Guiding the learning and professional growth of educators

• 3 semester hours graduate credit
• Next Session:
  EDUC 744 941 February 2 – April 3, 2009
  
• Online Course - No travel to campus required
  

Description: Current research and strategies to support, guide and foster personal and professional growth of new educators.

This course studies the practice of mentoring as a process to provide effective on-the-job support and guidance to foster personal and professional growth of initial educators. Analyze the role of a mentor and practice how to build trust, clarify communication, and provide supportive feedback during collaborative planning, observation, and reflection activities.

Guidelines will be reviewed as a model for designing a mentoring plan including self-reflection, goal setting, inventories, activities, timelines, evidence of collaboration, and an assessment plan. Designed for classroom teachers, guidance counselors, media specialists, school administrators, and teachers supervising student teachers.

You may participate using your home or work computer.

Review a few comments from our past participants.

You will connect to learning modules and class discussion via the Internet to retrieve and submit assignments, interact in discussions with other participants and the instructor.

Additional online classes are listed in the online catalog

Learning Outcomes
At completion of the course, students will:

1. Articulate an understanding of the role, benefits, and impact of serving as a teacher mentor. (WI DPI 10; WI DPI-Admin 3)
2. Research and analyze the needs of initial educators, educator standards, and benefits of a mentoring program for the initial educator and the school. (WI DPI 10; WI DPI-Admin 3)
3. Research and analyze the characteristics and behaviors of effective mentors when providing support, assistance, and feedback during observing and conferencing.. (WI DPI 9, 10; WI DPI-Admin 3)
4. Demonstrate an awareness of the potential problems that are likely to occur in a mentoring relationship and apply best practice strategies and effective responses to minimize the problems. (WI DPI 10; WI DPI-Admin 3)
5. Initiate a mentor/mentee relationship and establish a foundation of trust, communication, collaboration, and reflective practice. (WI DPI 6, 9; WI DPI-Admin 3)
6. Identify best practices for creating and maintaining a safe environment for the mentee to attain and sustain a mastery level of teaching in an active, positive learning environment that supports school, district, and state curricula. (WI DPI 10; WI DPI-Admin 1, 3)
7. Utilize and adapt a wide range of online resources when planning mentoring activities including inventories, readings, and a mentor/teacher journal. (WI DPI 10 ; WI DPI-Admin 3)
8. Differentiate appropriate and inappropriate use of specific communication skills such as paraphrasing, active listening, and clarifying. (WI DPI 6; WI DPI-Admin 3)
9. Design a professional development plan with a mentee including self-reflection, goals/benchmarks, activities, timelines, evidence of collaboration, and data as evidence of success in an assessment plan. (WI DPI 9, 10; WI DPI-Admin 1, 3 )

Course objectives are aligned with the following:
Wisconsin Standards for Teacher Development and Licensure
(WI DPI): # 6, 9, 10.

Wisconsin Standards for Administrator Development and Licensure (WI DPI-Admin) # 1, 3

Content Outline

Required Textbook
Purchase a copy of:
The Mentoring Year: A Step-by-Step Program for Professional Development by Susan Udelhofen and Kathy Larson (Corwin Press, Inc. 2003) This book is available from online book stores and can be ordered from most local book dealers. Readings will be assigned from this textbook.

Prerequisites
What are the minimum technology requirements?

Complete the system checkup on this website, https://uwstout.courses.wisconsin.edu/
by clicking on the link that says: Check your system.

Review the list of compatible/recommended browsers and software programs for Learn@UWStout at the Online Help Desk.

If you have any questions about these preferences, please call one of the numbers listed below and indicate that you are a UW-Stout student needing help with Learn@UW-Stout . Help is available 7 days a week.

• 1-888-435-7589 select option 3
, or
• 1-608-264-4357 select option 3

Take a few minutes to review the Frequently Asked Questions, (FAQs).

Instructor
Alfi Velasco-Hurst

REGISTRATION
Sign Up Soon

Tuition is payable by university billing, MasterCard, or Visa.
Payment plan option available for fall or spring semesters.
Refund policy

Enrollment is limited to twenty participants; register online .

Check out the list of additional online classes.

Request Information Online

Contact:
School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
phone: (715) 642-0209 or 715-232-2253

Orientation Activities
After you are enrolled, review the orientation activities, the Student Expectations and Responsibilities and Academic Expectations and Dishonesty Policy.