 Sample Classes
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Curriculum Studies and Reflective Practice
This course delineates major curricular orientations in education (dominant ideas and practices, as well as those that confront mainstream orientations and beliefs) and investigates their pedagogical, social and political origins within American culture. Students also examine critiques of these orientations, particularly from the perspectives of children and adolescents from non-dominant American cultures.
Curricular Project Development: Bridging Classrooms and Communities
Through guided and independent study, participants develop a self-directed curricular project that bridges teaching and learning with crucial topics and issues facing humanity and the planet. These projects focus on creating models of teaching and learning that foster broad global awareness, highly informed social knowledge and active civic engagement. A project can involve either leading a new or upgraded curriculum for students or leading an in-service training for colleagues. Students develop a learning contract that outlines their goals and intentions for developing, implementing and assessing their curricular development project.
Special Education in Inclusive Settings
Designed for the practicing teacher, this course helps students develop systematic strategies and techniques to support the behavioral and emotional needs of individuals with mild learning and behavior problems in inclusive classrooms. The course covers theories of behavior management, functional analysis of behavior, positive methods of strengthening and reducing behavior, and classroom management tips. The course also addresses proactive instructional strategies that serve as a preventive approach to behavioral support. Students examine how their classroom management techniques fit into a more comprehensive school-wide behavior support system.
Diversity and Equity
Students construct a critical and historical context for today's issues of race, class and gender and then progress to an examination of culture and how it impacts education and learning. The perspective of equity calls attention to recurring public policy, ethical and legal issues concerning access to schools, allocation of resources, social and cultural relationships, and educational outcomes. This class explores these issues as they are associated with all social groups, especially those holding lesser power, privilege, status and wealth. The course also addresses how students and teachers from diverse backgrounds can deal with cultural differences in the classroom.
Critical Issues in Native American Education
This is an exploration of educational issues, from birth through adulthood, in Native American communities, particularly those in the Northwest. Emphasis is on solutions for current educational issues and how to involve families and communities to work together with schools and other educational institutions.
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