Education
Education - Undergraduate Courses
ED 350 Introduction to Education and Field Study (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: Junior or senior status. This course introduces students to the field of education. Students will focus on the Connecticut Teaching Competencies and be given a broad overview of school- related issues, including classroom management skills. In addition, students will be required to complete a five-week field study practicum in a local area school district. 3 credit hours.
ED 450-459 Special Topics (back to previous page)
Special topics of selected or current interest in the study of education. 3 credit hours.
ED 503 Human Growth and Development (back to previous page)
A study of the major aspects of human development from conception through adolescence, presenting the important theories and research methods of the field and tracing the physical, cognitive, psychological, and social development of each chronological division. 3 credit hours.
ED 504 Educational Psychology (back to previous page)
Content emphasizes the application of psychological principles and research results to the teaching-learning process. Includes learning principles, development, planning instruction, evaluating student performance, classroom management, and motivation. Cannot be used as a Psychology elective. 3 credit hours.
ED 508 Child Development (back to previous page)
A study of the physical, cognitive, and social development of children, with special emphasis on major theories and research methods. Cannot be used as a Psychology elective. 3 credit hours.
ED 509 Adolescent Development (back to previous page)
A study of the physical, cognitive, and social development of adolescents, with special emphasis on major theories and research methods. Cannot be used as a Psychology elective. 3 credit hours.
Some course numbers in this field are followed by the suffixes "E" for elementary, "M" for middle grades/middle school and "S" for secondary.
ED 600 Student Teaching (back to previous page)
This consecutive 13-week practicum satisfies the requirement of the State of Connecticut for teacher candidates to demonstrate attainment of the appropriate CT Teaching Competencies in a culminating clinical activity of supervised student teaching. 6 credits.
ED 601 Introduction to Education (back to previous page)
This course introduces students to the field of education. Students will learn about the CT Teaching Competencies classroom management techniques and will be given a broad overview of school-related issues. 1 credit, to be taken in advance of first trimester of study.
ED 603 Human Growth and Development (back to previous page)
A study of the major aspects of human development from conception through adolescence, presenting the important theories and research methods of the field and tracing the physical, cognitive, psychological, and social development of each chronological division.
ED 604 Educational Psychology (back to previous page)
Content emphasizes the application of psychological principles and research results to the teaching-learning process. Includes learning principles, development, planning instruction, evaluating student performance, classroom management, and motivation.
ED 605 Students with Special Needs (back to previous page)
Provides prospective educators with an understanding of methods used to identify, diagnose and teach exceptional students in regular and special education classrooms. Describes the developmental and learning characteristics of exceptional students, reviews educational and supportive services, and examines laws impacting on the education of students with special needs.
ED 606 History of American Education (back to previous page)
Survey of the relationship between education and American culture through a focused study of the history of public schooling in the United States. Study of events, developments and policies that have shaped American education from Colonial times, through the first century of American independence, the Progressive reform era, to the current day. 2 credits.
ED 608 Child Development (back to previous page)
A study of the physical, cognitive, and social development of children, with special emphasis on major theories and research methods.
ED 609 Adolescent Development (back to previous page)
A study of the physical, cognitive, and social development of adolescents, with special emphasis on major theories and research methods.
ED 610 Neuroscience and Instructional Strategies (back to previous page)
The course will review the legacy of the learning theories, relate them to the most recent findings from neuroscience about the developmental processes of the brain, and connect them to the ways the brain creates neuronal pathways for learning about themselves, their world, and many of the subjects they study/teach in their classrooms.
ED 611 Learning and Intelligence (back to previous page)
Examination of the dynamics of the major explanations of learning and intelligence; learning as the core of behavior.
ED 612 Curriculum Design (back to previous page)
Application of theoretical knowledge of curriculum to real course planning. Investigation and analysis of current educational programs in terms of curricular theory as well as training for teachers in basic curriculum development techniques. Permission of the Education Department Chair required.
