will be required to videotape yourself administering several assessments in this course.

Topics include:

This course focuses on the learning of a wide array of diagnostics measures in the area of literacy.

Typical assignments are:

Evaluation of the various literacy assessments
Administration and interpretation of these assessments

Contact Diane Bottomley for more information.