Paraeducator - Technical Diploma

Students gain skills that lead to success in college, employment, and life. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)

Students analyze preK-12 education in the United States, determine roles and responsibilities of school personnel, and explore current trends and best practices. Students identify how students learn and the foundations of lesson planning. Students analyze Assessment strategies, classroom management, and techniques for supporting learners.

This course introduces the study of diversity from a local to a global perspective using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that encourages exploration and prepares students to work in a diverse environment. The course introduces basic diversity concepts, examines the impact of bias and power differentials among groups, explores the use of culturally responsive communication strategies, and compares forces that shape diversity in an international context. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better.)

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Education (DPI), “Information and Technology Literacy is the ability of an individual, working independently or with others, to use tools, resources, processes, and systems responsibly to access and evaluate information in any medium, and to use that information to solve problems, communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and construct new knowledge, products, or systems.” Much of the focus of this course is to learn with information and technology rather than learn about information and technology. In this course that students will start their digital portfolio.

Students analyze personal culture, explore cultural constructs, evaluate cultural bias in educational materials and analyze strategies to support English Learners. Students examine diversity in the classroom and develop techniques for supporting equity in the learning environment. In addition, students collaborate to identify service needs in the community and demonstrate professional collaboration skills through participating in a service learning project.

Students will analyze the physical, cognitive and social-emotional development of children with an emphasis on school age children and adolescents. Students will examine environmental factors that influence child development. Developmental theories will be summarized and related to current teaching practices.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a solid foundation for effective literacy instruction in K – 9 grade classrooms. The course will focus on the major five elements of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Phonological Awareness will also be addressed. This course will review research-based teaching strategies, instructional materials as well as methods and assessments for effective and inclusive literacy instruction.

Students are introduced to the content and processes of teaching science. Students explore science processes, strategies, procedures, assessment options and factors affecting science learning. Students practice strategies for assisting with group and individual activities in science. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and models of hands-on, student-centered science and its assessment as described in WI DPI Science Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

Students will be introduced to the science and art of teaching language arts. Evidence-based approaches and assessments will be examined and practiced. Students will create a literature file through the exploration of a variety of children’s/young adult literature.

Students learn key terminology and research-based strategies to support learners in math domains: numbers, base ten operations, algebraic thinking, geometry, and measurement and data. Current practice including manipulatives, problem solving and assessment will be covered within the framework of state and national standards.

Students apply the skills learned in previous program courses in a school setting while under the supervision of a Department of Public Instruction certified teacher. Students support learners while demonstrating professionalism. Students begin the reflective process. (Corequisite: 10-890-101, College 101)

Students examine a historical overview of special education and special education law including special education disability categories as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students explore state and federal qualification special education criteria and societal responses to students with disabilities. Students examine the impact of a student with disabilities on family dynamics and the role school personnel play in supporting students with disabilities.

All college students, regardless of their college major, need to be able to make reasonable decisions about fiscal, environmental, and health issues that require quantitative reasoning skills. An activity based approach is used to explore numerical relationships, graphs, proportional relationships, algebraic reasoning, and problem solving using linear, exponential and other mathematical models. Students will develop conceptual and procedural tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts. This course may be used as the first of a two part sequence that ends with Quantitative Reasoning as the capstone general education math requirement. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Arith score greater/equal to 250 AND Rdg score greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Math score greater/equal to 15 AND ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16; OR prep courses-contact an academic advisor 920-498-5444).

Students analyzes the behavior of students in educational settings. Emphasis will be given to examining the influences on behavior and creating proactive learning environments through behavioral interventions and support. Students will evaluate strategies for creating a safe and supportive classroom.

Students identify research-based interventions for learners in categories defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students interpret Individualized Educational Programs and examine special education related services available for learners. Students collect data to document student behavior and academic performance and recommend program adaptations and accommodations for students with disabilities while applying the concepts of least restrictive environment and inclusion. (Corequisite: 10-522-107, EDU: Overview of Special Education)

Students analyze current content in social studies education as recommended by the National Council for Social Studies and Wisconsin DPI. Students design learning opportunities for the five content areas of social studies: Geography, History, Behavioral Sciences (Culture and Society), Political Science (Civics and Government), and Economics that incorporate the social studies inquiry practices and processes. Students receive training on the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of Wisconsin’s eleven federally recognized American Indian nations and tribal communities (Act 31) and The Holocaust and other genocides (Act 30) to meet Wisconsin teacher standards and teaching requirements.

Students apply the skills learned in previous program courses in a school setting while under the supervision of a Department of Public Instruction certified teacher. Students support learners and while demonstrating professionalism. Students apply job search skills. (Prerequisite: 10-522-129, EDU: Practicum 1; Corequisite 10-890-101, College 101)