PreK-12 Education

Brandman University Independent Study courses are project-based courses designed to enhance curriculum development and encourage individual growth. The many informative and interesting courses allow you to work at your own pace in a convenient place, and work with or without a computer. Whether you are looking to open doors to new career paths or expand career options, you will find the right Independent Study course here at Brandman University.

The activities and assignments for each course vary slightly, but all courses require the following:

• Read 100 pages per unit from professional books or journals. Many courses allow you to choose a book from a provided resource list.
• Complete an annotated time log to verify you have spent at least 15 hours per unit on the course requirements.
• Complete a one-page reflection paper that documents what you have learned essay that documents how you plan to use your new knowledge.

COURSES:

Classroom Management

Organizing Your Classroom EDIU 9767

Whether you are a new or a veteran teacher, you will find this course both practical and important. Few people are born with the kinds of organizational skills required to manage the forms, projects and paperwork most teachers deal with on a daily basis. Having routines, procedures, and policies in place increases teacher and student productivity, ensures greater time on task, and reduces stress. You decide which areas of your curriculum, classroom, library, filing cabinet, etc. need to be addressed and develop your own plan of action. Your plan will be based on your professional reading and research. Credits: 3

Organizing for Educators EDIU 9119

Once some of the basic procedures and routines are in place, continue the organization process by working on additional projects/plans/activities. Given the many interruptions in any “normal” day, planning for the unexpected is also a good idea. This course will present ideas for creating and/or improving classroom procedures and policies as well as organizing routine activities and special events. This course is meant to extend your learning from the basics to more in-depth organizational skills. Credits: 3

Coping in Today's Classroom EDIU 9129

Teaching is classified as one of the “helping” professions. Some of the most talented professionals become victims of too much helping. Burnout is the result. Through professional reading and reflection, this course will guide teachers in finding the right balance between caring for others and caring for self. Credits: 3

Prevent Bullying in the Classroom EDIU 9246

Bullying significantly impacts the learner and the learning environment. Students in fear of being bullied can hardly be expected to do their best academic work in class. This course is designed to assist the\ educator in analyzing the issues involved with school bullying and developing solutions to effectively deal with bullying behaviors. It will also help the teacher to support the victims and learn how to take preventive measures. This class may be one of the most significant classes you take. Credits: 3

Classroom Management & Student Responsibility EDIU 9247

Teaching self-control and responsibility begins with the teacher’s classroom management plan. Participants in this course will develop effective strategies for handling real day-to-day situations and learn how to resolve and prevent discipline problems. As part of this course, teachers will create an effective classroom management plan based on their own personality, grade level, and teaching style. Credits: 3

Teaching Methodology

Creating Sub Tubs EDIU 9756

A Sub Tub can be a life-saver for both the regular teacher and the substitute teacher. Implementing the ideas presented in this course will guarantee a much better chance that academic integrity will be maintained in the case of an emergency absence on the part of the regular teacher. All classrooms need this tool! Credits: 1

Interactive Bulletin Boards EDIU 9758

Interactive bulletin boards are learning games on the wall. Students can manipulate the pieces to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Interactive bulletin boards combine color, function, and fun. Teacher artistic ability is optional; anyone can create one of these unique learning tools. Credits: 1

Fine-Tune Your Teaching! EDIU 9121

Your classroom practice is good but you want to move from good to great. This course will give you an opportunity to reflect on “the way things are”, choose an area on which to focus your attention, and then fine-tune your practices to transform your teaching day into a truly great experience for you and your students. Credits: 3

Teaching with the Brain in Mind EDIU 9221

New technologies have given us insight into the brain and its functions. From these scientific studies we can now identify sound teaching practices. This course will present current material in a format that is immediately applicable to the classroom. Teachers will explore current research and teaching strategies that support the brain in its learning. Credits: 3

Classroom Instruction That Works EDIU 9220

All teachers want to use the best teaching and learning strategies to promote the highest success for students. This course will explore the research that shows which classroom strategies actually work. Teachers will experiment with these strategies and reflect on their effectiveness with their own students. Credits: 3

Special Project for Individualized Learning EDIU 9122

This course is designed for teachers who have a specific project in mind related to an area not covered by any of the existing courses. This course requires participants to plan and research an area of inquiry related to their specific curricular requirements Prior approval of instructor required. Credits: 1-3

