- Compulsory courses for all Certificates:
TT 012 Classroom Dynamics
Classroom management; questioning techniques and strategies; decision making in teaching; group work and cooperative learning.
TT 013 Effective Teaching and Evaluation.
Lesson planning; instructional objectives; teaching methods; instructional procedures and activities for pupils; assessment, evaluation and measurement.
TT 023 Psychology Applied to Teaching
An overview of the basics of psychology applied to child development including stage theories, age-level characteristics, self-esteem, motivation, and learning theories.
- Required courses for the Certificate with concentration in Special Education:
TT 024 Basics of Special Education
This course develops general understanding for teaching students with exceptionalities. There are three parts to this course: Characteristics of students with disabilities, issues in the field of special education: historical phases, definitional changes, causes, inclusion, brain-based learning, assessment, and Early Childhood Special Education.
TT 025 Integrating Students with Disabilities in the Regular Classroom
Helping students learn in the regular education classroom by knowing how to incorporate assessment information to design the Individualized Education Program and by employing various teaching strategies in the different content areas (reading, math, etc.) at the elementary level.
TT 026 Managing Classroom Behaviors and Essentials of Instruction
This course introduces characteristics of students with behavioral disorders, classroom management approaches, and behavior modification techniques. Participants learn the effective components of instruction, namely the phases of planning, delivering, and evaluating instruction.
- Optional courses:
The 3 special education courses above can be taken as optional courses.
TT 014 Audio-visual Methods
Participants learn to integrate multi-media in the classroom in order to help fulfill learning objectives and facilitate learning. Participating teachers also learn to create different types of visual aids, such as puppets and posters, and how to teach students to make them.
TT 018 Teaching with Computers
This course guides teachers through a series of activities in which they learn the basics of multimedia and integration in lessons. Teachers also learn the basic operations of several software programs, especially Microsoft PowerPoint, and then apply skills learned towards developing a multimedia project.
TT 022 Basics of Developmental Psychology
A practical background in psychology, with a theoretical base, for the classroom teacher. Topics range from awareness to developmental growth of self and others.
TT 027 Teaching Science and Math
Current teaching methods and techniques; lesson planning; teaching science process skills and inquiry skills; problem solving strategies and mental computation in math; developing activities; developing assessment tools; integrating technology.
TT 028 Teaching Arabic
Current teaching methods and techniques; lesson planning; integration with other subjects; developing activities; making and using appropriate audio-visual aids.
TT 029 Teaching English
In-depth instruction of the four basic areas of foreign language acquisition: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In addition, the course covers a wide range of accepted methods and approaches utilized in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Participants also cover teaching skills, lesson planning, and classroom management skills.
TT 030 Children's Literature for Preschool and Elementary Classes
An in-depth study of literature for children, with emphasis on the history of children’s literature, criteria for the selection of quality books, major authors of children’s literature, and current trends and issues in the field.
TT 032 Teaching Methods for Lower Elementary Teachers
An exploration of effective teaching techniques and innovative forms of organization and instruction in elementary education.
TT 033 Teaching Methods for Preschool Teachers
The course explores fundamental preschool techniques, emphasizing new approaches in the field related to music, puppetry, games, science, and special techniques to meet the needs of all learners.
TT 034 Socio-dramatic Play and Puppetry in Early Childhood Education
This course examines types of play, use of materials, play themes, and listening and speaking skills as well as making puppets, types of puppets, writing puppet stories and working with puppets.
TT 035 Teaching Art and Music in Early Childhood Education
Guiding art experiences: stages of art skill development, scribbles, basic forms, first drawings, color selection, various art supplies and tools appropriate for that age. Guiding music and movement experiences: encouraging discovery, encouraging children to participate, selecting songs, creating songs, teaching songs, introducing rhythm and the various movement activities appropriate for that age.
TT 036 Teaching Reading in Preschool
A study of phonemic awareness, explicit and systematic phonics instruction, emergent literacy, major approaches and materials for reading instruction, vocabulary development, word recognition strategies and types of assessment available.
TT 037 Teaching Reading in Elementary Classes
Curriculum and teaching strategies in the language arts with emphasis on the interrelatedness of all language processes including reading, writing, listening, speaking, phonemic awareness, and types of assessment.
