Required Courses:
EDDI 500 Dimensions of Learning I (3 credits)
Participants will explore and understand this learning-centered framework for instructional planning. Dimensions translate the latest research on cognition and learning into practical classroom strategies. Participants learn how to help students develop positive attitudes and perceptions about learning, develop Habits of Mind for critical, creative and self-regulated behaviors, construct meaning for declarative and procedural knowledge and, extend and refine knowledge.
EDDI 505 Introduction to Differentiated Instruction (3 credits)
Provides an introduction to the philosophy of Differentiation. This course will examine ways that classrooms can effectively support differentiating instruction and assessment to address the complex challenges of meeting the diverse learning needs of all students. Participants will gain an understanding of the reasons and assumptions underlying differentiation and acquire the ability to identify key indicators in a classroom. Knowledge of the characteristics of students who learn at different paces and levels will be developed. Study of a variety of curriculum options, such as those of content, process and product and management styles further assists the implementation of differentiated lessons that optimize learning for all students, including gifted students and other high-ability learners.
EDDI 510 Classroom Management and Professional Collaboration for a Differentiated Classroom (3 credits)
Participants will explore the demands of a mixed ability classroom and acquire management and communication skills to meet the needs of diverse learners. Flexible grouping and organization and instructional delivery strategies will be examined. The class will also focus on developing skills in communication and collaboration to individualize instruction for gifted students. Participants will learn how to develop a support system and manage open communication among classroom teachers, special area teachers, administrators, parents, and outside agencies.
EDDI 515 Identification & Assessment of Students in Gifted Education (3 credits)
This course will provide an overview of tools and methods for identifying and assessing students for gifted programming. Assessment tools will be examined, utilized, and evaluated. Implications for instruction will be discussed.
EDDI 520 Curriculum Development for Gifted Students (3 credits)
Focuses on methods of instruction for gifted students. Participants will develop knowledge and skills for planning, providing, coordinating and evaluating differentiated teaching and learning environments to challenge and assist gifted students in learning to their highest levels of achievement. Participants will learn how to develop a layered curriculum, which will differentiate instruction in order to maximize each student's growth and individual success. Instructional strategies for differentiating the key elements of content, process and products will be addressed. Prerequisites: EDDI 505, EDDI 515
EDDI 600 Practicum and Seminar in Gifted Education (3 credits)
This course involves completing a college supervised practicum experience of 50 hours teaching gifted students. The practicum is individualized and takes place during the regular school hours or during a summer camp for gifted students, at the end of the program. Students will have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the practicum experiences in on-campus seminars. Prerequisites: EDDI 510, 515, 520
EDDI 615 Action Research for a Differentiated Classroom (3 credits)
Focuses on the study of the background of educational research; understanding research methodologies, and designs; tools and techniques of educational research; collection, treatment, analysis and interpretation of research data. The student will develop an action research project that will be implemented during their practicum.
Elective Courses:
Elective Courses:
EDDI 550 Dimensions of Learning II (3 credits)
Participants will continue to explore and understand this learning-centered framework for instructional planning. Dimensions translate the latest research on cognition and learning into practical classroom strategies. Participants learn how to help students use knowledge meaningfully. (Dimensions 4) A focus will be on integrating Dimensions strategies into lesson and unit planning for a differentiated curriculum in order to optimize learning for all students, including those with exceptionalities. Prerequisite: EDDI 500-Dimensions of Learning I
EDDI 555 Gifted Representation in Contemporary Society (3 credits)
This course will examine the various representations of giftedness in US literature, film, and television. From John Nash to Jimmy Neutron and everything in between, the gifted have been romanticized, criticized, and stereo-typified. We will examine to what extent these representations of giftedness are accurate, off-base, and uniquely American. Ultimately, this course will investigate what impact these representations of giftedness have on our gifted students and what can be done to frame giftedness in a positive light in a society that often portrays it as a negative.
EDDI 530 Differentiated Instruction in Mathematics K-12 (3 credits)
Differentiating instruction means providing students with multiple options for learning new information, making sense of ideas, and expressing what they learn. This course will focus on helping the teacher learn approaches for differentiating mathematics instruction in the classroom. Participants will: discuss the principles of differentiated instruction and how they apply to math instruction, learn effective strategies for managing flexible groups, acquire ideas for providing students with a variety of options that successfully target math standards, and understand how to plan strategically in order to reach the needs of diverse learners in the classroom.
EDDI 556 Art Integration in the Differentiated Classroom (K-12)
Participants will develop skills and strategies in adapting differentiated lessons utilizing the visual arts. Integration of art history, creative process and production will result in meaningful and connected experiences for K-12 students. Participants will explore and extend themes and content relative to their own disciplines while modeling and assessing their own creative outcomes.
EDDI 575 Enhancing the Differentiated Classroom through Creativity
This course will offer students the opportunity to learn about the field of Creativity and current research suporting its value in enhancing the learning environment. Participants will discuss and experience ways to nurture teacher creativity to better prepare them to recognize and suport creativity in students. Activities and resources to develop creativity will be explored and evaluated.
EDDI 585 Integrating Technology in the Differentiated Classroom (3 credits)
This course introduces educators to technology that can be used to support, supplement, and deliver differentiated content and assessment in the mixed ability classroom. The benefits and challenges of incorporating technology will be considered while participants learn how to integrate technology into their curriculum. Participants will gain hands-on experience using technological strategies for differentiation that will engage learners of all styles, ranging from new uses for basic software applications and online collaboration, to the production of multimedia.