Learning and Instruction Course Descriptions

L&I - 622. Instructional Uses of Technology for the Learning Specialist (2)

Principles and practices of computer applications to instruction and management, with training in the operation of the microcomputer. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 631. Working with Students and Families in a Multicultural Society (2)

This course prepares students with a knowledge base for understanding and teaching culturally and linguistically diverse special education students, including interaction with families. The course covers identifying the impact of diverse cultural patterns and linguistic diversity on student academic performance and behavior, selecting and implementing effective strategies to meet the learning, social, and emotional needs of students with disabilities from diverse cultural, linguistic, and/or ethnic backgrounds, developing strategies with parents and students for improving the students' self-management skills, positive self image, and social/emotional behaviors, and conducting formal and informal parent meetings for purposes of planning interventions, establishing home/school communication, and problem resolution.

L&I - 633. Assessment in Special Education (3)

Formal and informal diagnostic procedures for mildly to moderately handicapped and at-risk students including identification, screening, referral, assessment, implementation and evaluation. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 636. Educational Practices for the Learning Specialist (3)

Principles of effective instruction, classroom organization, alternative instructional techniques for groups and individuals with learning handicaps in urban schools, behavior management, and modification of the core curriculum. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 637. Fieldwork Support Practicum I (3)

These courses consist of two semesters of supervised full-time teaching in special education classrooms with students who have mild/moderate disabilities. The courses include a variety of practica sessions with heterogeneous groupings of members of the cohort group. Candidates participate in analytic and reflective discussions, examine decision-making procedures, discuss critical incidents from their classrooms and general topics of concern in the field. The courses also include the evaluation component of the fieldwork experience. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 638. Master's Thesis (3)

A field-based thesis or project on an approved topic in special education submitted in partial fulfillment for the master's degree.

L&I - 640. Fieldwork Support Practicum II (3)

These courses consist of two semesters of supervised full-time teaching in special education classrooms with students who have mild/moderate disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The courses include a variety of practica sessions with heterogeneous groupings of members of the cohort group. Candidates participate in analytic and reflective discussions, examine decision-making procedures, and discuss critical incidents from their classrooms and general topics of concern in the field. The courses also include the evaluation component of the fieldwork experience.

L&I - 641. Research in Special Education (3)

The purpose of this course is to introduce credential candidates to a variety of educational research methods in special education. Students will be exposed to issues and topics related to students with disabilities, and qualitative and quantitative research designs including sampling procedures, measurement instruments, data colletion methods, data analysis, and statistical analysis. Students will then use the information from class sessions and readings to identify a potential research topic in special education and develop a research proposal for the Masters Thesis or Field Project.

L&I - 659. Consultation and Collaboration (3)

Issues of collaboration, consultation, communication, and teaming in interdisciplinary settings. Models for working with educators, parents, students, and community resource personnel. Ethical and practical applications of appropriate communication strategies. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 665. Development of Legal and Educational Foundations for the Learning Specialist (3)

Educational, developmental, legal, environmental issues related to needs of the mildly to moderately handicapped and at-risk students. Child development patterns, language acquisition, learning and cognitive processes, health issues, effects of disabling conditions, legal rights, placement criteria options, and barriers to full student participation. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 674. Research and Professional Specialization (1-2)

This seminar provides students with the knowledge ability to interpret, apply, and disseminate current and emerging literature (research, theories, legislation, policies, and practices) regarding special education. Students will then apply this literature to their roles in the field and demonstrate expertise in one area of specialization.

L&I - 675. Advanced Curriculum and Instruction (3)

Seminar on applying skills in the areas of assessment, curriculum development and modifications, and adapting instruction and technology for students with mild/moderate disabilities. Issues of law, policies, and procedures pertaining to assessment, curriculum, and instruction. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 676. Supportive Management (3)

Seminar on systems that assess, plan, and provide academic and social skill construction for students with complex behavioral and emotional needs. Students will access educational, mental health, and other community resources to design, implement, evaluate, and modify identified supports to ensure a positive learning environment. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 678. Supervised Teaching I (1)

This course and 0701-679 structure the last two semesters of fieldwork supervision. Coordinates the ongoing support for professional self assessment, goal setting, and other induction plan components. Collaboration between University and school district personnel. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 679. Supervised Teaching II (1)

This course structures the last semester of fieldwork supervision. Advanced self assessment and goal setting in preparation for transition into the final induction phase of the internship. Three way collaboration and advisement between the candidate, district support provider, and university advisor establish the parameters for supplemental field work experiences needed or continued observation and feedback in a specific area. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 697. Directed Study (1-3)

Independent, in depth study of a specific educational topic. (Open only to students in the Special Education Internship Program.)

L&I - 698. Special Topics in Education (1-3)

Exploration of one or more selected topics in education.

L&I - 700. Cognitive Psychology (3)

The major cognitive psychology theories and research on thinking. Topics include inductive and deductive thinking, analogical thinking, hypothesis testing, mental models, dual-coding, declarative and procedural knowledge, expertise, schemas and scripts, domain-specific knowledge, and social cognition. Special emphasis is placed on the use of literature reviews in research.