ED 614 Philosophy of Education (back to previous page)
A critical analysis of education in contemporary society as reflected in the thinking of modern and early philosophers. (See also PL 614.)
ED 615A/B/C/D/E Strategies in Mathematics Content (back to previous page)
Provides current and future teachers with specialized training in teaching specific content areas of mathematics. 1 credit for each content area.
ED 615A Geometry I
ED 615B Geometry II
ED 615C Graphing Calculators
ED 615D Discrete Methods
ED 615E Remedial Mathematics
ED 616A/B/C/D/E Strategies in Science Content (back to previous page)
Provides current and future teachers with specialized training in teaching specific content areas of science. 1 credit for each content area.
ED 616A Chemistry
ED 616B Physics
ED 616C Earth Science
ED 616D Biology
ED 616E Integrating Mathematics and Science
ED 617A/B/C/D/E Strategies in Social Science Content (back to previous page)
Provides current and future teachers with specialized training in teaching specific content areas of the social sciences. 1 credit for each content area.
ED 617A Constitutional Law
ED 617B Political Science
ED 617C Governance
ED 617D Local History and Historical Methods
ED 617E Geography
ED 618A/B/C/D/E Strategies in Business Content (back to previous page)
Provides current and future teachers with specialized training in teaching specific content areas of business. 1 credit for each area.
ED 618A Computer Technology
ED 618B Software Applications
ED 618C International Business
ED 618D Economics
ED 618E Marketing and Advertising
ED 619A/B/C/D/E Strategies in English Language (back to previous page)
Provides current and future teachers with specialized training in teaching specific content areas of the English language. 1 credit for each content area.
ED 619A Humanities
ED 619B Research Writing
ED 619C Journalism
ED 619D Poetry
ED 619E Drama
ED 620 Seminar in Multicultural Issues (back to previous page)
A series of lectures, dialogues, and discussions to promote understanding of the diverse ethnic, cultural and economic groups composing American society as they interact in the schools. 1 credit.
ED 621E Teaching Strategies/Elementary Mathematics (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in the field of mathematics instruction with particular focuses on new materials, methods, and teaching strategies that will assist prospective teachers as they plan, present, and evaluate mathematics education.
ED 621M/S Teaching Strategies in Mathematics (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in the field of mathematics instruction with particular focuses on new materials, methods, and teaching strategies that will assist prospective teachers as they plan, present, and evaluate mathematics education.
ED 622E Teaching Strategies in Science (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and instructional techniques in the field of science teaching; focuses on providing teachers with the skills, knowledge, and methodologies for teaching science.
ED 622M/S Teaching Strategies in Science (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and instructional techniques in the field of science teaching; focuses on providing teachers with the skills, knowledge, and methodologies for teaching science.
ED 623E Teaching Strategies in Social Studies (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in the field of social studies instruction with particular focuses on new materials, methods, and teaching strategies that will assist prospective teachers as they plan, present, and evaluate social studies education. 2 credits.
ED 623M/S Teaching Strategies in Social Studies (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in the field of social studies instruction: focuses on new materials, methods, and teaching strategies that will assist prospective teachers as they plan, present, and evaluate social studies education.
ED 624 Teaching Strategies in Business (back to previous page)
Focus is on the strategies for teaching business concepts and practices to secondary students.
ED 625E Teaching Strategies in Children's Literature and Language Arts/Elementary (back to previous page)
Introduction to materials and methodologies used to develop the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills of students with special emphasis on the wealth of literature available for elementary school students.
ED 625M Teaching Strategies in Literature and Language Arts/Middle School (back to previous page)
Introduction to materials and methodologies used to develop the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills of students with special emphasis on the wealth of literature available for middle school students.
ED 625S Teaching Strategies in Language Arts/Secondary School (back to previous page)
Introduction to the materials and methodologies used to develop the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills of secondary school students.
