CSU Ontario School of Education

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Additional Qualifications & Additional Basic Qualifications

General Information

All Additional Qualification courses offered through Charles Sturt University are accredited with and regulated by the Ontario College of Teachers.

The CSU Additional Qualifications courses are firmly grounded in the Ontario College of Teachers Standards of Practice and the Ethical Standards. These standards are woven through each of the modules in all courses and form an integral part of the learning. While all of the standards have relevance to all of the modules, some are particularly thematically representative of content covered and are articulated in each of the descriptions of the modules.

Internet Access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students. The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

 

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Courses

CSU-Ontario will be offering two Additional Qualifications courses and one Additional Basic Qualification course in the Winter term of 2010.

AQ courses available:

ABQ courses available:

Maximum Enrolment Numbers

CSU reserves the right to close admission to courses when maximum numbers have been reached. Notification will be posted on the website.

In addition, courses have a minimum enrolment requirement to be met and applicants will be advised if courses cannot be offered in this Term and fees paid will be fully refunded.

Course Delivery & Workload

All courses will be delivered primarily face-to-face with a combination of small group, interactive, online, problem-based learning and lecture formats.

All courses will have a minimum of 100 hours of contact and at least 25 hours of class preparation including assigned readings, studying and assignment preparation.

Classes will be offered in the Winter term 2010 beginning January 16 and running through April 27, 2010 at the CSU Ontario, Burlington Campus.

 

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Subject Overview

Special Education, Part I

This introductory course is designed to assist teachers in developing positive and inclusive learning experiences for students. Teachers enhance their skills by combining their knowledge of student development and learning with their understanding of the strengths and needs of students identified as exceptional. This Additional Qualifications course focuses on the theory and practice underlying special education in the province of Ontario. It explores exceptionalities, teaching strategies and competencies, legislative underpinnings, program planning and other issues related to teaching and learning with special needs students in inclusive classrooms.

French as a Second Language, Part I

The Additional Qualification course: French as a Second Language, Part I is an introductory course that focuses on the theory and practice underpinning French as a Second Language education. This course will be of interest to teachers who wish to acquire fundamental knowledge and skills in French as a Second Language education: Core, Extended and Immersion. Candidates will have opportunities to reflect, communicate and apply their learning through practical learning experiences.

Intermediate Division – Dramatic Arts, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Science - General, Visual Arts

The focus of this course is on helping teachers develop theoretical understandings, curriculum applications, and practical pedagogical strategies necessary to design, implement and assess effective programs for students in the intermediate division. It includes general principles of adolescent development and learning, curriculum design and implementation, effective teaching strategies, the integration of information technology, building a climate conducive to the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, cultural and moral development of the adolescent in contemporary society, and working in elementary and secondary environments. Teachers will learn to combine their knowledge of active student engagement, program planning and delivery for adolescent learners and their understanding of particular subject matter identified as their teachable subject. At least one half of the course will concentrate on subject specific curriculum.

 

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Key Dates:

Winter term January 16, 2010 – April 27, 2010

Applications open October 2009

Applications close Friday, December 18, 2009 – NO late applications will be accepted, and payment must accompany the application form

FSL Fluency Test TBA

 

 

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Admission Requirements

Upon successful completion of these courses, candidates will be recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers to have additional qualifications added to their Certificates of Qualification. All Additional Basic Qualification, Additional Qualification courses lead to recommendation to the Ontario College of Teachers, provided all prerequisites have been met at the time of admission. It is the candidates’ responsibility to acquaint themselves with Regulation 184/97 and any other requirements of the Ontario College of Teachers

Minimum Admission Requirements:

Completed pre-service teacher education program and OCT member in good standing;
AND
For Intermediate courses – must have 2 full courses in the area or related area of the specialisation
AND
For FSL – satisfactory completion of the Fluency Test

The Fluency Test is a mandatory component of admission to the FSL Part 1 AQ course. It will be conducted at a date & time to be confirmed, at the CSU Ontario Burlington campus. All participants will sit a written section of the test followed by an oral and comprehension section. Participants should allow 3 hours for the full test.

All applicants for the FSL course will automatically be registered to attend the Fluency Test on this date.

