Foundations for Teaching and Learning

Catalog description

This initial course in the M.A.T. program provides students with foundational knowledge in learning theory, action research, and educational practices including the role of technology to build a broad understanding of learning and teaching in American schools today. Through course lectures, videos, readings, discussion and interactive activities, students examine a variety of issues including neurological and cultural factors that impact how students learn, characteristics of standards-based curricula, meeting the needs of diverse learners, the power of collaboration, and the purposes for formative and summative assessments. Students examine and utilize the Common Core State Standards in a data-driven school improvement project designed to give them a “big-picture” understanding of how teachers, administrators and community members use research, assessment and contextual data to inform practice and support student learning. Students examine the Rhode Island Professional Teacher Standards and the Rhode Island teacher evaluation system to support their emerging understanding of the professional, educational, legal and ethical responsibilities to students and their families.