EDPD 5030 Teaching and the Change Process
Teaching is change; learning is change. Merriam-Webster.com defines change as "to give a different position, course or direction to" and "to make different in some particular manner." Learning is the ability to "solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate well." (Gagnon & Collay, 2006) Teachers, then, facilitate learning experiences by teaching students to think innovatively about change and the problem solving process. Each minute, period, day, month and year, teachers are required to create and sustain changes in their students and their teaching. This change is manifested in such educational terms as curriculum mapping, formative assessment, response to intervention (RTI) and differentiated instruction. In this course, participants will develop skills and strategies to facilitate change in their teaching and in student learning. Participants will learn how to: identify challenges, develop ownership, write SMART goals, craft plans/lessons, facilitate student "buy-in", and formatively assess student work. This change process will not only assist teachers in developing a "Habit of Mind" but impact student learning in their classrooms in real time. Participants will be expected to apply and reflect upon course material on a weekly basis through on-line correspondence and ongoing communication with other course participants.