ED 626E Strategies for Teaching Reading and Language Arts in Elementary School (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in reading instruction in the elementary school, including authentic reading and writing assessment techniques. Special emphasis on the literacy-based development of beginning and skilled readers and the diversity of student abilities, cultural backgrounds, and language.
ED 626M Reading in the Content Areas (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in content area reading in the middle school. Students will appreciate a wide range of print and non-print texts that can be used to build an understanding of the cultures of the United States and the world. Fiction, nonfiction, classic, and contemporary works will be studied.
ED 626S Reading in the Content Areas (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in content area reading in the secondary school. Students will appreciate a wide range of print and non-print texts that can be used to build an understanding of the cultures of the United States and the world. Fiction, nonfiction, classic, and contemporary works will be studied. 2 credits.
ED 627 Reading and Writing Across the Cirriculum (back to previous page)
Designed for teachers in the secondary school and high school content areas. Focuses on training teachers to implement a variety of instructional methods related to developing writing skills across disciplines.
ED 628 Reading Diagnosis and Remediation (back to previous page)
Examines both traditional and innovative means of assessing reading strengths and needs as well as corrective instruction. Fundamental principles of diagnosis and instruction in reading are presented, providing a philosophical basis for working with all reading students, whether in regular classrooms, special education settings, remedial reading classes, or reading clinics.
ED 629 Strategies for Teaching Modern World Languages in PK-12 Classrooms (back to previous page)
Course designed to prepare candidates to teach modern world languages in the PK-12 schools; includes current research and trends in foreign language pedagogy and curricular models for different age groups. Addresses the Standards for Foreign Language Learning's Five Cs: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities; emphasizes materials, instructional methods, and lesson planning for teaching the four language skills (speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading) and culture in an integrated way.
ED 630E Children's Literature (back to previous page)
Provides knowledge of children's and young adults' publications; introduces students to the wealth of literature available for young readers and its potential for enhancing classroom instruction. Selection of interesting and well-written materials based on knowledge of human development to motivate, expand and diversify instruction. 2 credits.
ED 630S Reading and Adolescent Literature (back to previous page)
Provides knowledge of children's and young adults' publications; introduces students to the wealth of literature available for young readers and its potential for enhancing classroom instruction. Selection of interesting and well-written materials based on knowledge of human development to motivate, expand, and diversify instruction.
ED 632 Content Updates (back to previous page)
Focuses on the knowledge bases required for teaching in the specific content areas and major disciplines. 1-3 credits; may be taken more than once, limited to six credits in any one content area.
ED 633 Visual and Performing Arts in the Elementary Classroom (back to previous page)
Introduction to current ideas and instructional techniques for the visual and performing arts as they pertain to an elementary school classroom; focuses on providing teachers with skills, knowledge and methodologies for teaching art, music, and theater. Students will be asked to attend a series of lectures or performances at local theaters, concert halls, or museums. 1-3 credits
ED 634 Applied Linguistics (back to previous page)
This course is designed for teachers of writing at all levels. It helps students develop insights into sentence structure and development which, in turn, will be beneficial for transmitting systematic editing techniques at various school levels. The course will focus on sentence structure and touch upon phonetics and language history. (See also E 634.)
ED 635 History of Science (back to previous page)
This course introduces students to the history of science from the Scientific Revolution to the present. It will deal with the development of new ideas and the contexts in which they are constructed. It will assist students to understand how people developed ideas to interpret nature and why they changed those ideas.
ED 636 Early Literacy (back to previous page)
This course examines the literacy skills and processes that reflect current research and best practices in the field of early literacy instruction. The course summarizes the research on how children learn to read and reviews the literacy skills and competencies children need to acquire to become successful readers and writers. Teacher candidates will learn effective classroom instructional strategies and assessment practices, including the components of a comprehensive and balanced literacy program in the primary grades.