Get Them Out of Their Chairs: The Power of Movement EDIU 9132

Can movement enhance learning? Research strongly suggests that it can. In this course, participants will explore some of the ways movement and exercise can improve their curriculum by increasing student learning, retention, and motivation. Participants will then create a plan that allows for the kind of movement that fosters student growth both physically and academically. Credits: 3

The Most Successful Classroom is Differentiated! EDIU 9673

Why do you need differentiated instruction when you have so many standards and procedures to focus on? Your learners come in all styles. They come to the classroom with different skills and talents and with different interests and life experiences. How can you help every student succeed with such diversity? The most successful classroom is differentiated! This course will demonstrate why differentiation is the best education possible! It will inspire and train you in the most effective techniques of differentiation for your classroom. Differentiation is the key element that will provide you with powerful curriculum and such engaging instruction that you will meet the needs of all learners in a satisfying manner for both teacher and student! This course will help equip all educators with the skills and strategies to meet the individual learning needs of every student while still meeting critical achievement and state standards. Credits: 3

Adding Spice to Structure EDIU 9662

In this day and age of extremely structured curriculum, teachers must often inject creativity to keep their students (and themselves) motivated. This course allows the teacher to spend time reflecting on and creating/collecting multiple intelligence/multiple modality activities/connections/sponge activities to spice up your very structured curriculum. Credits: 1-3

Boxing up Concepts: Supporting Unit Investigations EDIU 9663

Students in today’s classrooms come with extremely varied life experiences. Many lack the prior knowledge/schema necessary to comprehend concepts teachers must teach. These students may need extra support through pictures, models, books videos, real objects (realia) to be successful in learning the concepts of the unit of study. This course is designed to allow teachers an opportunity to research, create and/or collect things to enhance the concepts of a specific unit of study and to organize it into a Unit Box. Credits: 1-3

Learning Styles in the Classroom EDIU 9681

Students of all ages have preferred learning styles, and they learn best when they receive information that is a fit for their style. They also learn better if they can adapt to a variety of styles. Teachers also have preferences and tend to emphasize their preferred style, but both teachers and students will benefit if lessons address the full spectrum of styles. The main goal of this course is to help you understand the different learning styles and practice integrating them into your lesson plan. Credits: 3

English Language Learning

English Language Learners EDIU 9813

This course is designed to help you incorporate strategies to help English Language Learners (ELLs) in your classroom. As educators we want all students to be successful and to be an active participant in your lesson. The goal of this course is to make you aware of how language is acquired; how to use the best strategies, and materials to make your lessons understandable and successful to ELLs. You will learn ways to help your student become an active member of your class and increase your student’s English academic language. Credits: 3

Computer/Technology/Software/Games

Why Wiki?: Teaching with Wikis, Blogs, and other Web Tools EDIU 9692

Web 2.0 technologies are the most recent phase of our interactions with the World Wide Web. This course will discuss how on Wikipedia you can look up words and phrases and you can also add or edit information to that and many other sites that are known as wikis. Wiki’s are collaborative tools. Rather than sending files back and forth to edit using word processing software, you and your students can share the information and edit it all together in one space. Credits: 3

Language Arts/Reading/Writing/Literacy

Use Poetry to Enhance Learning EDIU 9127

It’s fun, it’s educational, it’s different. Read and write poetry for math, P.E., science, reading, history, health, or any other curriculum. Poetry knows no curricular boundaries. You provide the link. Credits: 1

Literacy across the Curriculum EDIU 9128

All teachers in all curricular areas are required to include literacy instruction in their curriculum. Determine how you can best accomplish this task and create a plan for getting started. This course provides many resources for your consideration. Credits: 3

Diller-a-Dollar: Using Literature to Teach Math EDIU 9017

Meeting the needs of all learners is just one of the challenges that teachers face each day. Today with high stakes testing and scripted curriculums this challenge seems even more insurmountable. We know that no matter how well curriculum is written it focuses on just one group of learners and we search for ways to modify instruction so that all students are successful. Credits: 3

