ED 555

2 Credits

UAA PACE, 500-Level Upper Division Course

Graded

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course will explore and teach skills to encourage, enjoy and excite students in the learning process. Many teachers have experienced the difficulty of working in groups but also respecting individual student’s needs and learning styles. Compromise can lead to frustration with some students but others may thrive in learning. With a bit of guidance, support, and introduction to creative problem-solving students can learn to work as a group toward a common goal. Team challenges offer teachers an easy way to share the concepts of creative problem solving in the classroom. 

Expected Learning Outcomes

Participants taking this class will learn how to implement activities introducing cooperation, communication and creative problem solving. Alaskan students often learn best through visual learning, hands-on experiences, observation, and real-life applications of knowledge, often benefiting from teaching methods that incorporate storytelling, community collaboration, and a strong connection to their cultural heritage, with emphasis on demonstration and practical learning. This class will help provide the needed information Alaska teachers need to reach students in today’s classroom .

Course Materials:  You are responsible for ordering separately.  Nelson, Sherri. Learning Lifeguards: Your 10-Step Guide to Building a Team. Hack Learning, 2024.

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: K-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

$310 Level 1 District Subscriber

$360 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.