Schools as Centers of Inquiry

Course Description

Effective schools function as professional learning communities characterized by a culture of inquiry and collaboration. Builds the skills of students in facilitating individual and whole school inquiry. Prerequisite: Admission to MSA, PMC, EdS, or EdD program in educational leadership or permission of instructor.

Syllabus

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

  • Define and describe school-based inquiry
  • Connect inquiry issues to educational research
  • Identify action research and similar kinds of research methods
  • Perform school and classroom-based equity audits to understand how, if at all, equity is embedded in school culture
  • Conduct data inquiries to support data-based decision-making.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure Percentage/Points
Canvas Reflections 20%
Asset Map 25%
Equity Audit 35%
Attendance 20%

Grading Scale

Percentage Letter Grade
93-100A
90-92A-
87-89B+
83-86B
80-82B-
77-79C+
73-76C
70-72C-
67-69D+
63-66D
60-62D-
Below 60F

Attendance/Participation:

For synchronous meetings, you are expected to carefully prepare the readings before each class so that you can participate in both small and large group discussions. Active presence in class is required. Excessive absences (i.e., more than one) may affect your grade negatively. You may also be asked to complete short, in-class writing assignments as part of your participation grade.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.

Scholarly Perspectives

This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.