Designed by teachers for teachers, the new online programs focus on
navigating the ever-changing educational landscape and building new
skills to help achieve professional goals
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Back-to-school season isn’t just for fall – or for kids – as teachers
across the country now have new opportunities to further their own
education at American InterContinental University (AIU). A leading
provider of online higher education offering a wide range of
undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university today
announced two new specializations in Elementary Education and Secondary
Education as a part of its Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program.
From keeping up with the latest technologies and classroom resources to
managing complex and individual needs of students, the demands on
today’s teachers are growing and diverse, and the new programs are
carefully tailored to help meet them. In addition to being designed by
an expert team of educators, AIU's Master of Education degrees in
Elementary and Secondary Education are among the few M.Ed. programs to
integrate adaptive learning throughout the entire curriculum.1
The programs use the university’s proprietary adaptive learning
technology, intellipath™, to provide a more personal and
efficient learning experience.
“We understand teachers are looking for new programs that allow them to
take the next step forward in their personal and professional
development path,” said Dr. Jeannette Jones, University Dean of
Education at AIU. “Not only do the Elementary and Secondary Education
specializations in our M.Ed. program address teachers’ unique needs,
they arm them with knowledge and resources that can ultimately help set
up their own students for even greater success.”
The new programs follow the Illinois State Board of Education guidelines
and are designed to conform to the Council for the Accreditation of
Educator Preparation/Teacher Education Accreditation Council (CAEP/TEAC)
accreditation guidelines. They have been submitted to CAEP/TEAC for
review. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCATE) has been
incorporated into CAEP, so that the new AIU M.Ed. program
specializations are aligned with industry standards to help students
successfully further their careers in the K-12 education space.
All students entering the new AIU programs must be certified teachers
who can share their own experiences teaching in K-12 classrooms. This
allows students to build their skill set, share best practices and take
their education to the next level. In addition, AIU students have the
opportunity to learn from faculty who bring real-life experiences from
working in and with school districts across the country.
Tailored to Teachers’ Needs
AIU’s flexible online programs allow teachers to complete their degree
while juggling the demands of their own students and their busy lives
outside of the classroom. A pioneer in adaptive learning technology, AIU
understands how to foster academic success. With the intellipath
platform, students can spend their time where they need it most,
skipping over what they already know and focusing on what they have yet
to learn.
“Integrating intellipath into our Master of Education ensures
individual student needs are met throughout the program’s entirety,”
said Dr. Robert Manzer, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at AIU.
“These new specializations not only deliver a contemporary review of
current education practices, but our adaptive learning technology lets
students focus their valuable time where they need it and take control
of their own progress.”
Courses for Today’s Classroom
As K-12 classrooms continue to evolve, AIU offers a variety of courses
that address the need to prepare educators for today’s teaching
environment. From how to reduce bullying and encourage diversity to
strategies for leveraging social media for learning purposes, the new
M.Ed. programs offer a comprehensive mix of informative and hands-on
material for the modern-day teacher.
To that end, the curriculum includes such courses as:
- The Diverse Secondary Classroom – Students will explore a
variety of strategies and techniques for working with K-12 students
with different social and emotional needs to solve issues such as
bullying and encourage embracing those different from them.
- Managing the Elementary Learning Environment – Using technology
tools, students will create plans to maximize efficiency in the
classroom and leverage research on behavioral problems to create a
behavioral management plan.
- Researching Resources for the Classroom – This course examines
how to utilize a variety of resources for teaching, from identifying
and applying for grant opportunities to developing community
partnerships.
A hallmark of the program is the capstone experience course, in which
students have the opportunity to apply newly learned skills to complete
real-world activities that can benefit their own classrooms. For
example, students may have to create a lesson plan for their class that
uses a brand new technology tool, or find and apply for a small grant
that could fund a new project for their own school.
24/7 Resources Every Step of the Way
All students have 24/7 access to tech support and have multiple ways
through AIU’s online portal to connect with the faculty – seasoned
professionals who boast backgrounds in areas such as student counseling,
administration and classroom teaching. The AIU Online library offers a
variety of resources and services specifically in support of the M.Ed.
program, including access to more than 4,000 journals, eBooks, reference
books and web resources. Students in the M.Ed. program also have access
to dedicated library instruction, program-specific research tutorials,
and a staff of librarians to support the learning process from day one
through graduation, further positioning educators for success.
The two new specializations allow teachers to complete the program in 12
months and bring total AIU M.Ed. specialization offerings to six,
rounding out a comprehensive program that includes focus areas in
everything from Adult Education and Training to Instructional Design and
Technology.
Enrollment began June 29, 2015, with the first session of online classes
beginning July 20, 2015.
To learn more about AIU, visit www.aiuniv.edu.
About American InterContinental University:
Founded in Europe in 1970, American InterContinental University offers a
wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in programs such as
business, healthcare, IT, criminal justice and education at campuses in
Atlanta and Houston and an Internet-based online campus headquartered in
suburban Chicago. AIU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Additional information is available at www.hlcommission.org.
AIU is a member of the Career Education network of universities,
colleges and institutes. For more information, visit www.aiuniv.edu.
American InterContinental University cannot guarantee employment or
salary. Not all programs are available to residents of all states.
Transferability of credits is at the sole discretion of the receiving
institution. AIU’s M.Ed. program does not provide teacher certification.
Find employment rates, financial obligations and other disclosures at www.aiuniv.edu/disclosures.
1Eduventures Inc. research, “Adaptive Learning Memo,” and
American InterContinental University research, “Adaptive Learning Online
M.Ed. Competitive Audit,” June 2015
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AIU
Allison Mortland, 847-585-3711
[email protected]
Source: American InterContinental University