MAINE EDUCATORS' CONSORTIUM

Science Methods is a core teaching methods course for elementary and middle school science.  Through 15 mystery stories, this book memorably illustrates science concepts for students and reinforces the value of learning science through inquiry. Each mystery presents opportunities for students to create questions, form hypotheses, test their ideas, and come up with explanations.

This course focuses on the use of assistive technology to increase the independence and participation of students with disabilities in schools by providing them with access to the curriculum. With an emphasis on both the relationship between assistive technology and learning and on how assistive technology can be integrated into the curriculum, this course assesses the school-related tasks that students with special needs must perform in order to be successful. Additionally, this course will examine descriptions of technology-based solutions, presenting obstacles in clear, engaging prose.

“Thematic Units, Online and Recharged" is intended for PreK-6 educators and provides hands-on experience integrating online technologies that improve student learning and support instruction with Thematic Units of Study. Participants will study and use Backwards Design to create and/or recreate thematic units that utilize online activities and tools. Participants will learn to use an online environment to host and implement their unit of study. 

Early Childhood Development is a study of physical, emotional, social and cognitive factors of growth and development of children birth to five designed for Early Childhood teachers. Emphasis will be placed on:

• teaching students to work with young children and their families;
• maintaining professionalism and developmentally appropriate practices;
• implementing observation techniques;
• developing and maintaining a learning environment; and,
• using assessment in the Early Childhood classroom.

This course is designed to provide participants with an understanding of effective instructional practices for gifted and talented students. Strategies for utilizing differentiation and developmental approaches that best address the educational characteristics, intellectual needs and creative imaginations of gifted and talented learners will be explored. A facilitator of learning for gifted or high ability students in the classroom must develop an ability to provide classroom experiences that stretch students further than they can comfortably go on their own. Adapting a learning environment to engage and encourage these learners involves a deep understanding of the needs of all students as they learn to use their gifts and talents to understand the world they live, learn and work in.  This course examines strategies that appropriately serve to support and extend the academic needs and creative thinking skills of gifted and talented learners.

Assessments that Meet Learning Styles is designed to explore alternative ways for students to show mastery of content specific standards. In this course, students will explore different learning style inventories from four leading theorists, which will be used to create alternative assessments for all learning types. These assessments will be the foundation for the unit to be implemented in the classroom.

As individuals responsible for technology in schools, we must be able to support both staff and students as they learn to use technology more effectively. This course meets the DOE certification methods requirements by providing practical and understandable information about integrating technology in K-12 classrooms. The TPCK model and National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers will be used to develop lessons and to examine how word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, telecommunications, multimedia and online software can be used to improve teaching and learning in all classrooms. A significant portion of this class will give participants an opportunity to explore and work with new technologies using AI Technologies.

Participants will learn to differentiate between the needs of the online and face to face learner. Participants will analyze online learning environments in an effort to apply what they have learned to the construction of an online environment designed for their own classroom. The key stages of Online Learning and Salmon’s Five-step model will be examined and applied to the development of a virtual classroom space complete with e-tivities, Internet resources, blogs, online classroom tools, email, and linklists. 

Please contact me at emurray@msad54.org

Teaching Study Skills for the Special Education Students will “provide a unique opportunity for active learning and practice that encourages student success in the classroom. Teaching struggling and special needs students to use study skills and strategies effectively is a vital step in transforming these students into accomplished and independent learners , this course offers a comprehensive and hands-on look at an array of time-tested approaches and innovative tactics for learning, retention, and analysis. In addition to the units that cover specific study skills such as taking notes, recalling information, and using time well, additional units instruct students on reading, spelling, math, and vocabulary support strategies.”