TT 038 Teaching for Learning and Life Skills
In this course teachers gain a working knowledge of some of the most current topics in the field of education. The main topics are character education, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence.
TT 039 Instructional Media in Teaching
Using appropriate instructional media can motivate learners and enhance the quality of learning. This course guides teachers to create, effectively use, and evaluate appropriate audio-visual materials in the classroom, thus helping them achieve their educational objectives. The teachers also learn to select appropriate multimedia, effectively use them, and evaluate them. (Teachers who completed TT 014, cannot count TT 039 for the In-service Teacher Training Certificate.)
TT 040 Differentiating Instruction in a Mixed-Ability Classroom
Participants examine the characteristics of a differentiated classroom; learn how to identify students who need differentiated learning; frame instruction around concepts and essential understandings; identify techniques for differentiating content, process, and product; and explore how to differentiate on the basis of students' readiness, interest, and learning profile (gifted and below average students). Participants also reflect on their beliefs and practices relative to differentiation.
DIPLOMA FOR COORDINATORS AND DIVISION HEADS: COURSES
(For coordinators, division heads, and other administrators)
The Diploma for Coordinators and Division Heads Program is designed for current and future division heads and coordinators as well as other administrators who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in their various areas of responsibility. Courses are based on theory and build on the participants’ experience through interactive methods. Participants may take individual courses or the full program (5 courses). Each course is 30 hours.
N.B. These are non-credit courses. They are separate from the regular bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered at Haigazian University.
Required courses:
TT 101 Basics for Coordinators & Division Heads
Emphasis is on the roles, tasks, and processes involved in supervisory practice based on theory and research in education. This course is designed to examine the strategies and skills for analyzing the personnel functions in educational administration. Areas of responsibility to be explored are: conflict management, time management, leadership skills, communication, and conducting meetings.
TT 102 Working with the Curriculum
This course deals with the nature, theories, and design of curricula, as well as instructional options. Emphasis will be on working with the curriculum, assessment, differentiation of instruction, and catering for students with special needs (through clinical supervision).
TT 103 Professional Development
Professional development in an educational setting improves both the quality of teaching and student learning. Thus, the primary focus of this course is to develop skills and strategies to identify professional development needs and correlate them with students’ needs for the purpose of meeting school goals and objectives.
TT 104 Supervision of Instruction
The purpose of the course is to develop the skills for effective supervision of instruction in a classroom setting. The course focuses on the supervision of classroom environments and the relationship of instructional procedures to the characteristics of effective teaching and learning. Emphasis will be placed on various instructional strategies and teacher evaluation as well as productive supervisor/teacher relationships.
TT 106 Developing Leadership Skills
This course addresses the key leadership qualities and skills required for the success of the coordinator or division head on the job. Topics included are: linking motivation to leadership, organizational communication, coaching and mentoring, and types of coordination. Participants will practice and apply what they learn through various teaching strategies such as: discussions, debates, role-play, solving problems, reading case studeies, and watching videos.
DIPLOMA OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDAMENTALS:MODULES
(For regular teachers, special education teachers, or assistant teachers and people with experience working in a center for special needs children)
The Diploma of Special Education Fundamentals Program is designed to provide teachers with a basic understanding of special education and basic skills to deal with special needs children. It is for people with classroom experience as regular teachers, special education teachers, or assistant teachers and people with experience working in a center for special needs children. (In special cases we will accept people who have worked on an individual basis with special needs children.) Participants may take a single module or the full program (2 modules). Each module is 26 hours.
N.B. These are non-credit modules. They are separate from the regular bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered at Haigazian University.
TT 201 Special Education: An Introduction
This module creates general understanding of special education issues through a brief overview of special education and an introduction to the IEP (Individualized Education Program) and teaching strategies. Participants are introduced to the characteristics of children with learning difficulties, including issues of memory and attention. The main topics are the IEP, assessment, and teaching strategies*, accommodations and modifications of the curriculum for English, Arabic, Math, and Science.
*The emphasis is on learning disabilities and dyslexia. Other disabilities will be mentioned.
TT 202 Special Education: Core Skills for Teachers
The second module focuses on classroom management and behavior modification techniques. The main topics are: response to intervention, stages of instructional modifications, behavioral disorders, classroom management, ADHD, behavioral modification, child development, and early childhood Special Education.