2013-2014 Catalog - Virginia Wesleyan College

148 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIESPSYCHOLOGY149PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT SERIESProfessional Development Series (PDS) listingscontain non-degree courses, workshops, and seminarsdesigned for individuals in public/private education,business, government, and other career areas.Teachers can use course offerings for VirginiaDepartment of Education license recertification orfor insight and preparation in the National BoardCertification process. Questions about these coursesshould be directed to Mr. Thomas R. Farley in theAdult Studies Program office.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTSERIES COURSES (PDS)NB1 Professional Development andPre-Candidacy for National BoardCertification (4 non-degree sem. hrs.)Teachers will investigate best-teaching practicesacross the curricula and grade levels, K-12. Tailored tomeet individual needs, teachers will explore strategiesto improve their teaching and to impact studentlearning while they become familiar with the goals ofthe National Board for Professional TeachingStandards. This course is not a requirement of theNational Board certification process. This is a gradedcourse. Offered each semester and Summer Session.NB2 Personalized Professional Growthand National Board Certification(1-3 non-degree sem. hrs.)Teachers engage in a guided study centered on apersonal professional development program workingfrom an overview of the candidate process and guidedby the mission, goals, and processes of the NationalBoard for Professional Teaching Standards. Theyinvestigate “best teaching practices” across thecurricula and grade levels, K-12. Covers portfoliorequirements and assessment center exercises,including video taping your class for NBPTS review,descriptive, analytical and reflective writing styles,NBPTS Assessment Center exercises, and collectedstudent work samples. Skills such as questioning,differentiated instructional strategies, and portfoliomaintenance are developed and revised. Pass/failgrading. Offered each semester.NB3 National Board Standards in YourClassroom (1 non-degree sem. hr.)Designed for individuals who are currentlyteaching in a classroom setting. Introduces teachers tothe mission, goals, and processes of the NationalBoard for Professional Teaching Standards. Theyexplore and determine their levels of interest inseeking National Board Certification. While thecourse encourages teachers to seek National BoardCertification, it serves as an opportunity for teachersto consider strategies to improve their teaching and toimpact student learning. They investigate anddemonstrate “best teaching practices” across theirspecific curricula and grade level (K-12) through useof professional journals and reference materials,production of a professional reading report, designingand executing a content improvement plan,videotaping a lesson, implementing newdifferentiated instructional strategies, and creating anessay about the video-taped lesson with learningstrategy implementation using descriptive, analyticaland reflective writing. Pass/fail grading. Offered eachsemester and Summer Session.NB4 Take One Candidate SupportWorkshop (2 non-degree sem. hrs.)Designed to fine-tune the skills developed duringthe PDS-NB1 course. Topics include the CorePropositions, videotaping, effective instructionalpractices and writing an entry. Included in classdiscussions is appropriate alignment to nationalcurriculum standards as well as NBPTS standardsapplicable to the Take One! Entry. Teachers completethe Take One! Entry. Pass/fail grading. Offered eachsemester.PDS NB5 Professional Developmentfor National Board Certification -Completing the Journey(1 non-degree sem. hr.)Teachers focus on the final details of the portfolioentry and become familiar with the assessment centerexercises. Focuses on peer review and collegiatecollaboration as the portfolio is prepared forfinalization. They investigate content-specific to theircertification and the alignment to national standards.Serves as an opportunity for teachers to criticallyconsider strategies to improve their teaching and toimpact student learning. Pass/fail grading.Prerequisite: PDS NB2. Offered each spring.PDS NB6 National BoardRenewal Workshop (1 non-degreesem. hr.)A series of five class meetings to introduce NBCTrenewal candidates to the renewal process, providesupport as candidates examine their professionalgrowth experiences, and complete their four-partportfolio to demonstrate continued accomplishedteaching. Pass/fail grading. Prerequisite: currentNational Board Certified Teacher (NBCT);approaching ten year renewal within one (1) year.Offered each semester.PDS POLS 1 Women and Politics (2)Examine women in politics from an internationalperspective. Teaching in public schools depends onpolitical negotiations; this course illuminates barriersand opportunities for women working in the publicsphere. Knowing difficulties and advantages womenface allows teachers to equip students with skills,strategies and knowledge to ensure success in agendered world. Prerequisite: teacher recertification.Offered on demand (summer only).PDS POLS 2 Media and Democracy (2)Explores the political effects of the news media.Teachers in public schools play an important role instudents’ development of the skills necessary tobecome a critical media consumer. Familiarity withmedia effects improves teachers’ abilities to helpstudents develop media literacy skills, a necessity indemocratic societies. Prerequisite: teacher recertification.Offered on demand (summer only).PDS PSY Abnormal Psychologyfor Teachers (2 )Addresses common psychological abnormalitiesthat teachers may encounter in the K-12 classroom.Topics will include depression, anxiety, learningdisabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, andtopics requested by participants. Discussion andassignments will center on relevant classroomstrategies and personal experiences, which will be tiedto psychological literature. Prerequisite: teacherrecertification. Offered on demand (summer only).PDS REC 1 Disabilities in the Media (2)Through the use of popular media teachers willexplore various disabilities, related challenges andprejudices individuals with disabilities mayencounter. Discussion of physical, psychological,emotional, and social disabilities allow forexamination of how disabilities, and interactionsbetween those with and without disabilities, areportrayed in the media. Ideal for special educationand adapted PE teachers. Prerequisite: teacherrecertification. Offered on demand (summer only).PDS REC 2 Outdoor ExperientialEducation and Recreation (2)A series of experiences, discussions, and readingsabout theories, current issues and practices in outdooreducation and recreation. Teachers plan, prepare, andimplement outdoor experiences based on standardsin the field—including strategies to implementkinesthetic learning into their existing and/or newlesson plans and classroom activities. The class willmeet on campus as well as local off campus sites tobe announced. Entrance fees, parking andtransportation are the responsibility of the student.Prerequisite: teacher recertification. Offered ondemand (summer only).PDS SOC 1 Visual Sociology of theCivil Rights Movement (2)Documentary films of the civil rights movementin the United States are used to investigate, discuss,and interpret social movement theories such asresource mobilization, framing, relative deprivation,and political process. Content appropriate forSociology, World History II, U.S. History, andGovernment teachers. Prerequisite: teacherrecertification. Offered on demand (summer only).PDS ENG 1 Perspectives on AmericanLiterature (2 non-degreesem. hr.)Examines the major figures and movements inAmerican letters from the establishment of theEuropean colonies in North America through thepresent day. Emphasis will be on perspectives helpfulin teaching these works in the school classroom.Prerequisite: teacher recertification. Offered ondemand (summer only).PDS ENG 2 African-AmericanLiterature (2 )A series of five class meetings to introduce NBCTrenewal candidates to the renewal process, providesupport as candidates examine their professionalgrowth experiences, and complete their four-partportfolio to demonstrate continued accomplishedteaching. Pass/fail grading. Prerequisite: teacherrecertification. Offered on demand (summer only).PDS LATN 1 Teaching Latin Topicsfor the AP Examination (2)Students read, translate, and discuss texts andaspects of civilization relevant to the teaching of theLatin Advanced Placement Exam. Prerequisite:teacher recertification. Offered on demand (summeronly).PSYCHOLOGYDR. CRAIG C. JACKSONDR. GABRIELA A. MARTORELL, Program CoordinatorDR. TARYN A. MYERSBecause psychology has developed as aninterdisciplinary subject, historically related tophilosophy and biology, it is well suited as a major forstudents seeking a diversified education that willadvance their understanding of themselves andothers. Students desiring to enter a specialty field of