Education - Experienced Educators Program

Faculty and Staff

Practicum and Master’s Project

Practicum and Master’s Project- Experienced Educators - Education - Antioch University New England

Practicum and Master’s Project

“Since finishing [the program] I feel that I have a much more clear understanding of how to make positive change in my school and district, although it is still an uphill battle as you know! I now have the skills and knowledge to be a strong teacher leader. The whole program made me look at my own practice and make changes to better allow my students to learn. Thank you again for everything! My time at Antioch has been one of the most positive educational experiences I've yet had. ”
— -Jeremy Rathbun

Students in the Experienced Educators Program develop and lead projects that contribute significantly to student learning and school communities. Recent master’s and practicum projects included: investigating the effectiveness of elementary school assessment models; implementing a problem-based high school mathematics curriculum; leading development of a new statewide science curriculum focused on coastal water ecosystems; coaching new Reading First teachers to increase young children’s reading skills; establishing a new middle school student forum that enables greater student voice in the school; providing better school-to-school transitions for children identified with Autism Spectrum Disorders; and integrating the Critical Skills Classroom model in an alternative high school carpentry program.

The practicum is a continuous and integrating element in the MEd program in which teachers identify professional goals, strive to implement those goals in their classrooms, reflect upon their work in a journal, and work with an advisor. The journal is a record of professional insights, events, activities, thoughts, and observations. The advisor serves as a consultant-visiting classrooms, meeting for conferences, responding to the journal, affirming effective instructional strategies, and collaboratively problem solving issues in the teacher’s professional practice.

The master’s project is designed and implemented by the student with guidance and support from the advisor and other Antioch New England faculty. It is an action research project which may be classroom-based or may investigate an important educational issue. Action research examines some aspect of the school or classroom for the purpose of better understanding and for potential change. It asks the question, “What do I want to learn?” rather than “What do I need to prove?” Projects are presented in a symposium to fellow students and to other relevant audiences such as parent groups, school boards, or colleagues.

Sample master’s projects include:

Designing a Developmentally Appropriate Kindergarten Program
Theater-based Integrated Curriculum
Meeting the Differentiated Needs of Learners in Secondary Classrooms
Examining Systemic Change in Science Curricula
Improving Communication between Parents and Teachers
Understanding and Planning for Professional Development Needs of Teachers

Last Updated: 4/22/08