Catalog of Graduate Courses

These graduate courses can be taken for step increases in pay. They also count as recertification credit.

TECH29501 Creating a WebQuest to Support the Coherent Curriculum
In this course, teachers will create exciting Internet projects for students using the WebQuest teaching model. Course participants learn to build basic web pages with Netscape Composer, then design a WebQuest to support their coherent curriculum. Using WebQuests, students research on the Internet, then create class projects using the research data. This model promotes differentiated instruction, interdisciplinary study, cooperative learning, and independent thinking.

TECH29551 Special Needs Students in the Regular Education
Course participants will become familiar with the special needs student and how to best serve that student in a regular education classroom. The course will cover special education terminology, laws regarding special education, types of students included in the special needs heading, and the use of technology to effectively serve these students in the regular education classroom. The course will be conducted in a seminar format.

The use of technology will be addressed through investigations of assistive technology, adaption of commonly used software, and accessories found on the Windows OS platform.

TECH29511 INTEL Teach to the Future
Intel(R) Teach to the Future is a worldwide effort to help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms to enhance student learning. Teachers learn from other teachers how, when, and where to incorporate technology tools and resources into their current lesson plans. In addition, they are instructed on how best to create assessment tools and align lessons with district, state and national standards. The program incorporates use of the Internet, Web page design, and productivity software. Divided into 10 four-hour modules, the curriculum enables teachers to develop a complete collection of themed lesson plans that engage students in the use of technology to conduct research, compile information, and communicate with others.

TECH29509 Using the Internet to Create Thematic Units
The vast resources of the Internet can help creative teachers develop exciting thematic learning units. During this course, participants will be introduced to the thematic unit development model, then create a virtual field trip and other projects as part of a thematic unit. Along the way, participants will learn tips to brainstorm ideas, find cross-curricular materials, and use technology to enhance instruction.

TECH29505 Integrating the Internet into the Curriculum
In this course teachers learn to incorporate the Internet into their classrooms. With proper direction, the Internet can be used to teach responsible online researching, access valuable teacher and student resources, interact with fellow educators in remote locations, promote cooperative learning in the classroom, and encourage higher-level thinking. This course will provide participates with information, opportunities, and directions that will allow them to integrate online materials, projects, and ideas into their classrooms, while supporting curriculum standards.

TECH29504 Using Technology in the Reading Classroom
In this course teachers will review the building blocks for teaching children to read: phonemic awareness instruction, phonics instruction, fluency instruction, vocabulary instruction, and text comprehension instruction. Technology can enhance student learning and achievement in reading. The emphasis in the class will be on the development of technology materials for classroom use in each of these areas of reading instruction.

TECH295200 Using the TI-83 and Excel to Analyze Real-World Data
In this course, participants will learn how to collect, analyze, and display real-world data using the TI-83 graphing calculator and Excel. The learning will be inquiry-based--posing questions and conducting explorations and investigations to provide answers and ways to find new answers. These scientific-inquiry labs will have cross-curriculum ties to mathematics and science standards. Teachers will create classroom-ready activities using their new skills and present to other teachers the effective use of the new technology. TEACHERS MUST BRING A TI-83 CALCULATOR TO CLASS. ALSO, EACH SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE A TI GRAPHLINK THAT LINKS FROM THE CALCULATOR TO THE COMPUTER. THIS WILL BE NEEDED IN CLASS ALSO.

TECH29503 Using Technology to Assist Differentiation
Differentiated instruction allows teachers to better meet the needs of students in mixed-ability classrooms. A differentiated classroom provides different options for acquiring content, and for processing or making sense of ideas so students can learn more effectively. This course is designed for K-12 teachers who have knowledge of basic computer skills and want to use that knowledge to assist them with differentiation in their classrooms. Participants will become familiar with differentiated instruction and will create lessons and projects that use technology to differentiate instruction for their students. Guided activities and assignments will target specific technologies that can be used for this purpose.