A Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing

GED 647

Summer Writing Institute

3 credits

The introduction to The Writing Agenda brings together teachers from a range of grades and disciplines to write, to share their writing, to revise, to learn about the connections between writing and thinking, and most importantly to develop applications to their own teaching of writing. Through collaboration and conversation teachers address their concerns about teaching writing, and cultivate an understanding of the way that writing uniquely supports both learning and the communication of what has been learned.

As noted by the Commission, "Although many models of effective ways to teach writing exist, both the teaching and practice of writing are increasingly shortchanged throughout the school and college years." The Summer Writing Institute will visit these models as well as emerging contemporary research on the teaching of writing across grades and disciplines. 

GED 648

Applications of The Writing Agenda

3 credits

Applications of The Writing Agenda is a co-requisite of the Summer Writing Institute. This course gives teachers the crucial support of collaboration and mentoring as they apply, assess, and revise new approaches to the teaching of writing.  Depending on the reforms teachers bring to the course, it can focus on a range of topics; for example invention strategies, visualizing and problem-solving, coaching and grading, drafting texts and editing them, developing projects and preparing for high-stakes testing, the role of film and the power of web-based inquiry and communication, the connections between reading and writing or story and argument.  One outcome of the course is a Spring conference giving teachers the opportunity to share what they have learned.

GED 651

Curriculum Development and Evaluation

3 credits

This course is designed to prepare students to become educational leaders and professional curriculum developers. Students will develop an integrated view of curriculum and instruction at the preschool, elementary, and secondary school levels from the perspective of the teacher and the learner. Students will also acquire an understanding of the interrelationships between current issues in curriculum development, socio-cultural and political influences, and the needs of each constituency in educational systems.

The course will emphasize analysis and evaluation of significant curriculum practices, reforms, and innovations including the P-12 New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, the national INTASC standards, and the New Jersey Professional Standards for School Leaders.  Emphasis will be placed on connecting an understanding of curriculum theory to effective supervision of curriculum development and practice.

GED 661

Managing Educational Change and Innovation

3 credits

This course develops an awareness and understanding of the dynamics of planned change. Theoretical frameworks from social psychology are utilized to aid students in improving their ability to understand leadership responsibility. Various concepts of managing change and the process of change will be considered. Managerial methods such as continuous quality management, site-based management, total quality management, and strategies for adapting principles from them to the schools and the classroom will be discussed.

In addition, an analysis is made of teacher and supervisory roles in creating instructional change.  Techniques for evaluating instructional change are discussed along with strategies for improving human relations and communications in the change process.  This course will incorporate, where appropriate, the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the New Jersey Professional Standards for School Leaders.