ArmchairEd Course Proposal
Susan Kane-Ronning, Ph.D., Director
Post Office Box 29137
Bellingham, WA 98228-1137
Overview:
ArmchairEd.com currently provides continuing education to educators, using Educational
Leadership magazine and premiere published books on cutting-edge educational themes
and topics. The program has been operating since Fall, 2000, and has provided continuing
education to hundreds of educators.
Course Goals and Objectives:
As a result of these courses, the student will be able to:
1.
Stay current on educational themes and topics pertinent to teaching and education
2.
Identify current research in education
3.
Apply this knowledge to the student’s current educational position
The following published book is currently being used as a text for the ArmchairEd
course:
Interactions: Collaboration Skills for School Professionals (Friend & Cook, 2007). Allyn and Bacon.
5 credits, 394 pages.
This course helps professionals understand and participate effectively in their interactions with other
school professionals and their parents. It addresses collaboration as a style, with accompanying
knowledge and skills that guides practices in various educational efforts. Collaboration is discussed in
the context of IDEA, rigorous research underpinnings, ethics, and issues of diversity. Inclusion
strategies are discussed, in addition to practical and theoretical approaches to teaming.
Credit Options:
 The courses will be offered for five credits, based on the length and substance of the
book. The five-credit course will include 50 multiple-choice questions and a
required essay.
Course Grading Rubric:
 Pass/Fail: Coursework must be passed with 70% criterion.
 Letter grade: 90%: A grade
80% B grade
70% C grade
Multiple Choice Test: 50% of overall grade
Essay Requirements:
Three Essays Required
Essay 1:
Copy the Conflict Management Style Survey from p. 320 through p.324. Take the survey and use the
information to complete the scoring form and assign a Style/Approach for yourself. Reflect on the
approach you use with the people you work with. What implications does this information about your
conflict management style have for the way you approach others in your work? Include the completed
survey with your essay.
Essay 2:
1) Think about all the people who impact your classroom in an average week. While none of them may
co-teach with you, they may work with students in your class. In your essay, reflect on the roles these
people play in your teaching life and in the school lives of your students. Do you share goals with them?
How can you improve collaboration with each of them? What might be the barriers to improving
collaboration?
2) Review Chapter 10, thinking about the importance of questions in communication. For a few days, try
to monitor the kinds of questions that you ask in and out of the classroom. What kinds of questions are you
asking? What kind of responses do they elicit? In your essay, report and reflect on what you learned
about the kinds of questions you ask. Evaluate your questions. What kinds of things could you do to
improve your questioning? If none, talk about the quality of questions you find yourself asking.
3) Create your own demonstration of the learning you take from this text. Identify your topic and describe
it in an introductory paragraph. You may choose from the list below or develop your own.
Action Research
Extended learning, including research and developed activities
Select activities or assignments from the end of chapters in the text
Compare/contrast your current education practice to that of the text
Create forms or systems for use in your classroom including assessment tools
Plan an ‘event’, meeting or other pertinent program and report/reflect on it
You may combine any of these or develop your own. You may e-mail info@armchaired.com if you desire
specific permission for your topic. The essay must demonstrate knowledge of the course and text, and
direct application to your own educational position.
Essay 3:
Choose from remaining essays
Essay scoring rubric:
Three essays required
Essay 1: 4 to 5 pages, 20% of grade
Second Essay: 1, 2, or 3: 4 to 5 pages, 20% of grade
Third Essay: Choose from remaining options: 2 to 3 pages, 10% of grade
Single spaced, 10 to 12 size font
Use of introduction and summary statement (even when a curriculum or unit is developed)
Demonstration of grammar, spelling, and writing skill
Demonstration of applied knowledge