Education (EDD)

This course will help the students to better communicate as an individual and orally in group presentations by studying and practicing strategies and methods for exceptional presentations to a variety of audiences and readers in an educational setting.

This workshop will give doctoral candidates a fundamental review of both grammatical concepts and the tenets of strong writing. Candidates will write for a variety of purposes and in a variety of modes throughout this workshop using APA for formatting and documentation. Key attention will be given to the strategic use of phrases and clauses to enhance written work. Usage applications for concepts such as passive and active voice, verb tense, pronoun reference, and sentence structure will be studied.

With the ever-changing demographic make-up of America's school system, literacy leaders are faced with the challenge of designing curricular programs that reflect both an understanding of and respect for student identity. By looking at a variety of literary and academic publications, this course will examine ways to inform public discourse regarding social equity and determine ways to best portray a powerful voice in improving the materials and intellectual conditions of students of all ages.

This course will introduce doctoral candidates to foundational and current research methodologies such as quantitative, qualitative, mixed methodology, action research, literature review, case study, etc. Candidates will begin to identify and develop individual research interests which will ultimately lead to their dissertation topics as well as the theoretical framework(s) which will become the underpinnings of the dissertation. Candidates will generate their dissertation research question(s) and determine the appropriate research approach(es) and theories to utilize in order to practically answer the research question(s) posed.

This course will introduce doctoral candidates to the major foundational research methodologies: quantitative, qualitative, mixed methodology. During this course, candidates will identify and begin to develop individual research interests that will ultimately lead to their dissertation topics. Candidates will generate their dissertation research question(s) and draft a dissertation research plan in order to practically answer the research question(s) posed.

Part one of a two-course series in which candidates will explore significant historical developments and seminal studies in educational systems in America providing important perspectives and implications for instruction, curriculum, and assessment in schools today. In this course, candidates will gain insight on the impact of theories and research; early methods; leaders in the field of education; fads and trends; technology; and cultural, social, and economic issues. Major issues in the development of instruction over time will be examined which include social purpose, systems of power, and education as a force for democratization. Engaging discussion will focus on a variety of perspectives and personal insights.

Part two of a two-course series in which candidates will explore significant historical developments and seminal studies in educational systems in America providing important perspectives and implications for instruction, curriculum, and assessment in schools today. In this course, candidates will gain insight on the impact of theories and research; early methods; leaders in the field of education; fads and trends; technology; and cultural, social, and economic issues. Major issues in the development of instruction over time will be examined which include social purpose, systems of power, and education as a force for democratization. Engaging discussion will focus on a variety of perspectives and personal insights.

This course will introduce candidates to foundational and current research in literacy and will focus on the development of the first three chapters of the dissertation: advancing the foundational framework, ensuring the need for and significance of the candidate's study, refining research questions, structuring the methodology of the study, selecting appropriate research participants, and preparing for the dissertation proposal defense. Major quantitative and qualitative methods, mixed methods, and action research processes will be considered as candidates develop instruments for collecting data and conduct pilot studies (if need be). Once the dissertation proposal has been accepted, candidates will seek approval from the Institutional Review Board as well as appropriate stakeholders in their school communities.

Once the dissertation proposal and IRB application have been approved, candidates will begin their dissertation studies. In EDD 720, candidates will learn how to manage and organize the collection of data. They will also learn how to begin preliminary data analysis. As a precursor to EDD 770 and EDD 775, candidates will reflect on their data and will begin to refine analytic methods. Candidates will also conduct ongoing reflection regarding the data collection and analysis phases of their research. Additionally, in this course, candidates will learn how to form their research into a proposal for a scholarly conference.

With data collection completed, candidates will process what their data mean in the literacy arena. This course will not only emphasize the analysis of the study's results but what the findings mean. Candidates will learn to construct the following sections for the final chapters of the dissertation: results expressed and discussed, conclusions drawn, limitations described, implications for literacy stated, and recommendations for further research delineated. At the completion of this course, the candidate will be prepared for his/her dissertation defense.

