EDUC 816 - Theories of Learning
This course will provide students with an in-depth look at key theories and perspectives that have shaped the field of education, including behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, progressivism, sociocultural theory, and critical theory. Students will be encouraged to develop a theoretical foundation for the work they will carry forward in their professional career, whether in research or practice. Students will be supported in developing the skills to locate and comprehend academic readings, to synthesize and explain educational literature, and to use literature to support claims. Students will also be supported in developing academic writing skills through the process of writing a literature review.
EDUC 817 - Curriculum & Pedagogy
This course introduces students to various approaches to curriculum development, with a primary focus on outcomes-based approaches and the Understanding by Design Framework. Students will experience and practice a variety of different pedagogical strategies, considering differentiated, active, and multimodal learning. Students will consider the role of context and purpose in selecting specific strategies for the overall learning experience and in relation to the desired results/learning outcomes. This course will also address best practices in assessment and feedback and consider constructive alignment in the curriculum design process.
EDUC 818 - Education in Multicultural Society
In this course, students will engage with the multifaceted and intersecting nature of culture, identity, and context in the field of education, both in theory and in practice. Students will focus specifically on education in the postcolonial Caribbean context, as they grapple with identity construction, intersectionality, and structural inequalities. Through the lens of critical multiculturalism, students will consider non-essentialist understandings of culture and identity in relation to both past and future educational experiences.
EDUC 820 - Leadership: Theory & Practice
This is a required course in the third semester of the Master of Education Program. In this course, students will explore the intersections between identity, context, leadership philosophies, and practices. Students will examine various perspectives on leadership and apply leadership theories as they collectively analyze problems of practice. Students will also gain experience providing, receiving, and incorporating feedback towards improving leadership practice. Through this course, students will refine their leadership philosophy and gain practical skills for improving their leadership practices.
EDUC 821 - Supporting Students with (Dis)Abilities
Through this online course, students will learn about various (dis)abilities (visible and invisible) and investigate how (dis)abilities intersect with the learning process. Students will be exposed to pedagogical strategies to reduce barriers to learning for students with disabilities, and when implemented properly, can improve the learning of others as well.
EDUC 822 - Student Support Services in Medical Education
Through this online course, students will learn about the factors that influence student performance in medical school and the common support services that enhance performance and well-being. Students will 1) better understand the factors that influence student academic success in medical school, and 2) explain how student-supporting activities can potentially enhance student academic outcomes.
EDUC 823 - Technology in Education
The overall aim of this course is to produce educators who are Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literate and adept at using ICT to support 21st-century teaching and facilitate student learning. The major theme of this course is to enhance education through the appropriate use of ICT. This course provides participants with the basic technical and pedagogical knowledge, skills, and experience to effectively integrate ICTs into their teaching practice by using student-centered and innovative techniques to facilitate student learning. This course will provide students with practical experience in using a wide variety of technological tools while building connections between theory and practice in their respective fields. Students will gain an understanding of the impact (benefits and challenges) of incorporating ICT into education, as well as classroom management issues related to ICTs. This course caters to educators in primary, secondary, and higher education contexts.
EDUC 835 - Practicum I
This is an interactive course, designed to support reflective practice and integration of research, theory, and practice. Students will participate in different practica and will have structured opportunities to work through problems of practice together as a cohort. Practicum placements will vary; some will provide a new experience, and others an advancement of previous experience. The goal of the practicum is to provide students with practical experience to help them integrate theory, research, and practice. The practicum will also serve as the basis for the students’ thesis and as the site of their research.
EDUC 839 - Reflective Practice
The goal of this course is to support reflective practice and integration of research, theory, and practice across all the Master’s in Education courses through the creation of a portfolio. Through this digital portfolio, students will strategically and systematically reflect on their learning within and across each of the Master’s in Education courses in relation to the program learning outcomes. The ePortfolio should be considered both the process through which students engage in a systemic and intentional reflection and the product of this work.
EDUC 900 - Practitioner Inquiry
This foundational research methods course is designed to support students in understanding the goals, approaches, and foundations of applied, practitioner-oriented action research. Through this course, students will engage in self-study to examine an aspect of their practice in relation to broader literature. Students will take this course concurrently with their practicum, so that their research proposal is deeply connected to their practice. This is a pass/fail course.
EDUC 901 - Current Topics in Education
This course is designed to critically examine current topics and emerging issues impacting education as they relate to the big ideas in the Master’s in Education program: Inquiry, Collaboration, Identity, Equity, Agency, and Power. Students will examine the influence of personal beliefs, values, worldviews, and assumptions on the perception/interpretation of current issues, teaching- and learning-related practices, and decision-making in education. Students will self-select a current issue that has impacted their educational context, leverage the class as a community to expand and refine their understanding of the issue, and then synthesize the variety of perspectives into an action plan/way forward.