ED 637 Strategies for Teaching Art (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: Permission of the Department required. Introduction to current concepts and trends in the field of art education with particular focus on new materials, methods and teaching strategies that will assist prospective teacher candidates as they plan, present and evaluate art education. Prerequisite: Permission of the Education Department.
ED 638 Strategies for Teaching Music (back to previous page)
Introduction to current concepts and trends in the field of music education with particular focus on new materials, methods and teaching strategies that will assist prospective teacher candidates as they plan, present and evaluate music education. Prerequisite: Permission of the Education Department.
ED 639 Second Language Acquisition in PK-12 Classrooms (back to previous page)
Course designed to prepare teachers to support the acquisition of second language in contemporary world language classrooms. Investigates theories of second language acquisition and their relationship to second language instruction; emphasizes the characteristics of language learners across the grade spans.
ED 641 Teaching English Language Learners (back to previous page)
Course designed to prepare teachers to support the acquisition of English as a second language in contemporary classrooms. Emphasizes theories of second language acquisition, characteristics of language learners, including young children, and culturally responsive pedagogies for promoting language and literacy development across the grade spans.
ED 642 Instructional Theories and Practices (back to previous page)
Course designed to update classroom teacher's knowledge of instructional methodologies in particular content areas. Topics vary depending on the content area and major disciplines. 1-3 credits; may be taken more than once; limited to six credits in any one content area. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department required.
ED 650 Law for Teachers (back to previous page)
The primary focus of this course is on current legal cases and statutes, which impact teachers and students today in schools and classrooms. There will be a brief look at the historical context in which these laws evolved as well as current federal and state mandates.
ED 654E/M/S Organization and Structure in the Schools (back to previous page)
Study of the structural arrangements and organizational practices in the classroom and in the school unit at the different levels of education: elementary, middle school, and secondary.
ED 655 Teaching the Millennial Student (back to previous page)
Explores the issues and trends in teaching in the millennium. Discusses strategies for engaging digital-age students in real-world and technology-based learning experiences. Includes topics related to preparing students for success in the millennium, such as media literacy and popular culture, information and communication technologies, and critical thinking.
ED 656 Adaptive Teaching (back to previous page)Introduces teachers to theory and practices in adaptive teaching, which includes both tailoring instruction to individual differences and teaching learners motivational and self-regulated learning strategies that enable learners to benefit from the range of instruction commonly implemented in group settings. Current instructional practices, such as differentiation, dynamic assessment, and response to intervention are discussed.
ED 657 Instructional Technology for Today's Classroom (back to previous page)
This course is designed as a hands-on introduction to contemporary technological Web platforms with emphasis on technology, information, media, and visual literacy. By exploring various technological platforms, teachers will be able to examine their current teaching practices and incorporate various tools into their curriculum and instruction, such as Web 2.0 tools, Wikis, iGoogle, Nings, Animoto, Web design, and much more.
ED 661 Job Readiness and the Labor Market for Secondary School Students (back to previous page)
This course introduces educators to the theories and principles of cooperative work education. It will discuss the implementation of a cooperative work experience for high school students.
ED 670/671 Selected Topics (back to previous page)
Study of selected and timely issues of particular interest to the student.
ED 680 Contemporary Issues (back to previous page)
Seminar course on current issues relating to American education and the differing viewpoints expressed. While the exact content is expected to vary from year to year, in accordance with the varied interests of educators and the general public, the basic theme is the exposition of the fundamental and present concerns in education.
ED 681 Principles of Classroom Management (back to previous page)
No prerequisite course is required. This course introduces students to the basic principles of effective classroom and behavior management. The course will examine historical and contemporary theories, classroom models and case study analyses. The importance of contextual variables such as instructional goals, socioeconomic levels, cultural imperatives, and students' cognitive skills will also be examined.
ED 682 Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation (back to previous page)
Trains teachers and other educators to construct reliable and valid measurements for a variety of pedagogical situations, to identify major standardized testing instruments, to use test results efficiently and effectively, and to design a variety of assessment strategies appropriate to students, staff and functions.
