Syllabus

Master of Science in Education

EDU 749: Reading Diagnosis, Clinical Practice I – Spring A 2016

Credits - 3

Description

This two part practicum courses will closely examine a wide range of assessment and instructional methods to support literacy development of struggling learners. They will involve working closely with both an onsite mentor and also with a learning community of students and a UNE instructor. This collaboration will support the student as he/she develops an intensive tutorial relationship with a K-12 student who is struggling in literacy. These courses are full semester long where each term the teacher will work in a one-on-one tutorial setting. During Reading Diagnosis the teacher will engage in administering a variety of reading diagnosis assessments to better understand the child’s literacy difficulty. During the Instructional Intervention course, the teacher will collaboratively create and implement literacy programming that builds on this diagnosis with the goal of moving the student forward in his/her literacy growth. This course meets most state’s requirements that a 6 credit practicum be part of an approved graduate program.

Please note that both EDU 749 and EDU 750 are divided into 4 two-week modules for a total of 8 modules completed over 16 weeks.

Materials

Fisher, Peter J., Bates, Anne, Gurvitz, Debra J. The Complete Guide to Tutoring Struggling Readers. (2014) Teachers College Press ISBN 978-0-8077-5494-8 (pbk)

(Optional resource text) Tompkins, Gail E. Literacy for the 21st Century, A Balanced Approach (5th edition) Allyn & Bacon (2010)   ISBN-13: 978-0-13-502892-6  (this is a very practical book with assessments and teaching strategies for all grade levels)

Articles to be assigned throughout the term (and will be posted in Blackboard)

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

For each course in this program there are overall program goals. Below is a chart of how the overall program goals match the key assessments for this course. In addition, in each module there are smaller learning objectives. These will be specified at the beginning of each week’s introduction along with how these match the broader program goals. This chart will detail the following:

  • Course Objectives:   These are what we hope you will learn through this course.
  • Student Learning Outcomes: this is what you will do to demonstrate that you have met this course objective.
  • INTASC Standards: The state of Maine has adopted these standards for all practicing teachers. These standards have been developed through a consortium of states and specify what all teachers should be able to do. There is an extra standard for Technology as well (National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) that also is required in Maine.
  • IRA Standards for Reading Professionals 2010: These standards sets forth the criteria for developing and evaluating preparation programs for reading professionals.

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcome

Key Assignments

IRA Standards for Reading Professionals

INTASC standards

Demonstrate the ability to administer, examine, evaluate and reflect on a variety of literacy assessments as they are directly connected to data- driven instruction and literacy achievement

Teachers will administer a variety of literacy assessments to determine student literacy skills.

Identify, assess and schedule tutoring

Meet with onsite mentor to review plan

Case study part 1

Standard 3: Assessment and Evaluation

Standard 6 (c, g, j,

l, o, t)

Analyze and use assessment data to examine and create an appropriate intervention plan

Teachers will collect and review data from assessments to inform them about their students’ literacy development and instructional practice.

Video tutoring session

meet with onsite mentor at end of module 2

Standard 2: Curriculum and Instruction

Standard 3: Assessment and Evaluation

Standard 6 (c, l, j,

g, o, t)

Use assessment to guide systematic instruction and to select appropriate traditional print, digital and online reading resources

Teachers will develop and implement an intervention plan based on literacy assessment and developmental needs.

Tutoring

Video progress monitoring

Modify instruction as needed

Standard 1: Foundational Knowledge

Standard 2: curriculum and instruction

Standard 6 (a, b, j,

k, r, t)

Demonstrate a clear connection between assessment results and intervention plan.

Teachers will use appropriate and varied instructional approaches, including those that develop word recognition, language comprehension, strategic knowledge and reading-writing connections

Class project centered on student need

Meet with professional to review plan

Standard 2: Curriculum and instruction

Standard 6 (g, l, o, t, c)

Standard 7

(d, e, i)

Collaborate with others to modify instruction and plan and re- evaluate based on observation and assessment results.