Enhancing Vocabulary Instruction EDIU 9660

This course will allow you to investigate powerful vocabulary strategies and concepts that will transfer directly to more student success in your own classroom. You will also research and collect vocabulary enrichment activities that will build your repertoire and give you a variety of ways to introduce, practice and monitor vocabulary enrichment. Credits: 1

Journaling: A Tool for Educators EDIU 9259

Learn about the art of reflective journaling and how to expand this personal practice for classroom use. This class is original and innovative. Have fun while you explore and expand your creative abilities. Your journaling may take many forms including illustrated journals or scrapbook journals/storybooks. Credits: 3

Travelling Beyond the Text EDIU 9661

This course will allow you to experience your curriculum as a learner and as an educator as you collect information and/or realia (real objects) about one of your upcoming units/topics of study. The goal of this course is to allow you time to take a ‘fieldtrip’ of your own to increase your own knowledge of a unit you must teach, to offer you opportunity to travel and collect realia or photographs, videos and/or information to enhance your teaching and your students learning. Credits: 1-3

Instructional/Classroom

Math Motivation: A Problem with a Solution EDIU 9120

A teacher’s enthusiasm for a subject has a significant effect on student achievement. In this reflective course, you will have the opportunity to explore personal beliefs both positive and negative about math and math instruction, and plan ways to make math more enjoyable for you and your students. Credits: 3

Integrating Career Exploration into the Curriculum EDIU 9000

Do your students ask you, “Why do I have to learn this?” Do you know adults who wish they had planned more for their careers when they were younger? Are you interested in helping your students prepare for a fulfilling career? In this course you will explore ways to help your students better prepare for a fulfilling future. Credits: 3

Empowering Kids through Art EDIU 9680

Since the beginning of time, mankind has created art. Art is a language that all people speak, cutting across racial, cultural, social, educational, and economic barriers, enhancing cultural appreciation and awareness. It provides opportunities for self-expression, bringing the inner world into the outer world of concrete reality, integrating mind, body, and spirit. This course will give you the opportunity to explore the integration of the visual arts into your curriculum as a tool for inspiring creative thinking in your students. Credits: 3

Media Literacy: What Does it Mean for Your Students? EDIU 9200

There are many different definitions of media literacy. This topic can be controversial in that some people believe that many youth exhibit negative behavior as a result of media effects. Like other important issues, research shows that many variables interact to influence behavior. The goal of this course is to evaluate current research and define the aspects of media literacy that have the most potential to affect your students. Credits: 1-3

Integrating Conference Content into Your Curriculum EDIU 9308

Teachers regularly attend conferences and seminars designed to help them develop professionally. Often participants are overwhelmed with information and ideas, but they have difficulty dedicating the time to applying their knowledge to everyday practice in the classroom. This course will help educators to prioritize the information presented, determine how to apply selected information to a lesson plan, and develop a lesson plan. Credits: 1-3

Non-Specific Courses

Use Travel Experiences to Enhance Learning EDIU 9133

Travel experiences can be used as a vehicle for connecting the real world to classroom curriculum and standards. In this class, you will have the opportunity to plan classroom lessons and activities that connect your travel experiences to your classroom experiences. Use your own enthusiasm to motivate students to be inquisitive learners outside the classroom. Credits: 3

Kids, Critters, Character & Curriculum: How to Create a Winning Combination in Your Classroom EDIU 9206

Nurturing children's connection to animals and nature are strong motivational tools. Teachers who take this course will be able to identify basic concepts of humane education, caring for animals and the environment, and devise strategies for integrating these into required curriculum. Credits: 3

Eco-Literacy: Educating Our Children for a Sustainable Future EDIU 9811

Ecoliteracy combines the sciences of systems and ecology to foster a deep appreciation of nature and mankind's role in it. A focus on environmental education and ecoliteracy involves teaching children and adults how to investigate their environment and to make intelligent, informed decisions about how they can become responsible stewards. These experiences help shape children's understanding about ecosystems and the shifts our society needs to make in order to create a sustainable future. This course gives educators the opportunity to explore ways to incorporate ecoliteracy and environmental issues into their curriculum.

All courses will be letter grades unless Pass/No Pass is specifically requested. Please email exed@brandman.edu after registration if P/NP is required.