ED 683 Computer Applications for Teachers (back to previous page)
Provides or enhances a working knowledge of educational computing in order to evaluate educational software and create new instructional materials for the classroom. Relates students' know-ledge of pedagogy and curriculum to the creative use of instructional technology. 1-3 credits
ED 685 Teacher Research (back to previous page)
An in-depth analysis of research on teaching practices, including the study of quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Students are required to conduct mini research projects and to design a research proposal for a final project.
ED 687 Field Project I (back to previous page)
An individualized project related to the classroom, to the curriculum, or to school methodology. 1-3 credits.
ED 688 Field Project II (back to previous page)
An individualized project related to the classroom, to the curriculum, or to school methodology. 1-3 credits
ED 689 Research Design (back to previous page)
This course introduces students to the techniques of educational research. Students will learn how to design a research project, how to read and critique professional journal articles, and how to design a research project appropriate for elementary, middle or secondary students. 2 credits
ED 690 Research Project (back to previous page)
Independent study under the supervision of an adviser for completion of a significant school-based project designed in ED 689 which satisfies the requirement of a final project for obtaining the graduate degree. 1-3 credits
ED 691 Capstone Project (back to previous page)
This course is required for those students who do not serve as interns. Students will research and prepare a teaching portfolio. Non-interns must show evidence of having served 100 hours of participation in a child-centered activity. Students will not receive credit for both ED 691 and ED 694. 2-3 credits
ED 692 Field Experience I (back to previous page)
Practicum intended to provide graduate students with field experiences in area schools under university supervision. All students are expected to attend seminars. Students participating as interns will register for ED 692I and Capstone students (non-interns) will register for ED 692C. 1 credit
ED 693 Field Experience II (back to previous page)
Continuation of ED 692. All students are expected to attend seminars. Interns will register for ED 693I and Capstone students (non-interns) will register for ED 693C. 1 credit
ED 694 Field Experience III (back to previous page)
Continuation of ED 693. All students are expected to attend seminars and to complete a teaching fortfolio. Interns will register for ED 694I, and Capstone students (non-interns) will register for ED 694C. 2 credits
ED 695 Independent Study I (back to previous page)
A planned program of individual study under the supervision of a member of the faculty. 1-3 credits.
ED 696 Independent Study II (back to previous page)
A continuation of Independent Study I. 1-3 credits
ED 698 Thesis I (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: 15 graduate hours. Periodic meetings and discussions of the individual student's progress in the preparation of a thesis.
ED 699 Thesis II (back to previous page)
A continuation of Thesis I.
ED 710 Foundations in Media Literacy (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. Students in this course will consider the Internet and other communication technologies (ICTs) as they shape social and educational systems. This examination will be guided by critical foundational theories to include a focused study of traditional and new media, including social media that attempts to account for the feedback loops among institutions, audiences, and technology. The class will examine foundational research across various media to evaluate how media is used in K-12 instruction, with an awareness of how these skills will play out in higher education, or in individuals’ lives. Students will also investigate how critical thinking and the Internet shape how we learn. The class will consider the distinct contours of media and information technologies and how these influence current students’ perceptions of theirs and others’ realities. The course will emphasize that media literacy means not just accepting what is presented, but being an active user, a critical media evaluator, understanding content, systems, application, and effect, to be a better informed decisions maker. 3 credit hours.
ED 714 Media, Technology, and Learning across the Curriculum (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. Educational technology is moving classroom instruction beyond its oral and print-based tradition to embrace online and electronic texts as well as multimedia. ICT tools have created opportunities for reading, writing, and collaboration beyond the traditional classroom walls and practices. However, with all of these changes taking place, there is debate as to how to provide authentic and effective educative experiences for students. In this course, students will investigate the organizing and integrating of media in school curricula and other educational programs. Students will explore theories of media technology and identify instructional purposes and defining roles for technologies and media in learning and teaching, as well as examine and compare curricular designs for their concordance with the procedures of technology in education. Students will also investigate current school criteria for selection and evaluation of materials. 3 credit hours.
