Education - Project INVEST (EDI)

EDI 102. Foundations of Education. (3 Credits)

Foundations of Education examines the historical, philosophical, and social foundations underlying the development and purpose of education and evaluates current trends, issues, and various approaches in professional education programs in the United States and in Wisconsin. This course provides an introductory view of the teaching profession and fulfills the core requirement for Philosophical Foundations.

EDI 103. Human Relations for Teachers. (3 Credits)

This course is an interaction laboratory course designed to help students improve their interpersonal relationship skills and acquire competence in facilitating human relations activities in the classroom. Students will examine their attitudes and values toward and improve their techniques in working with all students, parents, colleagues, and community members. This course serves as an introduction of human relations’ components to education majors.

EDI 204. Develop Reading Grades 1-9. (3 Credits)

EDI 204. Develop Reading Grades 1-9 examines the research and methodology behind literacy instruction. Effective literacy instruction is a challenging task as it involves an acute understanding of the reading process, which includes decoding and comprehension. 

EDI 221. Child Development. (3 Credits)

Students will gain learning experience with infants and toddlers through examining infant and toddler development as it applies to an early childhood education setting. Students will integrate strategies that analyze development of infants and toddlers from conception to three years, correlate prenatal conditions with development, summarize child development theories, analyze the role of heredity and the environment, and determine how to create and maintain a culturally and developmentally appropriate environment.

EDI 230. Nature of the Exceptional Child. (3 Credits)

This course provides significant foundational theories and practices for understanding special education as a discipline, major federal legislation (IDEA), rights and responsibilities of parents, teachers, other professionals, and schools related to children with exceptional needs.

EDI 231. Childrens Literature. (3 Credits)

Presents an overview of texts for children – early childhood through the early adolescent years – along with criteria for making appropriate literature selections. Attention is also given to authors and illustrators and the awards presented by various committees. Practical strategies for stimulating children’s interest in books will also be discussed. Additionally, students will also explore social issues as related to literature and develop an understanding of critical literary theories.

EDI 275. Human Learning. (3 Credits)

Explores theories of human development, learning, and motivation. The practical applications of these theories in educational psychology are presented. Students will be actively engaged in the learning process through a variety of assignments and activities including clinicals, presentations, reflections and other experiences relevant for their portfolio development. This course includes a field experience component.

EDI 327. Collaborating with Families. (3 Credits)

Throughout this course, students will examine partnerships with children’s families and communities. The value, importance of and complexity of children’s families and communities will also be examined. Critiques of parent involvement policies will be used as the foundation to create a new framework for parent, school and community partnerships.

EDI 343. Synthesis & Prof Dev. (1 Credit)

EDI 343. Synthesis Prof Dev. is a synthesis course designed to encourage reflection and discussion throughout the professional development process. This course is taken during the student teaching semester. Prerequisite: Upper Division Status.

EDI 354. Teaching Reading and Emergent Language Development. (3 Credits)

Teaching Reading and Emergent Language Development examines literacy development, theory, and practice in the early childhood years. This course focuses on emergent reading, speaking, and listening. Best practices for the teaching of reading in grades pre-K through third grade will be studied.
Prerequisite: EDI 204.

EDI 356. Mathematics in ECE. (3 Credits)

Math in Early Childhood Education presents an integrated approach to mathematics content and methods appropriate for early childhood pre-service and in-service teachers. Emphasis is on constructing knowledge through problem-solving, communication, reasoning, connecting mathematical ideas, representation, and generalization. Students will develop their conceptual understanding of “number,” and will examine the requisite math topics and skills of the early childhood classroom. Emphasis will be given to teaching methods, which are developmentally appropriate for young children.

EDI 357. Science and Environment in Early Childhood. (3 Credits)

Science and Environment in Early Childhood, provides the pre-service educator with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for engaging curiosity, developing scientific literacy, and embracing a sense of wonder in young children. This course addresses how young children construct and represent scientific knowledge through problem solving, inquiry-based exploration, cooperative learning experiences, and integration with other curricular areas. Students develop concepts about essential components and skills of scientific investigation; and use this information in developing, assessing, and modifying developmentally appropriate instructional strategies for diverse learners.

