Graduate-Level Credit / Non-Credit Hours
3 Semester Credits or 45 Clock Hours
Course Description
This course is designed to provide an overview of and foundation for writing including current research components and practice. Participants of this course will examine current writing research, study classroom pedagogy, and explore critical writing components as they apply to the 21st century classroom. Foundational work will include studying the spectrum of writing development as well as learning to use mentor texts in the writing process. Participants will examine teaching strategies to enhance specific genres of writing and develop sound assessment in both formative and summative measure. Participants will evaluate a classroom culture of writing as well as implement and reflect on their own current practice.
Global Goals of the Course
To deepen and/or apply the content and skills of the teacher’s existing professional knowledge base by meeting the following global goals of this course:
1. To understand the philosophical and pedagogical belief systems of writing in relationship to the development of literacy (NBPTS 2,4; ISTE 5)
2. To develop an understanding of the continuum of writing development at the higher levels (NBPTS 2,3; ISTE 1,5
3. To explore current writing research and apply it to the development of a sound curriculum of writing (NBPTS 1,2,4,5; ISTE 1,2,3,4)
4. To analyze writing in a mentor text viewpoint and develop appropriate writing assignments with such knowledge (NBPTS 2,3,4; ISTE 1,3,5)
5. To acknowledge and respect the importance of risk-taking in the writers’ process (NBPTS 1,2,3; ISTE 1,3,5)
6. To examine specific genres of writing and adjust teaching methods to enhance each (NBPTS 2,3,4; ISTE 2,3)
7. To aid in the writing needs in specific disciplines and for particular purposes (NBPTS 2,3,4; ISTE 1,2,3,4)
8. To gain knowledge of the assessment process, utilizing the formative assessment process to guide instruction and provide accurate summative assessment (NBPTS 1,2,3,4,5; ISTE 2,5)
9. To analyze the ways in which writing is changing in the digital age and adjust practice to maximize student modalities and 21st century needs (NBPTS 1,2,4; ISTE 1,2,3,4,5)
The course was great! The information was on point and the instructor was very supportive throughout the class.
I loved the enthusiasm the instructor brought to class every day, the overall course content, and the relevant assignments.
The professor was very knowledgeable and helpful about the content area and had so many great ideas that I plan on using with my class this year and beyond. I was surprised at how many resources there are for outdoor education and how beneficial it is to kids.