This course explores the principles of effective leadership in general and specifically in the field of literacy. The strong leader's ability to function as both inspired visionary and skilled manager will be discussed. Doctoral candidates will develop process skills to build consensus, communicate effectively, and resolve conflict in order to align resources with a shared vision. Opportunity to dialogue with significant literacy leaders past and present and to explore leadership opportunities will be made available. The research, writing, and submission of literacy grants will be a key facet of this course.

The delivery of presentations in a wide range of venues is an important facet of contributing to the profession and serves as a benchmark of doctoral study. This course will focus on the components of preparing a professional presentation from the inception of an idea through its execution before an audience. Various methods of delivery will be explored, and doctoral candidates will be immersed in an ongoing critique process as they work to strengthen specific presentations designed for a variety of audiences. First in a two-course series.

The delivery of presentations in a wide range of venues is an important facet of contributing to the profession and serves as a benchmark of doctoral study. This course will focus on the components of preparing a professional presentation from the inception of an idea through its execution before an audience. Various methods of delivery will be explored, and doctoral candidates will be immersed in an ongoing critique process as they work to strengthen specific presentations designed for a variety of audiences. Second in a two-course series.

This course provides an introduction to statistical methods and their implications for educators and educational researchers. The logic underlying research investigation, methodology, analysis, and interpretation of data will be emphasized. Candidates will utilize readings, discussions, and appropriate computer applications to investigate populations and samples; organize, display, and summarize data; and determine probability, normal distribution, tests of significance, and correlation/simple regression. Candidates will develop competence in reading and understanding statistics provided in various sources such as dissertations, journals, and/or technical reports related specifically to the field of literacy.

This workshop-style course will provide the candidates with the opportunity to pragmatically apply quantitative analysis using SPSS software to perform diagnostics. Candidates will be introduced to foundational and current research methodologies in qualitative and mixed. Paired with EDD720, which runs concurrently, candidates will employ coding and dissemination strategies as they determine and explain what their raw data mean.

This workshop-style course will provide the candidates with the opportunity to pragmatically apply qualitative analysis techniques to their own and their peers' research findings. Paired with EDD 730, which runs concurrently, candidates will employ coding and dissemination strategies as they determine and explain what their raw data mean. In addition, the assigned journal articles and texts will include scholarship on the practice and philosophical underpinnings of qualitative research. Class sessions will follow a workshop format with discussions and activities related to weekly readings that explore the current terrain of qualitative research in the literacy field.

This workshop will concentrate on the revising and editing all chapters of the dissertation. Sophisticated writing and grammatical concepts appropriate for the seasoned writer will be explored. Methods for successfully using the peer review and editing processes will be incorporated into the course. Candidates will receive significant feedback from the instructors on the final chapters and will have considerable opportunity for revision throughout the workshop. Completion of the entire dissertation will be an objective of this course.

This workshop is a two-course series, which will concentrate on the revising and editing all chapters of the dissertation. Sophisticated writing and grammatical concepts appropriate for the seasoned writer will be explored. Methods for successfully using the peer review and editing processes will be incorporated into the course. Candidates will receive significant feedback from the instructors on the final chapters and will have considerable opportunity for revision throughout the workshop. Completion of the entire dissertation will be an objective of this course.

This is the second part of a 2-course workshop which will concentrate on the revising and editing all chapters of the dissertation. Sophisticated writing and grammatical concepts appropriate for the seasoned writer will be explored. Methods for successfully using the peer review and editing processes will be incorporated into the course. Candidates will receive significant feedback from the instructors on the final chapters and will have considerable opportunity for revision throughout the workshop. Completion of the entire dissertation will be an objective of this course.

This course will provide candidates with experience in the scholarly publishing process. In addition to studying the professional writing process and reviewing manuscript guidelines from key scholarly journals, doctoral candidates will synthesize their dissertation research into an article suitable for submission to a literacy research journal. The receipt and delivery of criticism as part of the professional writing community will be a key component throughout the course. Manuscripts will be finalized and submitted for consideration by the end of this course as one of the doctoral benchmarks.