(*The textbooks are selects from many other books of the courses. Clicking any of them will lead you to Amazon.com where you can see more details. )
Spring 2012
ED 800 Concepts of Educational Inquiry
Instructor: Dr. Steven Weiland
This is an introductory course to explore different perspectives on education through the eye of various educators. Throughout the course it gives opportunities to learn how to have an attitude of inquiry to find educational meanings and to examine ourselves as an educator. This course also teaches that educators need to be keen observers by introducing the concept of "participant observer". Writing an essay after reading Peripheral Visions by Mary Catherine Bateson was one of the assignments, which gives a deeper understanding about education through the perspective of an anthropologist. It is a self-paced course requiring reading books, viewing media, and writing essays.
Instructor: Dr. Steven Weiland
This is an introductory course to explore different perspectives on education through the eye of various educators. Throughout the course it gives opportunities to learn how to have an attitude of inquiry to find educational meanings and to examine ourselves as an educator. This course also teaches that educators need to be keen observers by introducing the concept of "participant observer". Writing an essay after reading Peripheral Visions by Mary Catherine Bateson was one of the assignments, which gives a deeper understanding about education through the perspective of an anthropologist. It is a self-paced course requiring reading books, viewing media, and writing essays.
Summer 2012
TE 848 Writing Assessment and Instruction
Instructor: Lisa Hawkins
It is best to be a writer to give best instruction on writing. That is what I learned through this course. The course gives opportunities to think about what a writer needs to know by reading, and mostly writing. It gives an insightful experience through writing apprenticeship and research. It provides practical experiences of writing phases like drafting, writing, and editing and in each phase are opportunities for exchanging ideas with peers as well as the instructor. I learned how to give helpful feedback to peers for the first time through this course, and this is the second course I experienced ANGEL Learning, the platform that Michigan State University is using for online learning.
Instructor: Lisa Hawkins
It is best to be a writer to give best instruction on writing. That is what I learned through this course. The course gives opportunities to think about what a writer needs to know by reading, and mostly writing. It gives an insightful experience through writing apprenticeship and research. It provides practical experiences of writing phases like drafting, writing, and editing and in each phase are opportunities for exchanging ideas with peers as well as the instructor. I learned how to give helpful feedback to peers for the first time through this course, and this is the second course I experienced ANGEL Learning, the platform that Michigan State University is using for online learning.
Spring 2013
TE 846 Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
Instructor: Jennifer Knight
This course provides wide and deep insights on intervention programs for struggling learners such as Response to Intervention (RtI). At the end of this course, students will conduct a case study of supporting struggling learners. It stresses the importance of appropriate assessment because it shapes teaching process itself and makes it possible for educators to identify struggling learners early so that they can be assisted before they fail. Since there is no systematic intervention programs for struggling learners in South Korea, it was helpful to get to know the flow and the principles behind the programs.
Instructor: Jennifer Knight
This course provides wide and deep insights on intervention programs for struggling learners such as Response to Intervention (RtI). At the end of this course, students will conduct a case study of supporting struggling learners. It stresses the importance of appropriate assessment because it shapes teaching process itself and makes it possible for educators to identify struggling learners early so that they can be assisted before they fail. Since there is no systematic intervention programs for struggling learners in South Korea, it was helpful to get to know the flow and the principles behind the programs.
Summer 2013
CEP 840 Policies, Practices, and Perspectives in Special Education
Instructor: Dr. Carol Sue Englert
This course belongs to the department of special education but gives significant implications to general education teachers. It focuses on how to create inclusive environments for students who need special education as well as any struggling learners. It includes legal problems and possible situations in inclusive classrooms. Assistive technology is also a core concept of this course because of its supporting property of learning for students in special needs. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is another beneficial idea I learned through this course, which leads to development of flexible learning environment to meet individual differences.
