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CGPS: Graduate Certificates
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AIMS TO HELP TEACHERS WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Midland University’s Center for Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) is working with educators to make them better prepared to manage behaviors in classrooms and schools.
The Walker School of Education Graduate Program is offering educators the opportunity to earn a Classroom and Behavior Management Certificate. Students can complete a 100% online, stand-alone certificate, or complete a Master of Education in Leadership, Teaching, and Learning degree with an area of emphasis in Classroom and Behavior Management.
With this certificate, teachers are prepared to handle disruptive behaviors by learning how to effectively use behavior management techniques. The techniques that students learn can be taken immediately back to the classroom as they continue through the program.
“All teachers need to learn how to teach all students in the classroom who may have a range of behavior problems,” said Dr. Sara Tiedeman, Associate Vice President for Online Development. “No matter if the child is one student in a classroom with a concern or if the classroom is designed for children with these complex behavior issues.”
According to a report from the National Council on Teacher Quality, nearly half of new teachers believe they are either not at all prepared or only somewhat prepared for behavioral issues in the classroom. Part of this stems from the average teacher training program devoting a mere eight hours to the topic.
Dr. Ted DeTurk, Administrator at Nebraska Educational Service Unit #2, identified classroom behavior as the top need in schools right now and believes all schools in the state need additional support. “Schools need individuals who can help schools and teachers with skills and strategies to better manage classroom behavior,” DeTurk said.
16 Midland Magazine
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CGPS.MIDLANDU.EDU
The Classroom and Behavior Management Certificate is a 15credit course and is broken down into five areas of study: Professional Issues in Classroom and Behavior Management, Behavioral Assessment, Psychology of Learning, Advanced Behavior Analysis, and Essential Readings in Classroom and Behavior Management.
Classroom and Behavior Management - Presents best practices in classroom and behavior management from organizing time, materials and classroom space to strategies for managing individual and large group student behaviors, transition and other arrangements for classrooms. Students receive in-depth exposure to professional issues in classroom and behavior management.
Behavioral Assessment - Focuses on current research and best practices in behavioral assessment. After reviewing the definition, characteristics, and basic concepts of applied behavior analysis, students learn to select, define, measure, and functionally analyze behavior. Procedures for constructing and analyzing graphs and analyzing behavior change are examined.
Psychology of Learning - Introduces students to theories of learning, environmental factors affecting behavior, and the influences of motivation. Students learn how to apply procedures derived from these influences to systematically change socially important behaviors, particularly within educational settings and including differentiation for high and low ability learners. An emphasis is placed on the assessment of maladaptive behavior in classrooms and other settings and the development of effective procedures to change behavior in ethically and socially significant ways.
Advanced Behavioral Analysis - Covers complex behavioral principles and procedures for systematically changing socially important behaviors. Topics include the major principles of behavior and procedures derived from those principles for increasing the frequency of existing behavior; obtaining desired stimulus control; developing new behaviors; and decreasing the frequency of behavior with non-punishment procedures. Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior, special applications of behavior change technology, and strategies for increasing generalization of behavior change are also examined. The final part of this course focuses on ethical considerations and practices.
Essential Readings in Classroom and Behavior Management - Provides students with in-depth exposure to classroom and behavior management by reading relevant research articles and other assigned reading.
“This certificate is beneficial for new teachers as well as seasoned teachers,” Tiedeman said. “Behavior issues that interfere with teaching and learning have notably worsened. This seems to be even more prevalent as a result of remote learning and higher levels of student anxiety. Therefore, this certificate is valuable to all teachers.”
To learn more about the Classroom and Behavior Management Certificate, visit cgps.midlandu.edu.
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