L&I - 702. Human Abilities (3)

A historical examination of empirical theories of cognitive abilities. Theories of intelligence, aptitude, achievement, cognitive style, and learning style are presented. Special emphasis is placed on the use of factor analysis as a statistical technique.

L&I - 709. Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3)

Prerequisites: GEDU - 706, GEDU - 708 and one General Education Foundations course. Development of a research proposal leading to the dissertation.

L&I - 712. Performance-Based Assessment (3)

Prerequisite: GEDU - 714. This course covers methodological issues, and practical applications of performance-based and cognitive-based assessments. The rationale underlying performance assessment and the procedures essential to its design and execution and to the interpretation and use of its results for decision-making will be addressed. Recent research in cognition will be explored for its application to educational testing.

L&I - 713. Essentials for Teaching in Higher Education (3)

Teaching strategies for becoming an effective college teacher. Students will assess their philosophy of teaching, learning style, and teaching style; learn how to enhance motivation for learning; and acquire methods of assessment and techniques for teaching using case studies.

L&I - 715. Architecture of Learning (3)

This course explores the area of effective instruction. Students will work with an applied model for creating and evaluating learning experiences and develop a digital learning portfolio as the culminating project demonstrating achievement of the course goals. To create this digital learning portfolio students will establish realistic student learning goals, formulate assessment strategies to correspond to those goals, analyze relevant people factors influencing goals and course content, create activites to develop desired thinking and meta-learning skills, design learning activities for individuals and groups of learners, and devise remedial and enrichment activities for learners.

L&I - 716. Current Educational Issues (3)

Prerequisites: GEDU - 706 and GEDU - 708. Discussion of selected problems and issues in education.

L&I - 717. Research-Based Practices and Critical Issues in Special Education (3)

This course is designed to familiarize doctoral students with: a) research-based practices in special education; b) critical issues in special education practices.

L&I - 718. Special Education Law and Public Policy (3)

This course explores major federal legislation (IDEA, ADA, etc) and other legal policies associated with disability rights, special education, and students with disabilities. The course will also examine key statues and landmark court cases.

L&I - 719. Practicum in SPED Higher ED I (1)

The college teaching practicum will prepare special education doctoral students to deliver instruction in a special education teacher credential program for mild-moderate disabilities.

L&I - 720. Practicum in SPED Higher ED II (1)

The college teaching practicum will prepare special education doctoral students to deliver instruction in a special education teacher credential program for mild-moderate disabilities.

L&I - 721. Models of Teaching and Instruction (3)

A survey of empirically-based models of teaching and instruction. Models include individualized instruction. Carroll's model of school learning, Bloom's theory of school learning, process-product models and Rosenshine's explicit instruction, Cronbach and Snow's aptitude-treatment interaction model, and Brown and Campione's cognitive apprenticeship models.

L&I - 722. Practicum in Research in Special Education (1)

The research practicum will prepare special education doctoral students to develop research skills in special education teacher education. The purpose of the practicum is to provide students with structured experiences in designing and conducting research.

L&I - 723. Curriculum Development in Special Education (3)

Curriculum development, systematic approaches to effective teaching and learning, and evaluation in special education.

L&I - 724. Grant Writing (3)

The objective of this course is to prepare doctoral students to develop the skills needed to write an effective grant proposal in a higher eduation setting. Since federal grants are some of the largest potential sources of funding, this will be the primary focus of the course.

L&I - 729. Proposal Development (3)

Continuation of proposal development, if needed.

L&I - 730. Descriptive Research in L&I (3)

Prerequisites: GEDU - 706 and GEDU - 708. The uses and methods of descriptive research; the evaluation of descriptive research; and the design and implementation of descriptive research. Topics include sample selection, data collection techniques (questionnaires, interviews, etc.), scales and indices, coding, analyzing and presenting descriptive data.

L&I - 732. Motivation (3)

Motivational theories with an emphasis on models in intrinsic motivation and how they affect instructional practice. Theories include situational and personal interest, flow, achievement, attribution, goal, control, feedback, and self determination theories. Special emphasis is placed on the use of focus groups as a research technique.

L&I - 735. Creativity (3)

The purpose of the course is to look at the role of creativity in social environments. Creativity is usually investigated from an individual differences perspective. Instead, this course will look at creativity as an environmental variable (i.e., factors in the educational environment which may influence creativity). Of utmost concern is the question: "What can we do to make our educational or business environments more conductive to creative and original thinking?" This environmental psychological approach will incorporate thinkers from the fields of psychology, education, and the arts.

L&I - 743. Constructivism and Technology (3)

This hands-on course covers the history of constructivism as a learning theory, constructivist teaching strategies, curriculum designs, assessment, and the appropriate uses of technology to support student-centered learning.

L&I - 790. Dissertation Proposal Development (3)

Directed proposal development in consultation with dissertation advisor and committee.

L&I - 791. Dissertation Research and Writing (3)

The design, preparation, and writing of the dissertation research study in consultation with the dissertation advisor and committee. Advancement to candidacy required.

L&I - 797. Directed Study (1-3)

Independent, in-depth study of a specific educational topic.

L&I - 798. Special Topics Seminar (1-3)

In-depth study by a group of students, facilitated by an instructor or team of instructors with expertise in a selected area of Learning and Instruction. Open to all graduate students.