Orientation to Teaching Course Description: This online course provides an introduction to the foundations of teaching, including principles of pedagogy and instructional design. It covers basic concepts, such as theories of learning, curriculum development, student motivation, and assessment. You will learn about different techniques used in planning lessons and activities as well as how to develop a deeper understanding of best practices for teaching. You will also gain an understanding of how to apply your knowledge of educational psychology to other areas such as classroom management and technology-based instruction. Through interactive lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments you will develop your knowledge of effective teaching practices while learning practical skills such as designing lesson plans, developing assessments, creating rubrics for evaluating student work, and delivering effective verbal instruction. This course is ideal for those who are new to teaching or are interested in pursuing a path involving more advanced topics in the subject. Course Objectives:

• Understand key principles of instructional design
• Design effective lesson plans
• Develop assessments
• Create rubrics for evaluation
• Motivate students
• Analyze existing curricula
• Promote critical thinking
• Deliver effective verbal instruction
• Utilize technology-based education
• Apply educational psychology to various disciplines

Phonics

Course Description: This online course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of phonics, including basic rules and strategies for reading and writing. It covers key concepts, such as word structure, decoding skills and pronunciation. You will learn about different techniques used in learning how to pronounce new words as well as how to apply a deeper understanding of English language phonetics to areas such as spelling, grammar, and fluency. You will also gain an understanding of how to apply your knowledge on phonics-based instruction to other academic subjects. Through interactive lectures, readings, discussions, videos, and assignments you will develop your knowledge of phonics while learning practical skills such as identifying sound-letter correspondences, analyzing syllable patterns in words, and applying appropriate instructional strategies. This course is ideal for those who are new to teaching phonics or are interested in pursuing a path involving more advanced topics in the subject. Course Objectives:

• Recognize sound-letter relationships
• Apply letter combinations
• Analyze vowel sounds
• Identify syllable types
• Explain English orthographic conventions
• Develop decoding skills
• Utilize effective instruction strategies
• Identify commonly confused letters
• Interpret inflectional endings
• Construct multi-syllabic words

Ethics in Education

Course Description:  This course explores legal and ethical issues that arise in elementary and secondary schools. It helps school leaders think through questions of educational policy and ethics that legal disputes raise but don’t resolve. Topics include liability for student injury, due process, search and seizure, staff appraisal, employment discrimination, church/state conflicts, control over the curriculum, the expression of controversial views, legal and ethical issues related to the financing and adequacy of state school finance plans, and the schools’ authority to make rules governing student and teacher conduct. The course also reviews ethical issues related to equal opportunity, including school desegregation, bilingual education, sexual discrimination and harassment, privacy issues, affirmative action, and the education of exceptional children. This online course covers key concepts, such as ethical decision-making, codes of conduct, ethical reasoning, and accountability. You will learn about different techniques used in determining the best courses of action based on ethical considerations as well as how to apply a deeper understanding of moral principles and values to areas such as resolving disputes and creating effective policies. You will also gain an understanding of how power dynamics in educational institutions can impact behavior and decision-making. Learning Objectives:

• Understand the difference between ethics and the law
• Think through questions of educational policy and ethics that legal disputes arise
• Explore issues in contemporary educational issues
• Define key terms related to ethics in education
• Examine moral principles & values
• Identify biases when making decisions
• Balance autonomy & obligation
• Develop strategies for managing complex dilemmas
• Analyze conflicting perspectives
• Lead meaningful conversations
• Utilize effective communication techniques
• Examine the power dynamics of educational institutions
• Apply ethical principles from multiple disciplines

Intercultural and Cosmopolitan Learning Course Description: This online course provides an introduction to the study of intercultural and cosmopolitan learning. It covers key concepts, such as cultural awareness, communication with diverse populations, building bridges between different cultures, and embracing diversity. You will learn about different techniques used in developing knowledge and skills related to cross-cultural collaborations as well as how to apply a deeper understanding of culture-sensitive practices to foster inclusion. You will also gain an understanding of how working collaboratively across cultures can lead to innovative approaches and long-term solutions. Through interactive lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments you will develop your knowledge of intercultural and cosmopolitan learning while learning practical skills such as recognizing bias & stereotypes in interpersonal interactions, adapting teaching materials & approaches for diverse settings, creating safe organizational environments for intercultural connections, engaging stakeholders in ethical decision making processes and engaging in meaningful dialogue when dealing with complex issues. This course is ideal for those who are new to examining intercultural matters or are interested in pursuing a path involving more advanced topics in the subject. Course Objectives:

• Describe key principles & practices related to intercultural learning
• Examine cultural awareness & communication strategies
• Develop bridge-building skills
• Develop strategies for fostering inclusion
• Adapt teaching materials & approaches
• Recognize bias & stereotypes
• Create safe organizational environments
• Engage stakeholders in ethical decision-making
• Engage in meaningful dialogue
• Use problem-solving processes with an intercultural lens