Course Descriptions

To register for Continuing Education courses, see UWSP CPS website

Choosing & Using Free Software (EDUC 370 / 570)

• 1 credit
• Online

Teachers and students need many different computer programs. For some needs, free software may be a good choice, and not just because of the price.

OpenOffice.org is free to download and use. It includes word processing, slideshows, spreadsheets, diagramming, concept mapping, and more. It can open and save files in the Microsoft Office format (.doc, .ppt, .xls). For some needs, OpenOffice.org is an effective alternative to programs like Microsoft Office and Inspiration/Kidspiration. We'll practice using OpenOffice.org. We'll find ways to use it for lessons and assignments, as well as in our own planning and management. We'll also practice finding and using other free programs, like Firefox (web browsing), the GIMP (photo editing), and ScreenHunter Free (screen capture). We'll practice creating lessons using free software. We'll study how free software can be part of building and district technology solutions.

Using free software means our students can work at home, even if they can't afford expensive software. Using free software helps eliminate software piracy.

Anyone who uses software like Microsoft Office or Internet Explorer should find this course provocative and useful (including teachers from all grades and disciplines). You'll leave with one or more lessons to use with students. You'll be able to download and use all the programs we discuss as soon as you return to your home or school.

This course has been designed to meet several Wisconsin Teacher Standards : 2/Methods, 3/Diversity, 4/Instruction, 6/Communications, 7/Curriculum, and 8/Assessment.

Motivation, Safety, & Community (EDUC 370 / 370 WE / 570)

• 3 credits
• Online

As teachers, coaches, administrators, parents, etc., we try to help young people grow and thrive. Some young people struggle with serious and crisis issues, including addiction, abuse, body image, bullying, mental health, school violence, and more. These issues can interfere with learning and performance. The problem is greater than an impact on academics or competition. We have a professional and moral duty to help. Our help is particularly vital when young people are confused, at risk, or hurt. Our efforts and our choices can be part of the solution. The more we know about serious and crisis issues, the more we can help.

This course is designed to help us better understand the issues and what we can do to help young people. For most of these issues, there aren't simple answers or strategies. Instead, we'll use a variety of readings, activities, and assignments to reflect on our individual experiences, perspectives, and beliefs. We'll reflect on the strengths and habits we can draw on to help young people.

We'll focus on three big ideas. We'll study a needs/assets/deficits model of motivation and wellness. We'll study a model of community. Finally, we'll study a model for approaching serious and crisis issues: prevent, perceive, investigate, intervene, and reflect. We'll also study how we can maintain our own wellness when dealing with these issues.

This is an online course. There will be extensive reading and writing, as well as online lessons and activities. The instructor will also be available for phone conversations and face-to-face meetings.

This course has been designed to meet several Wisconsin Teacher Standards : 2/Methods, 3/Diversity, 5/Management, 6/Communications, 8/Assessment, 9/Reflection, and 10/Professionalism.

Professional Portfolio Development I (EDUC 200)

• 1 credit
• Online + optional face-to-face
• All lessons & assignments online; optional lab sessions

Introduction to state and national professional teaching standards and assessments. Examine professional development portfolio components and processes. Develop samples of evidence that relate to local and state requirements for certification and initial licensure.

Prereq: Admission to Prof Educ Prog.

Teaching Tech Literacy & Media Production for 21st Century Citizenship (EDUC 370 / 570)

• 1 credit
• Online + 1 face-to-face + optional field trip

New technologies and media are often embraced by popular culture first, especially by young people. Current "pop" tech and media include blogging, video games, online worlds (e.g., Second Life), podcasting, video casting (e.g., YouTube), and more. Students often have some literacy in pop tech and media, or they're eager to develop literacy. Over time, new tech and media become part of our mainstream culture, including our public discussions of values and politics. So if we teach students how to produce public media like podcasts, they can become part of these discussions.

GUARDS Club is a curriculum that blends pop tech and media with cultural literacy and 21st Century citizenship. GUARDS Club stands for Gamers United for Activism, Research, Development, and Service. The modular GUARDS curriculum can be taught as a whole or in parts, as an extracurricular club and/or in a class. GUARDS focuses on improving students' skills in technologies and media, as well as their literacy in relevant artistic, cultural, and political issues. GUARDS guides students in applying their skills and literacy to produce public media. For example, video games are a controversial and poorly-understood new medium. GUARDS students might want to share their perspective on the controversy, via a website, podcast, or video cast.

This is an online course, with one face-to-face meeting. There will be extensive reading and writing, as well as online lessons and activities. The instructor will also be available for phone conversations and face-to-face meetings. All students will be invited to visit the GUARDS day camp, to observe GUARDS curriculum firsthand. Students who can't attend this field trip will complete an alternative assignment.

This course has been designed to meet several Wisconsin Teacher Standards : 2/Methods, 3/Diversity, 4/Instruction, 5/Management, 6/Communications, 7/Curriculum, and 8/Assessment.

Using Pop Media & Tech for Motivation & Critical Thinking (EDUC 370 / 570)

• 1 credit
• Online + 1 face-to-face
• Some lessons & assignments online; 1 face-to-face class meeting

Apathy is an enduring problem in education. As teachers, we struggle to find strategies and tools for engaging learners. Yet often our students are captivated by non-academic media and technologies, including movies, TV, music, comic books, and video games. As teachers, we can try to keep these things out of our classrooms. Or we can view this as an opportunity.

Playful Interest Bridging (PIB) is a strategy to foster motivation and teach critical thinking. PIB is about taking a sincere interest in our students' fascination and skills with new technologies and entertainments. PIB is an inclusive, student-centered approach to connecting our students' interests with our curriculum.

We'll study and play with the pop media and tech students are using to play, relax, and relate. We'll study the skills and knowledge pop media and tech already teach, and what they can be used to teach. We'll practice low-tech, no-cost ways to use pop media and tech, including lab time to find resources and develop lessons.

Teachers from all grades and disciplines should find this course provocative and useful.

This course has been designed to meet several Wisconsin Teacher Standards : 2/Methods, 3/Diversity, 4/Instruction, 5/Management, 6/Communications, 7/Curriculum, and 8/Assessment.

If you're interested in these issues, you should consider taking Teaching Tech Literacy & Media Production for 21st Century Citizenship (EDUC 370/570). You may also want to take I-Movie for Classroom Learning (EDUC 370/570) for hands-on experience with video editing. Video editing is a great way to use pop media.

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