Teachers will demonstrate the ability to modify interventions, as needed , to suit the unique needs of every learner.

Documentation using practicum activity log and case study

Demonstrate the use of reading, colleagues, mentor and specialist

Standard 1: foundational knowledge Standard 2: Curriculum and instruction Standard 5:

Literate environment

Standard 7 (d)

 

Assignments

Class Discussions/Reading (3 points each) Each week will have a specific focus, but you should always feel free to share and ask questions of one another in these threads. You will be expected to post an initial post in response to the thread prompt and then to interact with others at least 6 times throughout the two week module.

NOTE on EDU 749/750 Spring 2016 A/B:

Modules 1 – 4 take place in 749. There are only 3 graded items (discussion boards). While you will be assessed on your posts using the 3­ point rubric, the final grade for the course will be Pass or Fail.


 

 

EDU: 750 Assessment and Tutoring Video Project (25 points) You will be tutoring a student who has presented particular challenges in the development of reading skills.  You will schedule three half hour sessions per week which will begin at the start of Module 2. These sessions will run until the middle of Module 8. This will give a total of 19.5 hours of tutoring over 13 weeks. These sessions are the heart of this class so be sure to choose your student carefully and to set up your schedule mindfully.

EDU: 750 Practicum Activity Log (25 points) You will document your tutoring sessions using the Practicum Activity Log. You will also use this log to document your meetings/sessions with your onsite mentor and will record any collaborative meetings/observations during the course. This log will be used as a daily record of your practicum activity and will be kept throughout the 16 week class. You will share this log, through the discussion board, with your colleagues and online instructor during the second weeks of Module 3 and Module 5 so that we can share ideas and provide feedback to one another.

EDU: 750 Case Study (15 points) You will be asked to document your student’s needs through a case study format. This will be no longer than 5 pages so be brief. It is meant to be an overview and it’s purpose is twofold. It will be a way to reflect on best practice and will help your online instructor to “connect” with your particular student.

EDU: 750 Literacy Project (10 points) You will choose one to complete during the clinical practice courses: Professional Reading, Classroom Visits, or a Video Reflection Project.

EDU: 750 Professional Growth Reflection (5 points) During module six you will reflect on your growth as a literacy professional. You will write a brief (2-3 page) reflection which will include a reflection on your tutoring experience thus far. You will also include what you have learned through your class project and class observation.

EDU: 750 E-Portfolio (14 points) As a culminating activity, you will create an E-Portfolio using a Web 2.0 tool (GoogleSites is recommended) to showcase at least THREE assignments that you feel best reflect your growth as a reading specialist. Provide the selected assignments and include a very brief paragraph or two explaining why you chose each particular assignment.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment (by course)Point Value (100 total)
EDU 749: 3 Discussion Board Threads (3npoints each)npass/fail
EDU 750: 2 Discussion Board Threads (3npoints each)n6
EDU 750: Assessment and Tutoring Videos with Narrative25
EDU 750: Practicum Activity Log25
EDU 750: Case Study15
EDU 750: Literacy Project10
EDU 750: Professional Growth Reflection5
EDU 750: E-Portfolio14

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

This is only a tentative schedule and is meant to give you a bird’s eye view. The activities and assignments may change at the discretion of the instructor.

Weeks

Topics

Activities & Assignments

Dates

1 & 2

Module 1

Introductions

Use of assessment to guide instructional planning

Discussion

Meet with mentor/choose student/obtain permissions

Begin case study

Read Chapters 1 and 2

Practicum activity log

Begin thinking about E-Portfolio

Due: Jan 17, 2016 at

11:59 p.m. EST

3 & 4

Module 2

Meet student needs through individualized tutoring plan

Discussion

Meet with mentor and schedule video sessions (required during modules 3, 4 and 6)