Instructor: Dr. Carol Sue Englert
This course belongs to the department of special education but gives significant implications to general education teachers. It focuses on how to create inclusive environments for students who need special education as well as any struggling learners. It includes legal problems and possible situations in inclusive classrooms. Assistive technology is also a core concept of this course because of its supporting property of learning for students in special needs. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is another beneficial idea I learned through this course, which leads to development of flexible learning environment to meet individual differences.
TE 818 Curriculum in its Social Context
Instructor: Dr. Kyle Greenwalt
From reflecting on the classic textbook of curriculum by Ralph Tyler to current trends of curriculum, this course covers a variety of concepts of curriculum; hidden curriculum, null curriculum, sanitized curriculum and the like. It also explores how we should deal with controversial issues at school as curriculum. An idea of curriculum inevitably reminds us of a formal education which is mostly taking place in a school. In that perspective, reflecting on "What Does a Good School Look Like?" was a very impressive assignment. It made me think about the relationship between curriculum and school system, specifically the one in South Korea.
Instructor: Dr. Kyle Greenwalt
From reflecting on the classic textbook of curriculum by Ralph Tyler to current trends of curriculum, this course covers a variety of concepts of curriculum; hidden curriculum, null curriculum, sanitized curriculum and the like. It also explores how we should deal with controversial issues at school as curriculum. An idea of curriculum inevitably reminds us of a formal education which is mostly taking place in a school. In that perspective, reflecting on "What Does a Good School Look Like?" was a very impressive assignment. It made me think about the relationship between curriculum and school system, specifically the one in South Korea.
Fall 2013
CEP 843 Autism Spectrum Disorders: Characteristics and Educational Implications
Instructor: Dr. Summer Ferreri, Laura Flis
This is a rigorous course of special education. It introduces relatively recent concept of autism and its history. It covers the process of identification, analysis, and medical issues of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Assignments are designed to be used and applied in real situations, for example, case studies, analysis, and research article summaries. If students don't have background of special education, this course can be demanding. However, it definitely expands an educational view and professionalism associated with special education. The course requires to complete assignments related students with ASD, therefore it is necessary for students who want to take this course to make sure to have access to a student with ASD.
Instructor: Dr. Summer Ferreri, Laura Flis
This is a rigorous course of special education. It introduces relatively recent concept of autism and its history. It covers the process of identification, analysis, and medical issues of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Assignments are designed to be used and applied in real situations, for example, case studies, analysis, and research article summaries. If students don't have background of special education, this course can be demanding. However, it definitely expands an educational view and professionalism associated with special education. The course requires to complete assignments related students with ASD, therefore it is necessary for students who want to take this course to make sure to have access to a student with ASD.
CEP 804A Literacy Instruction for Students with Mild Disabilities
Instructor: Dr. Carol Sue Englert
It was one of the three courses I took related to Special Education. This is a useful course not only for special education teachers but also general education teachers, since it includes planning and designing intervention programs which can be applied to any struggling learners. It covers literacy, comprehension, writing of their concepts, and practical implementation. One of the most impressive things about this course was access to a plenty of resources about educational practices related to literacy education. The professor provided diverse materials and multiple resources from phonemic awareness to comprehension. Watching class demonstrations, seminars, and student work helped me to think about how to address a specific problem found in struggling learners.
Instructor: Dr. Carol Sue Englert
It was one of the three courses I took related to Special Education. This is a useful course not only for special education teachers but also general education teachers, since it includes planning and designing intervention programs which can be applied to any struggling learners. It covers literacy, comprehension, writing of their concepts, and practical implementation. One of the most impressive things about this course was access to a plenty of resources about educational practices related to literacy education. The professor provided diverse materials and multiple resources from phonemic awareness to comprehension. Watching class demonstrations, seminars, and student work helped me to think about how to address a specific problem found in struggling learners.
