EDL 550

3 Credits

UAA PACE, 500-Level Upper Division Course

Graded

COURSE OVERVIEW

The course, Dropout Prevention, has been divided into five assignments and one final examination.  These assignments provide a framework for understanding why today’s youth are so discouraged with society and drop out of school in record numbers.  Many school districts across the United States have 1/3 of their freshman class will never graduate from high school.   Schools, teachers and parents realize that this kind of behavior is a tragedy for our country.  To better understand and prevent at risk youth from dropping out of school, it is important that teachers and communities address this problem by developing a comprehensive plan of action.  This course will address the issues that need to be discussed and those strategies that need to be implemented.

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Enhance your understanding of destructive relationships
  • Improve your ability to identify and understand underlying opportunities to develop positive environments for youth
  • Enhance your ability to reach youth through a series of exploratory activities
  • Reduce the failure rate for At-Risk Students in your class
  • Help you develop a positive model of learning for parents and other teachers
  • Provide you with strategies and a new approach to working with youth
  • Help you significantly understand some of the roots of discouragement for today’s youth

Course Materials:  You are responsible for ordering seperately.  Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Our Hope for the future.  Author: Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, Steve Van Bockern.  Publisher: National Educational Service Copyright 1990, Revised Edition 2002.

Course Syllabus This is a preview syllabus only. The official syllabus will be provided to you by Sparkman.

  • Methods of Instruction - reading, watching videos, writing assignments, and examinations.
  • Course Grading Rubric

Grade Level: 8-12

IMPORTANT DATES

  • This self-paced Sparkman Media course can be completed at a pace that fits your schedule.
  • You can register and start work anytime. 
  • All work is due one year from the date of registration, with a 30 day minimum to complete.
  • Extensions and re-enrollments are not permitted.
  • You may cancel within one week of registration.  A $100.00 cancellation fee will be applied.

TUITION

$475 Level 1 District Subscriber

$525 Level 2 District Non-Subscriber or Retired Educator

CHECK IF YOUR DISTRICT IS LEVEL 1 OR 2

You may pay with Visa or MasterCard.

INSTRUCTOR

Contact Dan Sparkman directly for questions specific to coursework.  Email: dsparkman@alaskaacsa.org  Contact ASDN for registration or transcript questions.

Dan Sparkman, M.Ed. has been working in education for over fifty years, serving as a regular and Special Education teacher and working in Alaska for over 40 years. He was Assistant Professor working for five different universities. Mr. Sparkman has worked in “Bush” Alaska and Anchorage. Dan was a finalist for Alaska Teacher of the Year and awarded “Outstanding CTE Teacher of the Year.” He is certified in Alaska in a variety of teaching areas. He  has been teaching classes for ASDN for over twenty years.