ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
Graduate Courses

ALTE600 INTRODUCTION: INQUIRY AND EDUCATIONAL CHANGE (3 sh)
Introduces the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning and Alternative Education.  In this course graduate students will be introduced to the program expectations, tools and objectives including the technologies utilized for program delivery and electronic portfolio development, online learning strategies, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers, and educational research. 

ALTE604  DESIGNING ASSESSMENTS USING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS (3 sh)
The purpose of this course is to provide graduate students an understanding of and practice with the design and analysis of assessments and rubrics that can be employed in a standards-based classroom.  Readings and activities are grounded in educational research and illustrated with meaningful classroom practices of teaching and learning in a standards-based environment.

ALTE607 PROJECTS, READINGS AND CASE STUDIES IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION (3sh)
Concentration on a project, readings, or reflective practice case studies in alternative education.   Students choose from the following: (1) identify a curriculum, instruction, staff development, classroom management or leadership problem and design a plan or project to investigate that problem; (2) summarize and analyze scholarly writings in curriculum, instruction, classroom management, leadership, and other related areas in alternative education; (3) identify a curriculum, instruction, classroom management, leadership issue, and then plan and construct an inquiry regarding the issue.

ALTE608 EDUCATION REFORM (3 sh)
An in-depth look at efforts to reform the education system in the United States.  The course includes a historical overview of American education during the past 100 years; an analysis of reform efforts; contributions by various cultures, inside and outside of the United States to reform efforts; an overview of the process of reform; and, an exploration of current reform initiatives.

ALTE609 CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL (3 sh)
Designed to promote student mastery of theory and practice related to classroom management.  Students develop a repertoire of strategies to use for preventing and managing classroom discipline with all types of students and situations.  Prerequisite:  EDTL600 or permission of instructor.

ALTE610 HELPING SKILLS IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION (3 sh)
This course is an introduction to working with at-risk youth in alternative education settings.  The course is designed to prepare educators and others for work in alternative education settings by reviewing the characteristics and dynamics of at-risk conditions for youth and by providing opportunities to develop basic helping skills.  Approximately 1/3 of the course is designed to examine at-risk youth issues, establishing appropriate conditions for helping, and the programmatic considerations in Alternative Education.  Two-thirds of the course is devoted to examining various alternative education settings and the development of helping skills appropriate to working in those settings.  Students will learn basic helping skills necessary for effective intervention with at-risk students including helping communication, referral/case-management, conflict management, handling crises, and interviewing.  Additional helping strategies including resilience education, social skills training, and community interventions are also introduced.

ALTE611 CHARACTER EDUCATION:  DEVELOPING STUDENTS TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS (3 sh)
Focuses on the need for developing students’ ability to make good decisions based on reasoned principles and an approach to incorporate this skill as a part of the regular curriculum.  Graduate students enrolled in this course will trace the history of moral education and evaluate various approaches to improve the moral behavior of grade school learners.  In addition, the graduate students will choose one area of the curriculum and devise a long-range plan that will enhance the character development of their student learners.

ALTE612 NUMBER AND NUMBER SYSTEMS AND PEDAGOGY (3 sh)
Utilizes the five core propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the associated discipline/grade level standards as a framework.  Graduate students will utilize best practice in mathematical pedagogy and collaborate with other teachers to plan, teach and revise lesson plans in a format that follows Lesson Study research.

ALTE615 ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION: AN INTRODUCTION TO THEORY & PRACTICE (3 sh)
This course is designed to be an introduction to theories and practices in Alternative Education.  An array of topics is explored to bring research, theories and practices together in a meaningful format.  The inquiry nature of this course will serve as a building block for issues in other courses and the capstone research project.  Emphasis is placed upon the practical application of theories in the classroom, best practices and characteristics of effective programs.

ALTE616 CURRICULUM ISSUES IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION (3 sh)
This course is an introduction to curriculum issues in alternative education settings.  This course is designed to empower educators to facilitate a framework for instructional design in the classroom.  Educational research proves that there are best practices that can be used to empower teachers to align curriculum, instruction, and assessment to the State and National Standards.  Educators will be able to prepare environments that will promote success for at-risk students, by utilizing differentiated instructional and management techniques.

ALTE617 GRANT WRITING (3 sh)
Focuses on the process of writing grants in human services and education.  Students will explore and analyze the various components of a grant, the process of developing and writing proposals, research techniques that produce results, the budgeting process, and how to develop a unified proposal.  Students will write a grant proposal as a final product for the course.

ALTE618 UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF COGNITION AND SOCIAL SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM (3 sh)
This course is designed to promote student mastery of theory and practice related to cognitive and social skills training.  Specifically, students will explore brain-based learning, cognitive skills research, social skills research, and the practical uses of these concepts with students in the classroom.

ALTE625 INVESTIGATING CURRICULUM ISSUES IN EDUCATION (3 sh)
Students may select one issue from the following:  curriculum mapping, designing assessment using performance standards, differentiated instruction, brain-based learning.  In the alternative, they may propose another issue for instructor approval.  Through investigation, analyzation, and discussion, students investigate and formulate criteria necessary for the implementation of best practices within the classroom.  (ALTE625 does not supplant ALTE616.)

ALTE645 TOPICS IN URBAN EDUCATION (1-3 sh)
An intensive approach to urban education issues and practices designed to explore specialized knowledge and skill pertinent  to the field of education.  Topics may include, among others, equity and diversity in the classroom, multi-ability classroom practices, urban curriculum issues, urban minority families and communities, and other relevant federal legislations, classroom management, and poverty.  Emphasis is placed on written work and discussion.

ALTE648 TOPICS IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION (1-3 sh)
An intensive approach to alternative education issues and practices designed to explore specialized knowledge and skill pertinent to the field of education.  Topics may include, among others, correctional education, school and/or educational reform, charter schools, specialized alternative learning environments, residential settings, and urban education.