EDI 358. Teaching the Emergent Writer. (3 Credits)

This course examines the development of children as writers. This course includes a study of children’s language development, specifically the relationship between language and writing, stages of writing development, supporting the child as a writer, and spelling development. The course will examine current research and instructional strategies.
Prerequisite: EDI 204.

EDI 359. Curriculum and Techniques in EC. (3 Credits)

Curriculum and techniques in EC is a study of developmentally appropriate practices with an emphasis on the importance of play and socialization on the learning and lives of young children. Students develop an understanding of the constructivist approach to early education; and utilize strategies of curriculum development that are emergent, integrated, aligned with early learning standards, and meet the needs of diverse learners. Strategies to facilitate learning in this course will include, but are not limited to, lectures, assigned readings, classroom observations, class discussions, group projects, and application experiences.

EDI 400. Music Movement and Art. (3 Credits)

This course is a study of creativity and the importance of meaningful integration of the creative arts, including music, visual art, dramatic play and movement, throughout the curriculum for young children. Students will explore methods to utilize the creative arts to support learning and creativity in young children.
Prerequisite: EDI 204.

EDI 411. The Profession and Ethics of Teaching. (3 Credits)

This is the capstone course of the education program, ideally taken just prior to student teaching. This course emphasizes key tenets of the profession: school law; ethics and judgment of educators, including conflict mediation and resolution; legal responsibilities of teachers; finding and securing a meaningful job and ongoing professional development.

EDI 427. Student Teaching K I. (4 Credits)

This course provides culminating clinical experiences for students who will receive a teaching license. Teacher candidates will be mentored in the responsibilities and expectations of an early childhood education teacher through observations, reflections, discussions, and professional development meetings. The setting will provide students with the experience in their developmental level. The student teacher will enroll concurrently in a second student teaching course (EDI 428) to fulfill the requirements of their teaching license.

EDI 428. St Teaching Primary I. (4 Credits)

This course provides culminating clinical experiences for students who will receive a teaching license. Teacher candidates will be mentored in the responsibilities and expectations of an early childhood education teacher through observations, reflections, discussions, and professional development meetings. The setting will provide students with the experience in their developmental level. The student teacher will enroll concurrently in a second student teaching course (EDI 427) to fulfill the requirements of their teaching license.

EDI 429. Student Teaching K II. (4 Credits)

This course provides one of two culminating clinical experiences for students who will receive a teaching license for elementary school. Students will enroll concurrently in EDI 430.

EDI 430. St Teaching Primary II. (4 Credits)

This course provides one of two culminating clinical experiences for students who will receive a teaching license for elementary school. Students will enroll concurrently in EDI 429.

EDI 453. Evaluative Techniques in ECSE. (3 Credits)

This course includes the study of standardized and informal assessment tools used in the identification of students with developmental disabilities, health disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. Students will observe young children while exploring appropriate observational assessment techniques to identify certain behaviors or characteristics indicating developmental delays or at-risk status in the youngest of children. Students will also learn how to collaborate in the implementation, and monitoring of Individual Education Plans (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP). Students will also understand the importance of families in assessing and implementing services for young children.
Prerequisite: EDI 230.

EDI 461. Administration of Early Childhood Programs. (1 Credit)

Administration of Early Childhood Programs is a study of administration of early childhood programs with an emphasis on planning, implementing, and evaluating programs. State regulations, establishing policies, leading and managing personnel, developing budgets, and contemporary issues will be examined. Strategies to facilitate learning in this course include, but not limited to, lectures, assigned readings, class discussion, group exercises, and application experiences.

EDI 466. Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child. (2 Credits)

Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child studies the integration of health, wellness, safety, nutrition, and fitness fir children within early childhood settings. Students will explore curriculum, resources, and instructional strategies to teach young children about health, safety, and fitness. Additionally, students will learn to prepare and maintain safe and healthy early childhood environments.