Payment of C$50 is required on the day.

Results of the French Fluency Test will be provided to CSU Ontario for the purposes of admission to the French as Second Language AQ course only. Results will not be advised to any other party.

A passing grade must be attained in order to meet the admission requirements to the AQ course, French as a Second Language Part 1.

 

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Application and Supporting Documentation Requirements

  1. Complete the Additional Qualification / Additional Basic Qualification Program Application For Admission form 53Kb [DOC]
    Applicants who are new to Charles Sturt University must also complete the CSU Application to Admission 258Kb [PDF]
  2. With your completed application form/s you must also attach ONE of the following:
    Certificate of Qualification
    Interim Certificate of Qualification
    Letter of Eligibility plus an Entry Letter
  3. You ALSO must provide:
    Photocopy of Record of Landing (if you are not a Canadian citizen)
    Certified copy of Transcript of undergraduate degree (if you are not already a student of CSU)
  4. Attach a certified cheque or a money order made out to Charles Sturt University for full payment for the course you have selected and send your application to:
  5. AQ/ABQ ADMISSIONS
    Charles Sturt University, Ontario
    860 Harrington Court
    Burlington, ON L7N 3N4

 

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Costs

C$50 fee for the French Fluency test (to be paid on the day of the Test)

C$900 for each AQ/ABQ course selected

Refunds

If you withdraw before the course starts, the full fee will be refunded.

If you withdraw after the course has started, but in the first week CSU will retain an administration fee of $100 and refund the remainder of the course fee.

If you withdraw after the course has started and after the first week no refund is available.

 

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Winter Timetable of Classes

Date Time Hours
Saturday, January 16 8:30 – 5:30 9
Tuesday, January 19 4:30 – 9:30 5
Week of January 26 Technology supported learning 6
Tuesday, February 2 4:30 – 9:30 5
Week of February 8 Technology supported learning 6
Saturday, February 13 8:30 – 5:30 9
Tuesday, February 16 4:30 – 9:30 5
Week of February 23 Technology supported learning 6
Tuesday, March 2 4:30 – 9:30 5
Week of March 8 Technology supported learning 6
Saturday, March 27 8:30 – 5:30 9
Tuesday, March 30 4:30 – 9:30 5
Tuesday, April 6 4:30 – 9:30 5
Week of April 13 Technology supported learning 6
Saturday, April 24 8:30 – 5:30 9
Tuesday, April 27 4:30 – 9:30 5
Total face to face hours 71
Total Technology supported learning 30
Total hours 101

Technology Supported Learning

While the Additional Qualifications program will be delivered primarily in a face to face format, there will also be some technology supported online instruction which enables candidates to experience active problem-based field work while being guided by the instructor. There are five of these days in each course. These days are intended to qualify as part of the 100 hour OCT instructional requirement but are asynchronous, partially classroom/school based and do not require attendance at the university.

Online supported instruction is built around the CSU INTERACT Platform. This platform provides ongoing support for AQ candidates during both the face to face phase as well as action research components in the online supported instruction phase. The Interact platform includes a range of tools that provide access to course resources (readings, websites, tasks) and facilitates lecturer – student and student – student interactions (chat rooms, wikis, forum).

The forum tool provides asynchronous space for discussion between lecturers and students. It would be expected that students would provide regular postings as an ongoing record of learning and points of discussion. Lecturers will post questions and ongoing tasks for students to engage with as they collect data and read set material. Sub-groups who are carrying out action research on a common area can be placed into common chat rooms to share specific ideas and reflections. Daily diary postings of observations, theoretical explanations, and school-based processes they interact with during the online supported phases of the programs can be posted.

Finally these tools allow for groups of students to create group consolidated information and presentations by sharing and editing onto a common space. All tools are monitored electronically by the data systems in the platform and facilitated and mapped by Subject Coordinators and lecturing staff. Students are responsible for providing regular postings, and instructors post questions, responses and ongoing tasks for students to engage with as they collect data and complete site visits. The work of each individual candidate will be monitored by the Subject Coordinator.

These Additional Qualification and Additional Basic Qualification courses have been accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers until April 30, 2012.

 

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