"There is so much I didn't know about teens!" ~Dawn, Keokuk
"I found this class to be very interesting and thought provoking. I believe more educators should understand the workings and development of the teen brain. I for one had always assumed that hormones were responsible for many of teenagers erratic behaviors." ~Kristine, Muscatine
"This was a powerful class!" ~Meryl, Sioux City
"I found this class to be very interesting and thought provoking. I believe more educators should understand the workings and development of the teen brain. I for one had always assumed that hormones were responsible for many of teenagers erratic behaviors." ~Kristine, Muscatine
"This was a powerful class!" ~Meryl, Sioux City
Teenagers can exhibit a vast array of frustrating and befuddling characteristics from emotional mood swings and forgetfulness to poor decision making and even downright dangerous behaviors. Once blamed on hormones, these characteristics are now known to be a result of the brain itself changing. Secrets of the Teenage Brain is a 3 credit hour course based on the book by the same name by Sheryl Feinstein. Participants will learn the causes of teenage behavior and attitudes by examining the latest research on adolescent brain development, what the brain needs, how it copes with stress, deals with social issues, communicates, and learns. Based on this research and information, participants will then examine strategies and approaches for teaching and reaching teenagers.
*This course may be taken for either EDMA graduate credit or IA license renewal credit.
Organization
This course is divided into 7 Modules and presented in a modified, self-paced format. Participants are encouraged to access the course regularly and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules. In addition to text readings, course goals will be met using a combination of discussions, activities, external readings and videos. The instructor will monitor all discussions and offer feedback and coaching on assignments and activities.
Course Goals
By the end of the course, participants will...
1. Understand adolescent brain changes and their effects on cognition, learning, social development, communication, self-
concept and risk taking behaviors.
2. Know strategies for accommodating cognition and learning
3. Know strategies for gender-based instruction and engaging positive emotions
4. Know strategies to accommodate and improve communication and expression
5. Know strategies for approaching and addressing self-concepts
6. Know strategies for mitigating risk-taking behaviors
Course Topics
1. Adolescent brain changes
2. Cognition and learning (attention, organization, feedback)
3. The social brain (romance, self-concepts, gender)
4. Expression and communication
5. Challenges (self-consciousness, mental health, sleep)
6. Risk taking (peer groups, technology, decision making, positive risk taking)
Grading
Grading is the same whether the course is taken for graduate credit or for license renewal. Students are required to
participate in all discussion forums and to complete all assignments and/or activities. A=90%-100%; B=80%-89%-Because this
is a graduate level course, scores must be 80% or better to receive credit.
Required Text: Secrets of the Teenage Brain: Research-Based Strategies for Reaching and Teaching Today's Adolescents (2009) [Paperback version (2013)] by Sheryl G. Feinstein. This book can be purchased through local bookstores or ordered online.
*This course may be taken for either EDMA graduate credit or IA license renewal credit.
Organization
This course is divided into 7 Modules and presented in a modified, self-paced format. Participants are encouraged to access the course regularly and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules. In addition to text readings, course goals will be met using a combination of discussions, activities, external readings and videos. The instructor will monitor all discussions and offer feedback and coaching on assignments and activities.
Course Goals
By the end of the course, participants will...
1. Understand adolescent brain changes and their effects on cognition, learning, social development, communication, self-
concept and risk taking behaviors.
2. Know strategies for accommodating cognition and learning
3. Know strategies for gender-based instruction and engaging positive emotions
4. Know strategies to accommodate and improve communication and expression
5. Know strategies for approaching and addressing self-concepts
6. Know strategies for mitigating risk-taking behaviors
Course Topics
1. Adolescent brain changes
2. Cognition and learning (attention, organization, feedback)
3. The social brain (romance, self-concepts, gender)
4. Expression and communication
5. Challenges (self-consciousness, mental health, sleep)
6. Risk taking (peer groups, technology, decision making, positive risk taking)
Grading
Grading is the same whether the course is taken for graduate credit or for license renewal. Students are required to
participate in all discussion forums and to complete all assignments and/or activities. A=90%-100%; B=80%-89%-Because this
is a graduate level course, scores must be 80% or better to receive credit.
Required Text: Secrets of the Teenage Brain: Research-Based Strategies for Reaching and Teaching Today's Adolescents (2009) [Paperback version (2013)] by Sheryl G. Feinstein. This book can be purchased through local bookstores or ordered online.
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