Iowa Course Updates
· Online
· Ottumwa
· West Des Moines
· Course Descriptions – MS Endorsement
Face to Face Class Hours (unless otherwise noted):
· Friday 5 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
· Weekdays during summer 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Online Course Offerings:
West Des Moines Middle School Course Offerings:
Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 516: Middle School field Experience
Dates: Jan. 2-May 18
Instructor: Cynthia Knight
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 546: Thinking Mathematically at the Middle School Level ( CLASS CANCELLED)
Dates: June 4-7 and 10
Instructor: Laura Meyer
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 546: World Geography
Dates: June 26-28 & July 1-2
Instructor: TBA
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 546: Literature Across Cultures
Dates: June 28-29, July 12-13 and 26-27
Instructor: Ruth Ann Gaines
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 546: Middle School Math Concepts
Dates: July 10-12 and 15-16
Instructor: Sharon McKimpson
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 517: Understanding the Young Adolescent
Dates: July 17-19 and 22-23
Instructor: Lori Phillips
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 546: Algebra Concepts for the MS
Dates: July 24-26 & 29-30
Instructor: Sharon McKimpson
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 551: Adolescent Literature
Dates: July 31-Aug. 2 and Aug. 5-6
Instructor: Norene Bunt
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Location: Viterbo Iowa Center, 4949 Westown Pkwy., Suite 195, WDM
EDUC 628: Models for Teaching Middle School Students
Dates: Aug. 2-3, 16-17 and Sept. 6-7
Instructor: Cynthia Knight
Course Descriptions for Middle School Endorsement #182:
EDUC 517: Understanding the Young Adolescent
This course provides an overview of early adolescent development from the ages of 10-15 years. Information about physical development, cognitive development, social development, emotional and personality development will be explored. Application and problem solving will be emphasized in this course. – 3 credits
EDUC 628: Models for Teaching Middle School Students
This course examines strategies and educational components that create a learning environment to address the complex needs of adolescent students. It includes specific methodologies and material pertaining to the basic functions of middle level education including: integration, exploration, guidance, differentiation, socialization, and articulation. It investigates recent research and practical applications. – 3 credits
EDUC 546: Government
Students will acquire a body of knowledge to be competent citizens based on the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy. This knowledge will allow the participant to participate in the political process and contribute to the functioning of a healthy political system. – 3 credits
EDUC 546: U.S. History Since 1865
This study will include a survey of American History since the Civil War. It will provide a compelling narrative history of the American Experience. Additionally, significant events, movements, problems, and challenges will be cited and analyzed. – 3 credits
EDUC 546: World Geography
The six essential elements of geography, spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and uses of geography will be studied. The course will show the importance of each element and its interrelationship in the world. The student will see the meaning, relationships, uses and application of the six elements. – 3 credits
EDUC 531: Adolescent Literacy
This course will explore the current development and practice of adolescent literacy in a changing world. Globalization means middle and high school students will find themselves in a world with jobs that require ingenuity, imagination and empathy, and will require employees who are willing to take risks and work cooperatively. With this in mind, this course will use a variety of texts to synthesize literacy strategies about reading, writing, speaking, and thinking in the adolescent world, including how to adapt to the increase of technology in everyday use. – 3 credits
EDUC 546: Literature Across Cultures
This course is designed to help the middle level educator expand his/her cultural horizons and be able to discuss the cultural themes of literature with their students. The course will cover the characteristics of many diverse cultures including African, African American, Asian, Bosnian, Latino, Native American, and Middle Eastern. Books that are appropriate for middle schoolers embracing these cultures will also be covered. Guest speakers, dvds and field trips will enhance this course. – 3 credits
EDUC 551: Adolescent Literature
This course explores quality children’s literature for modeling the reading and writing of varied genres, including fiction and nonfiction, technology and media-based information, and non-print materials. Various children’s literature books will be used. – 3 credits
EDUC 546: World History
Students will study broad patterns of change in world history. This study focuses on global trends happening simultaneously in different parts of the world. The study will focus on large-scale forces of social, cultural, and economic change. Students will be asked to explore historical issues and problems over determined periods of time and identify global trends. – 3 credits
EDUC 510: Physical Science Concepts for the Middle School
This course is designed for teachers seeking the middle school endorsement. It will emphasize teaching strategies and content for fifth through eighth grade students. The content will be aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and will include scientific and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas specific to physical science. The core content includes: Matter and Its Interactions, Motion and Stability, Energy, and Waves. Participants will build units of instruction that will include resources and strategies for helping students to learn this content. – 4 credits
EDUC 546: Teaching Language Usage and Composition at the Middle School Level
This course focuses on the knowledge of oral language and grammatical usage as
they relate to the development of effective oral and written communication and
standard English usage; students will learn current research-based strategies and instructional technology for teaching these important components of middle school development. – 3 credits
EDUC 516: Middle School Field Experience
Supervised middle school clinical experiences with emphasis on the infusion of the experience with the growth and development of the middle school age child, middle school design, curriculum, instruction, and assessment and literacy strategies for
students in grades 5-8. A minimum of 30 hours in varied middle school experiences
is expected. – 2 credits
(Prerequisite: Admission to the Middle School Endorsement.)
EDUC 546: Middle School Math Concepts
Candidates participate in mathematical activities daily, which require them to examine their own understanding of basic mathematical computations, concepts and symbols and each day a different mathematical topic is addressed along with different ways to approach these topics. Real world problems are connected to these mathematical topics and candidates have an opportunity to use concrete materials as well as small group discussions to examine their own mathematical reasoning. – 3 credits
EDUC 546: Algebra Concepts for the Middle School
This course is designed for teachers seeking the middle school endorsement. Participants in this course will experience a review of basic math concepts, but the primary focus will be on algebra in the middle school and how it should be taught in a student-focused middle school classroom. – 3 credits
EDUC 546: Thinking Mathematically at the Middle School Level
To be successful in today’s progressive, global society, middle school students must develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to enable them to make sound real-life decisions. This course will introduce middle school teachers to effective problem solving strategies which promote communication and critical thinking in the math classroom. Participants will develop their understanding of teaching mathematics by connecting mathematical ideas, self-regulation during problem-solving, and actively engaging students in mathematics to increase their understanding. Participants will have opportunities to study mathematics as an exploratory discipline that focuses on seeking solutions, exploring patterns, and applying mathematical concepts. – 3 credits