Spring 2014
TE 843 Secondary Reading Assessment and Instruction
Instructor: Dr. Doug Hartman
I learned that "Inquiry" is a key concept in understanding the importance of reading instruction in this course. It provides a various ways of thinking about adolescent reading practices through viewing and creating diagrams along with texts. In order to successfully support adolescents in literacy education, educators need to understand who they are and how their literacy practices are different in- and out-of school. Another required textbook Best Practices in Adolescent Literacy Instruction gives more detailed idea of literacy practices of adolescents. Assignments required reading books, viewing educational conferences, and designing lesson plans. All of the assignments were submitted through GoogleDoc which has a lot of benefits in terms of interactivity, easy access, and so on.
Instructor: Dr. Doug Hartman
I learned that "Inquiry" is a key concept in understanding the importance of reading instruction in this course. It provides a various ways of thinking about adolescent reading practices through viewing and creating diagrams along with texts. In order to successfully support adolescents in literacy education, educators need to understand who they are and how their literacy practices are different in- and out-of school. Another required textbook Best Practices in Adolescent Literacy Instruction gives more detailed idea of literacy practices of adolescents. Assignments required reading books, viewing educational conferences, and designing lesson plans. All of the assignments were submitted through GoogleDoc which has a lot of benefits in terms of interactivity, easy access, and so on.
Summer 2014
CEP 800 Psychology of Learning in School and Other Settings
Instructor: William Cain, Dr. Danah Henriksen, Joshua Rosenberg
This course focuses on understanding what learners learn and how they learn in and out-of school. It is further explored by adopting technological media such as audio/video, digital storytelling, and so on. The course changed my view of learning through technology. Technology is not just a tool, but representational way of learning, which sparks another meaningful learning activity. Through this course I came to realize that I had a traditional concept of education which involves mostly face-to-face communication. Learning can take place in any form in any setting. That is what I learned while I was exploring a multiple ways of instruction combined with technology. Since it was a course in Summer semester, the assignments were squeezed into relatively a short period of time. However, what I learned is never little or short at all.
Instructor: William Cain, Dr. Danah Henriksen, Joshua Rosenberg
This course focuses on understanding what learners learn and how they learn in and out-of school. It is further explored by adopting technological media such as audio/video, digital storytelling, and so on. The course changed my view of learning through technology. Technology is not just a tool, but representational way of learning, which sparks another meaningful learning activity. Through this course I came to realize that I had a traditional concept of education which involves mostly face-to-face communication. Learning can take place in any form in any setting. That is what I learned while I was exploring a multiple ways of instruction combined with technology. Since it was a course in Summer semester, the assignments were squeezed into relatively a short period of time. However, what I learned is never little or short at all.
ED 870 Capstone Seminar
Instructor: Dr. Matthew Koehler, Joshua Rosenberg, Spencer Greenhalgh, Brittany Dillman
This is a synthesis course of the master's program which requires creating a showcase of what has been done throughout the courses. Only after completing 80% of the master's program can students take this course. It consists of planning, designing, and building a website showing personal achievement and reflection. Students enrolled are placed in a "virtual houses" (They were called Armes, Byers, Brophy, and Shulman) where housemates upload assignments and give feedback to each other. I was placed in Brophy House with 15 other students. This website is created for this course which made me collect what I had done throughout the mater's program including my very first essay I wrote to apply for the master's program at Michigan State University. The course leads students to create a completed portfolio step by step during which a lot of emotional reactions occur reflecting on what they have done. This is really a special course that left me a precious gift.
Instructor: Dr. Matthew Koehler, Joshua Rosenberg, Spencer Greenhalgh, Brittany Dillman
This is a synthesis course of the master's program which requires creating a showcase of what has been done throughout the courses. Only after completing 80% of the master's program can students take this course. It consists of planning, designing, and building a website showing personal achievement and reflection. Students enrolled are placed in a "virtual houses" (They were called Armes, Byers, Brophy, and Shulman) where housemates upload assignments and give feedback to each other. I was placed in Brophy House with 15 other students. This website is created for this course which made me collect what I had done throughout the mater's program including my very first essay I wrote to apply for the master's program at Michigan State University. The course leads students to create a completed portfolio step by step during which a lot of emotional reactions occur reflecting on what they have done. This is really a special course that left me a precious gift.