Course DESCRIPTIONS
Coaching Endorsement Courses:
Fundamentals of Coaching - This course introduces the roles and responsibilities of an instructional coach, develops an understanding of the coaching process, and provides the candidates with the tools and abilities needed to successfully perform as a coach in the teaching and learning processes of schools. This course is one of two courses that constitute the Georgia state endorsement for Instructional Coaching in public schools.
Gaining Perspectives: Approaches to Coaching - This course explores various approaches to instructional coaching, which includes instructional/academic coaching, mentoring student teachers or GaTAPP teachers, and coaching beginning teachers. In addition, candidates will refine skills in differentiated coaching and culturally proficient coaching. Candidates will observe and practice coaching skills through performance-based field experiences.
Computer Science Endorsement Courses:
Computational Thinking and Programming Basics - This course introduces critical thinking methods that lead to the development of well structured programs. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental building blocks of programming, including computational thinking skills, primitive data types, functions, basic data structures, and common algorithms. The software, code examples and code projects featured in this course will be presented primarily using a text-based third-generation programming language.
Computers for a Connected World -This course will also introduce how computers work and interact on both big and small scales. First, the course covers the machine-level representation of data its abstraction to primitive data types. Next, we consider the role of a computer's operating system in managing the computer's data, memory, and computation cycles. Then, our view of computation is expanded to include many computers communicating via a network, including the client-server paradigm and various protocols used to pass data back and forth. Our definition of "computer" is expanded to include the various mobile devices we use on a daily basis.
Methods of Computer Science - This course explores computer sciences as a discipline for all levels that encourages inquiry, creativity, and collaboration. Given that the nature of computing is investigative, the computer science activities will be hands-on to gain insights about teaching and learning computing concepts in classroom settings. Candidates will learn that pedagogical methods in computer science requires intellectual rigor in order to develop lessons that are relevant and pertinent to our culturally diverse world today.
Dyslexia Endorsement Courses:
Understanding Language Development and Dyslexia - This introductory course explores the critical components of literacy development and introduces candidates to the nature and needs of students with dyslexia. An integral part of teaching students who have reading difficulties is a comprehensive understanding of the foundations of reading. The course will also address the historical development of the field, relevant laws, and policies.
Assessment and Evidence-Based Reading Instruction for Students with Dyslexia - Assessment and Evidence-based Reading Instruction prepares candidates to apply the practices of effective assessment for students with dyslexia, including the various purposes of assessment, the psychometric properties of high-quality assessment tools, and issues related to test administration. Students will identify effective assessment tools, develop informal assessment procedures, and interpret assessment data to design intervention. Additionally, the course introduces the principles and practices of evidence-based literacy intervention for students with dyslexia.
Methods in Multi-Sensory Instruction and Interventions - In this course, candidates develop, implement, and evaluate interventions for students who have significant reading and/or writing difficulties, including dyslexia and/or delays in the stages of literacy development. Candidates will design plans to address the varied challenges that students may encounter as they develop literacy skills. Effective interventions in various components of literacy, and the issues involved in designing a comprehensive literacy intervention plan will be addressed.
ESOL Endorsement Courses:
Cultural Issues in TESOL - This 5 PLU course explores the nature of culture and the role of cultural factors in the teaching and learning of English as an additional language in U.S. schools. The course helps teachers and school personnel understand the impact of culture on learning. It provides an in-depth discussion of the concept of culture and how it is expressed through communication, belief systems, value orientations, and patterns of thinking and behaving. Participants will gain practical knowledge based on current research about creating and adapting the learning environment, curriculum, and materials for culturally diverse students.
Applied Linguistics in TESOL - This 5 PLU course explores theories of language acquisition, with a focus on the nature and development of first and second language, the elements of linguistics, language varieties, and the influences on the acquisition of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of English as an additional language across age levels.
Methods and Materials in TESOL - This 5 PLU course is intended to provide you with an understanding of theory, methods, and materials for teaching and assessing learners of English as an additional language in U.S. schools.
Gifted Endorsement Courses:
Characteristics of Gifted Students - This course provides an overview of gifted learners and special populations. Cognitive, social-emotional, and behavioral characteristics of gifted children necessitate different instructional design. This course will address methods by which the unique characteristics can be addressed in instruction and learning environment. This course also addresses the instruments used in the process of identifying and serving gifted students.
Assessment of Gifted Students - Assessment for the Gifted provides an overview of the various assessment tools used to identify the gifted learner, as well as an overview of program models utilized to create enriching environments for gifted students. The course also prepares participants to use various types of classroom assessments appropriately to meet the needs of gifted students
Curriculum and Program Development of Gifted Students - Instruction will be targeted to the needs of teachers who will be expected to plan, design, and implement appropriately differentiated instruction for gifted students. Candidates will be expected to relate the characteristics and learning needs of the diverse population of gifted students to appropriate instructional methods and materials that are needed to implement effective educational programs for all gifted and talented students. Candidates will be expected to assess learners and develop and modify instructional content and methodology to meet the learning needs of gifted students and demonstrate this knowledge by creating and implementing an instructional unit of study in their content area.
Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted - The course provides an understanding of instructional methods and materials appropriate for meeting the unique learning needs of gifted students. Participants will apply the principles as they plan, implement, and evaluate a unit of study in a gifted practicum setting.
Online Personalized Learning Endorsement:
Shifting Paradigms - This course focuses on the vision for personalizing instruction to leverage student engagement, motivation, and achievement. The candidates explore the aspects of executive function (self-regulation, emotional responsibility, task completion, working memory, cognitive flexibility, time management, reflection, etc.), scrutinize teaching practices of metacognition, and consider learning environments that promote learner agency.
Finally, the candidates investigate asset-based language and classroom practices to serve all learners. This course requires access to an educational setting, students or learners, and/or classroom practitioners.
Shifting Mindsets - This course focuses on growth and mastery mindset, authentic and adaptive assessment practices, and asset-based dispositions. Candidates will delve into key shifts in accessing flexible educational resources and will explore pathways to personalization. Additionally, the candidates will begin working with students as essential skills in research and data analysis are developed for shifts in practices.
This course requires access to an educational setting, students or learners, and/or classroom practitioner
Shifting Practices - This course requires a case study project and focuses on personalizing instruction in a blended environment to leverage student engagement, motivation, and achievement. Learners evaluate the application of executive function practices, the use of growth and mastery mindsets and asset-based dispositions, as well as research-based strategies intended to increase personalization and collaboration in the classroom. Finally, learners evaluate and design formative and summative assessments and analyze the data gathered from these assessments to guide improvement in personalized learning. Candidates are required to present their findings in a professional setting.
This course requires access to an educational setting, students or learners, and/or classroom practitioners.
Online Teaching Endorsement Courses:
Foundations of Online Instruction - The purpose of this course is an orientation to the highly interactive online classroom. This course is the first of three courses in the MGRESA Online Teaching Endorsement.
As a result of course mastery, candidates will know and be able to do the following:
To experience the wealth of possibilities available through online courses
To acquire authentic knowledge about the characteristics of online learners
To observe the techniques used to build the capacity of online learners to independent growth and group collaboration
To participate in the various online activities available to online participants
To develop practical working knowledge in using a Learning Management System (LMS)
***Note: Students are not required for this OTE1 and OTE2, but are required for OTE 3.
Designing Online Instruction - The purpose of this course is to provide online instructors with practical and useful experiences in virtual instruction. Participants will further delve into methods of online teaching. This course is the second of three courses in the MGRESA Online Teaching Endorsement.
As a result of course mastery, candidates will know and be able to do the following:
Develop and refine working knowledge of using a learning management system (LMS)
Identify and analyze learning styles of students
Develop an online evaluation plan
Demonstrate effective online instructional interface
Demonstrate successful online communication and motivational strategies
Create appropriate writing for the Web
Understand copyright and fair use policies and law
Teaching Online Courses - The purpose of this course is to provide online instructors with practical and useful experiences web-based in developing supportive instructional materials for online curriculum. Increasing online participant’s success requires instructors to know how to teach asynchronously, but how to write and develop support materials unique to the online genre of learning. This course is the third of three courses in the MGRESA Online Teaching Endorsement.
As a result of course mastery, candidates will know and be able to do the following:
Develop a deep understanding of the instructional design components making up a high quality course
Utilize the systematic steps of analyzing, designing, developing, implementing and evaluation to create, teach, and evaluate a web-based unit of instruction
Become fully functional and comfortable within the online interface
Prepare a syllabus for an online course
Write specific goals, objectives, and performance objectives for lessons
Develop an interactive learning environment
Understand and apply fair use and copyright guidelines
Work within the LMS as an instructor
Note: Candidates are required to show proficiency through evidence with an LMS.
Reading Endorsement Courses:
Foundations of Teaching Reading - This course is designed to provide and extend candidates’ knowledge of the reading process by examining theory and research as a foundation for making instructional decisions for planning and implementing effective literacy programs. In order to inform such decision-making, candidates will explore current issues, materials, strategies, and approaches to teaching reading to P-12 children in our pluralistic society.
Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas - This course is designed to provide candidates with a conceptual and instructional framework based for teaching reading and writing in the content areas. Realizing that much of what is read involves informational texts (e.g., books, magazines, newspaper, instructions, directions, textbooks, guides, and other content sources) this course will provide candidate with research-based strategies for to help readers comprehend such text structures. Essential to this course is interrelationship between reading and writing in grades P-12.
Reading Assessment, Diagnosis and Evaluation - This course is designed to provide candidates with knowledge of theoretical models, methods, and materials of literacy assessment. Such knowledge will provide candidates with the framework needed to administer assessments, and use the information from formal and informal measures to develop appropriate literacy instruction that meets the needs of every student in P-12 classrooms. Critical to this course is the candidates’ need to reflect on personal beliefs about reading assessment and the relationship to their own teaching and learning. This course requires a 15 hour practicum experience.