EDU5106 The Secondary School: The Learning Environment
3 semester hours
The focus of this course is classroom dynamics in the secondary education classroom
as they influence the learning process and creation/development of a productive
learning environment for all learners. It also is the intent of this course
to engage in deep exploration of diversity and its relationship to power structures
inherent in the secondary school system.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education, passing the Basic Skills Test;
maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing a
TB test.
EDU5206 Secondary School: Foundations of Assessment
3 semester hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the standards and inclusion models
that comprise secondary education teaching and learning in today’s public
schools. This course also links assessment methods and models to the overview
of standards, foundations and inclusion practices that comprise secondary education
in America’s public schools today.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education, passing the Basic Skills Test;
maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing a
TB test.
EDU5266 The Secondary School: Theories of Learning
3 semester hours
This course provides a comprehensive survey of various theories of educational
psychology, with a focus on the learner as the center of developmental teaching,
learning and adaptations in the secondary education classroom. Social learning
theory and constructivism as integral responses to the needs of learners will be
emphasized throughout.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education, passing the Basic Skills Test;
maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing a
TB test.
EDU5276 Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas
3 semester hours
This course is designed to instruct students in the teaching of reading and writing
in the content areas in the secondary classroom, with an emphasis on principles,
trends, methods, materials, approaches and strategies. Based on theories of
interactive language and writing development, the course presents methodology
designed to help teachers develop literacy and comprehension abilities in the
content areas.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education, passing the Basic Skills Test;
maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing a
TB test. EDU5206.
EDU5756 Methods Practicum
0 semester hours
This course is a secondary field in middle- or high school-level grades taken concurrently with
one of the content methods courses in the program. Teacher candidates schedule a minimum
of 50 contact hours spread over the 16-week semester in a pre-assigned
middle school- or high school-level classroom and are responsible for observing,
planning, teaching and evaluating the assigned group of students. Teacher candidates
design and deliver small- and large-group lessons, evaluate and use teaching
resources and curriculum materials, utilize classroom technology, create and
use assessment instruments, reflect upon their experiences through journaling
and collaborate with practicing teachers, the college professor, the University
supervisor, the faculty content supervisor, peers and secondary learners.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education, including passing the Basic
Skills Test; maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting
Screening that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check.
Passing a TB test.
Co-requisite: BIO5826 or ENG5826 or MTH5826 or SBS5826.
BIO5826 Secondary Methods Teaching Biology
4 semester hours
This course presents techniques that are effective in teaching Biology. The course
includes lesson planning, classroom arrangement, curriculum design, alternative
teaching strategies and evaluation. Within the context of this course, students
will explore effective ways of planning, teaching and measuring the effect on student
learning in the discipline. This course is taken in conjunction with the Methods
Practicum field experience (EDU5756).
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education; passing the Basic Skills Test;
maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing a
TB test.
Co-requisite: EDU5756.
ENG5826 Secondary Methods of Teaching English/Language Arts
4 semester hours
This course presents techniques that are effective in teaching English/Language
Arts. The course includes lesson planning, classroom arrangement, curriculum
design, alternative teaching strategies and evaluation. Within the context of this
course, students will explore effective ways of planning, teaching and measuring
the effect on student learning in the discipline. This course is taken in conjunction
with the Methods Practicum field experience, (EDU5756).
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education; passing the Basic Skills Test;
maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing a
TB test.
Co-requisite: EDU5756.
MTH5826 Secondary Methods of Teaching Mathematics
4 semester hours
This course presents techniques that are effective in teaching Mathematics. The
course includes lesson planning, classroom arrangement, curriculum design,
alternative teaching strategies and evaluation. Within the context of this course,
students will explore effective ways of planning, teaching and measuring the effect
on student learning in the discipline. This course is taken in conjunction with the
Methods Practicum field experience (EDU5756).
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education; passing the Basic Skills Test;
maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing a
TB test.
Co-requisite: EDU5756.
SBS5826 Secondary Methods of Teaching Social Studies
4 semester hours
This course presents techniques that are effective in teaching Social Studies. The
course includes lesson planning, classroom arrangement, curriculum design,
alternative teaching strategies, and evaluation. Within the context of this course,
students will explore effective ways of planning, teaching and measuring the effect
on student learning in the following disciplines: Anthropology, Sociology, Economics,
Political Science, World History, U.S. History, Illinois History. This course
is taken in conjunction with the Methods Practicum field experience (EDU5756).
Prerequisites: Acceptance into College of Education; passing the Basic Skills
Test; maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting Screening
that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex offender check. Passing
a TB test.
Co-requisite: EDU5756.
HIS5996 Directed Study Capstone in History
2 semester hours
This directed study capstone course examines the nature and definition of history
and historical truth, research methodology and tests of evidence, synthesis and
skill in writing, the evolution of history as a discipline, and the tasks of the professional
historian. It treats history as a liberal arts discipline and as a profession
and is designed to be useful to those earning certification in history.
Prerequisite: Permission from the History Department.
MTH5996 Directed Study Capstone in Mathematics
2 semester hours
The goal of this course is to aid the students in integrating their experience in secondary
math certification at AU and to prepare for entry into the job market.
Some sessions will be held regarding interviewing skills and the current job market.
In other sessions, students will meet with their individual advisors during the
term to analyze the contents of the portfolio they have been preparing during
their tenure at AU, to organize its contents, and to finalize its format as a tool in
the job search. Students will write an essay summarizing their experience in the
certification program, indicating their special interests in the field, for inclusion
in the portfolio. Students will also compile a bibliography of Internet sites relevant
to their special interests in the field of mathematics and/or mathematics
education.
Prerequisite: Consent of department.
ENG5996 Directed Study Capstone in English
2 semester hours
This particular directed study course is designed to challenge and to suggest that
there may be more to knowing “how to read” than even experienced and sophisticated
readers realize. In this directed study course, students will complete critical
analyses of literary (and other) texts using theoretical perspectives to inform
such analyses. This directed study will require sustained encounter with a wide
range of modern literary theories and with the questions of just how these theories
should, do, should not and do not affect the way(s) that we read, and eventually
teach, both classic and contemporary works of literature.
Prerequisite: Permission from Chair of Humanities.
EDU6756 Student Teaching Internship
10 semester hours
Student Teaching is one of the capstone experiences of the Secondary Certification
Program. The teacher candidate is assigned full-time to a middle or secondary
school classroom for the 16-week semester and is responsible for planning,
directing and evaluating the learning of a group of students under the supervision
of a certified teacher and University supervisor. The teacher candidate is guided
through experiences designed to apply the knowledge and skill gained throughout
the program. The teacher candidate performs the major functions of a
teacher with appropriate responsibilities and supervision.
Prerequisites: Consent of program chair, acceptance into the College of Education,
including passing the Basic Skills Test; officially reported passing grade on
the Content Area Test; maintaining a GPA of 3.00. Passing an FBI National Fingerprinting
Screening that encompasses passing a criminal background/sex
offender check. Passing a TB test. Completion of professional courses. Students
with an earned baccalaureate degree must satisfactorily complete 15 semester
hours at Aurora University prior to student teaching.
