The Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) — Effective Practitioner PreK-12 online program at Emporia State University (ESU) can help professionals develop as effective curriculum and instruction practitioners. Whether you want to improve classroom leadership skills or deepen curricular development, ESU’s coursework will prepare you to promote student learning, address diverse student populations, and utilize up-to-date technologies to shape your school district’s curriculum.
What Is a C&I Practitioner?
A curriculum and instruction practitioner develops new curricula or improves existing curricula in their schools and districts. They specialize in building and evaluating existing teaching methods. Educators with advanced training in curricular and instructional development utilize their specialized knowledge and skills to lead the way in shaping how their schools teach students.
Evaluate for Change
Assessment is vital to K-12 instruction. It establishes the goals of education and determines how well those goals are being met. Moreover, in our rapidly changing world, assessment is key to the future success of educational systems. According to The Edvocate, “Assessment can reinforce the efficacy of teaching and learning. It also encourages the understanding of teaching as a formative process that evolves over time with feedback and input from students.”
ESU’s program can provide students with a foundation in effective assessment strategies through courses like that titled Developing Authentic Assessments. In this course, students will explore various approaches to assessment that ensure the needs of all students are met, and they will learn to identify areas for targeted improvement.
Prepare Students for a Globalized Workforce
According to the U.S. Department of Education, “A growing body of research shows that diversity in schools and communities can be a powerful lever leading to positive outcomes in school and in life.” Today’s students need to be prepared to work in a more diverse and globalized workforce than ever before.
C&I practitioners are tasked with closing achievement gaps, supporting students with a wide variety of backgrounds, and ensuring students are provided with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a diverse workforce. ESU’s Cultural Influences & Educational Practice course is designed to prepare students to build and improve curricular and instructional strategies across differences in culture, ethnicity, race, gender, and ability.
Engage Students with Technological Innovation
Students also need technological skills to participate in the twenty-first-century workforce. According to an article from Edutopia, successful tech integration has long-term benefits. “Students in classes where this kind of mastery is embedded find more novel and immersive uses for technology.” Future workers will gain insight into personal and social responsibility, critical-thinking skills, cross-cultural communication and understanding, and technological savvy.
As a C&I practitioner, you must be well-versed in innovations that enhance the learning process, improve student engagement, and develop technological savvy. Courses like ESU’s Supporting Technology Development for School Leaders teach students to integrate and apply diverse educational technologies in schools and lead others in adopting technological innovations.
Develop a Rewarding Career
Students in ESU’s M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction — Effective Practitioner PreK-12 online program will develop as educators and leaders. Due to the program’s online nature of the program, students will be able to learn while strengthening schools’ curricular and instructional techniques and applying what they learn in the classroom to the real-world.
The rewards of a C&I Practitioner career are also often financial. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, K-12 educators with a master’s degree often see a significant boost in pay compared to those with only a bachelor’s degree, as educational specialists often make more than their bachelors-trained peers.
ESU’s rigorous coursework and mentoring can empower educational professionals to evaluate, improve, and lead the way in curricular and instructional development. ESU’s online program can enable students to work in a diverse workforce utilizing technological know-how and generate district-wide changes.
Learn more about Emporia State University’s online Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) – Effective Practitioner PreK-12 program.