Practicum activity log

Due: Jan. 31, 2016 at

11:59 p.m. EST

5 & 6

Module 3

Modify instruction based on ongoing monitoring, assessment and observation

Discussion

Video one tutoring session

Read Chapters 3 and 4

Continue case study

Post practicum activity log to discussion

Due: Feb. 14,  2016 at

11:59 p.m. EST

7&8

Module 4

Use  of professional resources and colleagues  

Video one tutoring session

Begin Class Literacy Project

Practicum activity log

Due: Feb. 28, 2016 at

11:59  p.m. EST

9 & 10

Module 5

Deepen understanding of current and best literacy practices

Discussion

Submit Class Literacy Project

Observe professional colleague

Read chapters 5 and 6

Post practicum activity log to discussion

Due: March 13, 2016 at

11:59  p.m. EST

11 & 12

Module 6

Demonstrate growth as a reading professional

Video one tutoring session

Submit Professional Growth Reflection

Work on Part lV of case study

Practicum activity log

Due: March 27, 2016 at

11:59  p.m. EST

13 & 14

Module 7

Demonstrate growth as a literacy professional

Discussion

Submit edited video and narrative

Read chapters 7 and 8

practicum activity log

Due: April 10, 2016 at

11:59  p.m. EST

15 & 16

Module 8

Self analysis and reflection

Submit practicum activity log

Submit completed case study

Submit E-Portfolio

Due: April. 22, 2016 at

11:59  p.m. EST

(Friday due date!)

Student Resources

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Assignments/Evaluation

The assessments in this course were designed to meet a number of objectives. First, some of the assignments are created to gauge your active participation in the course. Unlike face-to-face courses where we can visibly monitor your engagement- in this course we need to use things like discussion boards points to make sure that you are an active participant with this material. There are also some assignments that are created to give you an opportunity to synthesize what you are learning and create a new product to demonstrate this learning. In addition you will be asked to participate in a writer’s workshop to allow you to have a foundation for modeling your own life with your students. The assignments in the class have been carefully constructed to match the content in the course and to grow your learning as a literacy professional.

Late Assignments and Re-submitting assignments

For each day an assignment is late, five points (5) will be deducted from the final score.

There are times, however, when a late assignment may be accepted by a professor without a deduction but only if this has been cleared with the instructor before the assignment is due. Also, instructors reserve the authority to make this decision about accepting late assignments on a case by case basis. In addition, every assignment must be completed. If an assignment is not turned in it will lose points until it is submitted.

Also under some circumstances a student may be able to redo an assignment given the instructor’s discretion. However, when an assignment is redone it cannot receive full points and must be completed within one week of receipt of initial grade.

Grading Expectations A= Exemplary Work!

Maintaining a high quality graduate program is a commitment of UNE. In doing so the university believes that the grade of an A should be reserved for exceptionally strong academic performance. Students who provide exactly what a rubric requires are different from those who do the same but go beyond the basic requirements in writing, expression of ideas, and integrated information; the exemplary students. In this course an A will be only given to students who exhibit exemplary work. Each assignment will have a rubric that establishes what an exemplary performance would look like for each task. Instructors will be looking for this exemplary work and will not be handing out A’s for those who just merely meet the expectation.

Teaching Methodology to Be Used

This is an online course and therefore will be using technology to deliver instruction. Each week there will be a guiding question that will drive the readings, the response, and the activities.

There will be a number of ways that you will participate through this course as well as a number of ways that you will be assessed. When new technology is introduced there will be a tutorial provided to help you understand how to access this tool. We do have the expectation that you will have access to high speed internet that will allow you to download and view audios, videos, and web tools.

 

AI Use

The Graduate Programs in Education holds the position that Grammarly and other AI writing and generative technology should not be used when completing course assignments, unless explicitly permitted by course faculty and assignment instructions. These tools do not support a student’s personal and direct capacity to develop and hone skills in creativity, logic, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, theorization, and writing, which are central to graduate-level rigor, assessment, and research. Use of these tools when not explicitly permitted may result in an academic integrity infraction.

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Attendance Policy

8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.