M.A. in Teaching: Elementary Education
Courses
ED 450 Human Relations in Education: Effective Communication on the Ground of Infinite Correlation
This course considers the relationship between the individual and society, and between individual cultures in a pluralistic society. Students study major theories from social psychology, multiethnic and multicultural education, and interpersonal communication. (variable credits) Prerequisite: STC 108/109
ED 491 Specialized Student Teaching: Elementary School
This course develops effective teaching skills and curriculum planning for the student’s specific subject matter. During this course, students gain daily experience in the classroom in their specific subject matter for at least two grade levels in the K–6 range. Students participate in a weekly seminar and observe, teach, and receive critiques by supervising and cooperating teachers. (variable credits — may be repeated) Prerequisites: completion of 4 credits in a specialized area of elementary school teaching methods and consent of the department
ED 494 Student Teaching in the Elementary School: Established in Being, Perform Action That Leads to the Fulfillment of Student and Teacher
This course develops effective teaching skills through daily observation, planning, teaching, and evaluation in the classroom. Course work includes weekly seminars, regular observations, written and oral analyses of teaching, critiques by supervising and cooperating teachers and by the student teacher. (variable credits — may be repeated) Prerequisite: consent of the department
ED 510 Introduction to Consciousness-Based Education
This course is the foundational course for all standard and intern programs of the Education Department. It examines the fundamental goals, principles, and practices of Consciousness-Based education as developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. As part of this introduction, it also covers the basic principles of the Science of Creative Intelligence and Maharishi’s Principles of Ideal Teaching. Other topics include the history of education, the American system of education, educational goals, and problems and solutions in contemporary education. (4 credits)
ED 511 Classroom Assessment and Evaluation: Planning for Achievement and Fulfillment
This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of classroom assessment (testing) and evaluation (grading). Students learn how to use learning progressions to create rubrics for essay and performance assessment and test blueprints to create selected response and short answer assessments.(2-4 credits) Prerequisite: An elementary or secondary methods course.
ED 520 Understanding Learning and Development in Children: How Pure Intelligence Comes to Know Itself through the Child’s Developing Nervous System
This course studies the implications of theories of human development and learning for education. The first part of the course looks at theories of both cognitive and affective development and deals with topics such as factors influencing development, endpoints of development, and the nature of intelligence. Students will study the work of Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, Kohlberg, Gardner, and Maharishi. The second part of the course focuses on both cognitive and behavioral views of learning. Topics include classical and operant conditioning, social learning, information processing, problem solving, creativity, and constructivism. (4 credits)
ED 526 Teaching Diverse Learners: Promoting Total Brain Functioning in Every Child by Honoring the Diversity That Blossoms within the Unity of Creation
This course investigates the various learning characteristics of gifted and handicapped students and the strategies and practices elementary and secondary school teachers can use to develop the full range of learning abilities of individuals and groups. Topics include identifying the exceptional student, assuring due process, creating least restrictive environments, preparing the individual education plan (IEP), and evaluating. (variable credits) Prerequisite: ED 520
ED 527 Enlightened Literature for Children: Identifying Life-Supporting Literature to Prepare Children for the Age of Enlightenment
Students learn to evaluate children’s books and to develop a comprehensive reading program for the elementary school classroom. Topics include criteria of selection, story telling, reading warm-up and follow-up, motivating children to read, and designing a reading program. (2–4 credits)
ED 549 Mastering Classroom Management: Gaining Leadership in the Classroom through the Authority of the Total Potential of Natural Law
Students learn the basic principles of leadership and classroom management from Maharishi’s Principles of Ideal Teaching and the social science literature. They practice specific time-honored techniques and they practice developing the judgment of a leader through numerous case studies. Topics include —understanding student needs, motivation, building relationships in the classroom, dealing with minor disruptions and chronic misbehavior, and problem-solving with students (2 credits).
ED 554 Teaching Elementary Mathematics: Exploring the Structure of Pure Knowledge in Theory and in Practice
This course introduces teaching methods for arithmetic, computation, and basic mathematical concepts. Topics include strategies for teaching mathematics in accordance with the stages of children’s cognitive development and for teaching pre-number and number concepts, place value and numeration, whole numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. (variable credits) Prerequisites: ED 548, ED 526
ED 558 Teaching a Single Subject in the Elementary or Secondary School: Laying the Foundation for Enlightened Leadership
This course introduces the process of curriculum development and the instructional methods appropriate for teaching a single subject in the elementary or secondary school. The course is co-taught by University and school faculty. Students are placed in a classroom where they spend approximately 25 hours over the course of the month. They assist in the classroom, observe methods of instruction, and plan a unit to be taught later during their student teaching. Topics include structure of the discipline, broad ideas of the discipline, national standards in one’s field, instructional strategies special to one’s field, curriculum design, principles of sound assessment, reading across the curriculum, data-based instructional decision making, and research on new trends or methods of instruction. (4 credits) Prerequisite: ED 332 The Science and Art of Teaching.
ED 560 Teaching Elementary Science: Discovering the Self as the Basis of All Natural Phenomena
This course provides the teacher with research-based strategies to develop a scientific approach and scientific problem-solving abilities in elementary school children. Topics include novice and expert science concepts, cognitive development, and science methods and materials in the elementary school. (variable credits) Prerequisites: ED 548, ED 526
ED 571 Methods of Teaching Elementary Reading and Language Arts: Understanding and Experiencing How the Language Arts Develop Self-Referral in Teacher and Student
This course trains students to evaluate the theory and practice of reading and language arts education in the light of contemporary research. Course topics include all topics of ED 485 with an additional emphasis on the findings of CIERA, the National Research Council, and the National Reading Panel. (variable credits) Prerequisites: ED 548, ED 526
ED 573 Teaching Elementary Social Studies: Creating Ideal Citizens of the Age of Enlightenment through Classroom Experiences That Inspire and Enlighten
This course presents an introduction to social studies, including methods and materials. Topics include designing units and lessons, aligning curriculum with national standards and the Iowa Core Curriculum, project-based learning, and assessment. (4 credits)
ED 574 Teaching Elementary Art: Expressing the Joy of Pure Consciousness
In this course, students become familiar with the theory, basic concepts, and techniques used to teach elementary school art. Topics include teaching methods and curriculum for art. Materials fee is $15. (variable credits)
ED 576 Methods of Teaching Elementary Physical Education: Understanding the Mechanics of Self-Referral in the Classic Triad of Mind, Body, Spirit
This course introduces teaching methods for elementary physical education. Topics include strategies for teaching physical education in accordance with the stages of children’s motor development, classroom management, lesson planning, and holistic health and fitness. (1 credit)
ED 595 Creating a Digital Teaching Portfolio: Documenting the Growth of an Ideal Educator through Reflection on the Three-Fold Nature of Teaching and Learning
This course provides students with the time and supervision necessary to prepare a portfolio of the work they completed while in student teaching. Students learn the basics of hypermedia design (Web design) and create a showcase portfolio presenting their work to potential employers and to the University faculty. The portfolio is then evaluated by a panel of faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Arts in Teaching. (2–4 credits)
The content of this page was reviewed in January 2010.
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