ED 716 Global Literacy in the Twenty-First Century (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. This course allows students to explore literacy practices in their classrooms and districts from a world perspective. Nearly a quarter of 16 to 65-year-olds in the world’s richest countries are functionally illiterate; students will explore American schools’ roles in perpetuating this figure, investigating adult illiteracy as well as youth illiteracy. Students will also examine how literacy practices differ throughout the world and whether a monolithic definition of what it means to be literate may be expanding through technological connections. 3 credit hours.
ED 718 Critical Literacy Praxis (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. Beginning with the critical approach that views illiteracy as a consequence of unequal social environments that limit access to economic and educational opportunities, this course investigates how learning to read and write—with all kinds of technologies and tools—is part of the process of becoming conscious as historically constructed within specific power relations. Students will reexamine what they know about literacy in their own instructional practices and institutional contexts; they will identify ways in which they can use required instructional materials as well as challenge standard school literacy practices. They will also investigate how current technologies reify and challenge particular notions of literacy and power. 3 credit hours.
ED 720 Central Issues and Research in New Literacies (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. This course is designed to provide a context in which pre-service and in-service teachers can explore the research and practice in the rapidly emerging area of the new literacies of the Internet and other communication technologies (ICTs). This course comprises a theoretical dimension that focuses on literacy as a social practice and a practical dimension that includes hands-on use of a range of new digital technologies and new literacy practices. Attention will be paid to developing effective ways of taking up new literacies in classroom contexts. 3 credit hours.
ED 722 Distance Learning: Trends, Issues, and Practices (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. This course presents a comprehensive overview of contemporary distance-learning technologies, both in the sense of a product and a process. The course deals with a number of theoretical issues and practical considerations for practicing educators and for K-12 students. Students will explore conceptual frameworks, guiding principles, critical steps, current technologies, and future trends in their respective subject areas and curricula. Students will also use case studies that will contribute to the development of an in-depth understanding of the important issues by relating theoretical explanations to practical challenges in order to create strong distance-learning alternatives. 3 credit hours.
ED 724 Adaptive Technologies for the Inclusive Classroom (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. The course is designed to provide educators with an understanding of how to use technology as a seamless part of the teaching-and-learning experience for students with disabilities in inclusive settings. Two main purposes for students with disabilities will be emphasized. Teachers will learn how to provide access to the curriculum for students with disabilities by using the principles of Universal Design for Learning as a framework for the curriculum design. Teachers will learn how to utilize technology to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities in order for them to attain maximum independence and participation in all environments. 3 credit hours.
ED 726 Current Issues in Technology and Education (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. This course is designed to provide students with the theories and pedagogies necessary to understand, develop, and administer valid and reliable assessments of student literacy learning using the Internet other communication technologies. Understanding your students’ content knowledge forms the basis for ongoing instructional decisions and planning, and forms a critical link in the teaching cycle. Understanding of students’ content knowledge is gained through assessment as we observe, interact, and measure gains as students engage in a lesson. Content for the course will include a wide variety of materials that will provide educators with a working knowledge of the psychological and sociological forces that affect adolescent readers and writers. Experiences in this class will range from online/offline discussion, in-school fieldwork, to planning for classroom lessons. 3 credit hours.
ED 730 Digital Portfolio (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: admission to the Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies & Digital Media Literacy. This course will serve as a capstone or culminating course for the Sixth-Year Certificate in Instructional Technologies and Digital Media Literacy. Students will develop digital portfolios, defined as a purposeful collection of student work that illustrates efforts, progress, and achievement in the program objectives. Students will be expected to demonstrate mastery of instructional technological tools as well as mastery of the pedagogical and intellectual content, synthesizing them into a portfolio that demonstrates their significant mastery of instructional technologies and media literacies. 6 credit hours.