EUT 513

Inquiry-based Instruction in English Language Arts

Critical exploration and analysis of current approaches to and developments in the teaching and learning of secondary English with emphasis on inquiry-based instruction. Inquiry-based instruction engages learners in exploring authentic, important, and meaningful questions of real concern to students and encourages integrated study of the language arts. Pragmatic and theoretical aspects of language, literature, and composition instruction are considered, especially as they apply to the selection of objectives, strategies, and materials for instruction and evaluation. Areas of study include reading/writing/literacy development, the writing process, engaging literary works, oral language and listening-skill development, as well as various formative and summative techniques for assessing middle and secondary level students. This course also provides opportunities for candidates to gain experience in assessing, preparing, and teaching problem-based lessons through an extensive associated field experience. Physical materials and strategies for teaching English Language Arts at the intermediate and secondary level are considered, as are school contexts, student characteristics, teaching and learning styles, issues of equity and diversity, and theories of inquiry-based teaching and learning.

Units: 3.0