Online Program
The Master of Education-Professional Development (ME-PD) Learning Community program is based on a learning-in-community, constructivist philosophy. Teachers who enroll make an 18 month commitment to achieve three goals:
1) to improve professional practice
2) to develop increased proficiency in a content specific area
3) to earn a master's degree
The online format combines three semesters of 100% online learning and two summer face-to-face semesters in addition to online work. Get your master's degree in 18 months!
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Individualized learning tailored to content specific areas with Professional Learning Community emphasis.
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This 30 credit graduate program is designed for teachers and other education professionals seeking to meet desired professional advancement goals.
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Content specific areas include:
English Language Arts
Global and Cultural Competency
Math
Pedagogy and Leadership
- Tuition - $450.00/credit
- Online Semester Schedule:
Summer 2013: Online semester starts June 15, 2013 with summer institute to take place at UW-L from July 24 through July 28, 2013
Fall 2013: Online coursework and attendence at UW-L November Conference (Saturday November 9th- Sunday November 10th)
Spring 2013: Online 100%
Summer 2014: Online semester starts June 14, 2014 with summer institute to take place at UW-L from July 21 through July 25, 2014
Fall 2014: Online coursework and attendence at UW-L November Conference (Saturday November 8th- Sunday November 9th)
Five Semester Option – Summer Start
Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
Term I (Summer 6 credits in one 45 hour week long session)
EDU 601 Learning in Community I 1
EDU 611 Technology in Education I 1
EDU 631 Curriculum Development and Assessment 1
EDU 651 Democracy, Diversity, and Social Justice in Education 1
EDU 661 Teacher Leadership 1
EDU 621 Best Practice Pedagogy 1
Term II (Fall 6 online + November Conference)
EDU 602 Learning in Community 1
EDU 612 Technology in Education 1
EDU 632 Curriculum Development and Assessment 1
EDU 652 Democracy, Diversity, and Social Justice in Education 1
EDU 641 Educational Research 1
EDU 622 Best Practice Pedagogy 1
Term III (Spring 6 credits online)
EDU 703 Learning in Community 1
EDU 713 Technology in Education 1
EDU 733 Curriculum Development and Assessment 1
EDU 662 Teacher Leadership 1
EDU 642 Educational Research 2
Term IV (Summer 6 credits in one 45 hour week long session)
EDU 704 Learning in Community 1
EDU 723 Best Practice Pedagogy 1
EDU 734 Curriculum Development and Assessment 1
EDU 753 Democracy, Diversity, and Social Justice in Education 1
EDU 763 Teacher Leadership 1
EDU 743 Educational Research 1
Term V (Fall 6 online + November Conference)
EDU 714 Technology in Education 1
EDU 724 Best Practice Pedagogy 1
EDU 754 Democracy, Diversity, and Social Justice in Education 1
EDU 744 Educational Research 2
EDU 764 Teacher Leadership 1
Course Descriptions
Learning in Community (EDU 601, EDU 602, EDU 703, EDU 704)
In this course, students will come to understand the value of learning in a collaborative setting. Students will examine theories and key aspects of community development. Students will practice creating and sustaining community within the learning community and within their workplace. Opportunities will also be given to explore developing professional learning communities beyond the program.
Objectives:
Students will understand what it means to learn in community.
Students will examine theories of community development.
Students will create and sustain learning in community within the ME-PD Learning Community.
Students will create and sustain learning in community within the professional workplace.
Educational Research (EDU 641, EDU 642, EDU 743, EDU 744)
In this course, students will gain knowledge of action research and implement an action research study in the workplace. Students will understand and experience all stages of the action research process. Students will recognize the value of data in making decisions regarding PK-16 teaching and learning. Students will complete an action research study and disseminate the results.
Objectives:
Students will recognize different methods of educational research.
Students will identify and implement various data collection tools.
Students will understand and implement an action research study.
Students will write a scholarly action research article.
Best Practice Pedagogy (EDU 621, EDU 622, EDU 723, EDU 724)
In this course, students will study and apply research-based best practices for teaching and learning. They will be challenged to reflect upon current practice, incorporate best practices, and improve future practice as they seek continuous improvement. Students will be provided a variety of forums to investigate, analyze and reflect upon their implementation of multiple instructional methodologies for the purpose of improving PK-16 student learning.
Objectives:
Students will study and apply best practices and current research to teaching with the purpose to improve PK-16 student learning.
Students will understand brain development as it relates to student learning and the learning environment.
Students will align teaching and instruction to the developmental needs of their students.
Students will be familiar with and apply instructional strategies appropriate for specific content area subject matter.
Curriculum Development and Assessment (EDU 631, EDU 632, EDU 733, EDU 734)
In this course, students will evaluate current curriculum, investigate curricular frameworks, and align curriculum to teaching standards and academic standards. Students will experience, investigate and implement various forms of assessment. Students will design classroom curriculum that aligns curriculum and assessment for the purpose of improving PK-16 student learning.
Objectives:
Students will evaluate current curriculum and assessment practices.
Students will improve their knowledge of academic content area.
Students will align classroom curriculum and assessment with teaching standards and academic content standards.
Students will collect and analyze evidence of PK-16 student learning and modify instruction as necessary.
Students will utilize ongoing assessments to monitor and promote student learning and to guide curriculum development.
Students will critique, identify and develop quality curriculum.
Democracy, Diversity and Social Justice in Education (EDU 651, EDU 652, EDU 753, EDU 754)
In this course, students will examine social issues that influence the Learning Community, personal behavior, professional settings, and institutional systems. Issues explored will include (but will not be limited to) class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and religion, as well as harassment and bullying. Through this exploration, students will understand how social issues influence relationships in order to take action regarding equity and justice in the workplace.
Objectives:
Students will examine areas of diversity that influence the Learning Community and current professional settings.
Students will examine reflectively the issues of diversity including, but not limited to class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and religion.
Students will promote issues of equity and justice.
Students will understand how diversity influences relationships at a personal and institutional level. Students will understand harassment and bullying.
Technology in Education (EDU 611, EDU 612, EDU 713, EDU 714)
In this course, students will distinguish between informational and instructional technology. They will be exposed to a variety of technology tools and software and gain practical technology skills. Students will use a variety of online tools and programs to communicate and collaborate. They will analyze and implement developmentally appropriate instructional technology in their workplace. They will explore current technology and how it relates to the culture of PK-16 students. Students will document competency related to student-created goals in a professional development portfolio.
Objectives:
Students will distinguish between informational technology and instructional technology.
Students will be exposed to various informational and instructional technology tools and software.
Students will be able to create, communicate and collaborate online.
Students will explore the role of current technology and PK-16 student culture.
Students will discover what technology is developmentally appropriate for their students.
Students will critically choose when, where, and how to integrate technology within their classrooms.
Teacher Leadership (EDU 661, EDU 662, EDU 763, EDU 764)
In this course, students will explore teacher leadership that strengthens professional practice. They will reflect upon political issues and educational issues in developing their personal and professional identity. Students will be challenged to demonstrate educational leadership beyond their own classroom. Students will explore initiatives related to systems and trends that improve and contribute to learning.
Objectives:
Students will develop an awareness of and a means of utilizing their personal and professional identities.
Students will share newly acquired skills and knowledge with others in the profession.
Students will demonstrate leadership in the educational profession beyond teaching in their own classroom.
Students will develop political awareness of educational issues.
Students will develop an understanding of school systems.