Columbia College Master of Education in Educational Leadership

Study of the stages and characteristics of language development with an emphasis on the needs of exceptional children and learners of English as a second language. The course focus is to allow practicing classroom teachers to apply this knowledge to the acquisition and development of exceptional children in various educational settings. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and admission to the Teacher Certification Program or full MAT or M.Ed. status.

This course provides a comprehensive study of the responsibilities of the school leader that relate to Supervision. Varied measures of school effectiveness are studied, including teacher, program, and institutional evaluation. An emphasis on recruitment, selection, and training for retention of personnel is provided. Expectations include planning for professional development to meet the needs of certificated and non-certificated staff for continuous school/institutional improvement at all levels. Prerequisites: Full MAT or M.Ed status.

This class will focus on the methods and techniques of instructional coaching incorporating the instructional coach model of classroom management, content planning, instruction, and assessment for learning. Participants will identify their personal strengths and concerns, and will learn many strategies and techniques for application in school settings. Prerequisite: EDUC 585 and full MAT or M.Ed. admission.

This course will focus on the research and theory of effective coaching for affective and cognitive learning. Understanding the research and the theoretical base for instructional coaching will assist the learner in developing a foundation for becoming an instructional coach. The study of theory about teaching adult learners using the instructional coach model of classroom management, content planning, instruction, and assessment for learning. A major outcome of the class will be the development of a personal philosophy for instructional coaching. Prerequisites: full MAT or M.Ed. admission.

Advanced reading instructional techniques are researched and applied to the specific correction needs of struggling readers. Students will research the reading need, apply the research, and evaluate the results of the research application. Plans of instruction are written based on the outcome of the research teaching process. The class is designed for the reading specialist and special educators. Prerequisites: Graduate standing; admission to Teacher Certification Program or full MAT or M.Ed. status; EDUC 331 or EDUC 558 .

The advanced study of how to teach reading skills. Graduate students investigate and understand the complex processes involved in helping students become proficient readers. The course covers the instructional methods, theory and techniques needed to instruct individuals in the process of reading including phonics, phonological awareness, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. The metacognitive aspects of reading self-monitoring and the affective domain impact on the act of reading is applied to the act of reading instruction. Includes a 15-hour field experience. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; admission to the Teacher Certification program or full MAT or M.Ed status.

The study of current commercially prepared instruments for reading evaluation, construction of instruments for classroom and specialist use, and analysis and interpretation of testing results. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; admission to the Teacher Certification Program or full MAT or M.Ed. status.

Study of the stages and characteristics of language development with an emphasis on the needs of exceptional children and learners of English as a second language. The course focus is to allow practicing classroom teachers to apply this knowledge to the acquisition and development of exceptional children in various educational settings. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and admission to the Teacher Certification Program or full MAT or M.Ed. status.

This course focuses on fundamental principles of problem solving, team leadership, data-based decision making, professional development, and reflection based on public or private school environment. The course grade reflects satisfactory or unsatisfactory work. Prerequisite: EDUC 608.

This course examines learning theory within the context of today's preK-12 classrooms and the increasing demand for differentiated instruction. The emerging interdisciplinary field of learning sciences is explored against the backdrop of effective teaching and student achievement, and the challenges of preparing all students for a future that does not yet exist. Emphasis will be placed on the application of learning theory and science to instructional practices, with a particular focus on differentiated practice. Current pedagogical trends in education will be analyzed for their scientific merits. The professional learning of staff is also considered, as well as the application of theory and science to organizational learning and goal achievement. Prerequisite: M.Ed. status.

The study of curriculum design from historical precedent to current models of curriculum construction, implementation, and evaluation. Prerequisites: Graduate standing, full MAT or M. Ed status.

The study of educational research from a comprehensive perspective. Included are: techniques and concepts of social and behavioral research; writing in the APA format; ethical standards governing educational research; experiences in the use of internal and external critique methods; readings in curriculum, assessment, philosophical and psychological research products; experiences accessing and using archival and web-based data sources; evaluation of descriptive, true-experimental and quasi-experimental research designs; identification and use of appropriate parametric and nonparametric statistical analyses; computation and interpretation of effect size tests of practical significance; conducting primary and secondary source literature reviews; demonstration of research designing; and use of portfolio research. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; full MAT or M.Ed status.