Essential concepts, tools, and practices

Introduction

Teachers Without Borders welcomes you to our Certificate of Teaching Mastery!

At 59 million, teachers are the largest professional group on the planet. Together, we have the ability to significantly improvethe quality of life for our children, our communities, and our earth.

The Certificate of Teaching Mastery is designed to provide hands-on experiences coupled with theory and educationalinnovations from around the globe. You will travel with a Mentor and colleagues from 21 different countries in what we call "The LearningVillage." In the end, you'll create an electronic Teaching Portfolio to showcase your work and develop a culminating Service Project - aprofessional gift to your community.

Thank you for making the commitment to join us and for connecting with a widening web of global colleagues and kindred spirits.Our grandest wish is that you take what you learn and use it for the greatest common good - apply it with heart, with mind, with hospitality, gratitude,and celebration.

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Overview

The material in this Introductory Seminar is a guide for you to use now, and to refer back to later. Be sure, however, to do the 3assignments in this seminar before beginning Course 1.

The topics covered in this Introductory Seminar are as follows:

• Outline of Certificate of Teaching Mastery
• Meeting Your Mentor (Assignment 1)
• Meeting Your Learning Circle (Assignment 2)
• Questions to Consider (Assignment 3)
• How do I start working on the courses?
• How do I get the assignments?
• How do I send my assignments to my Mentor?
• How long does it take to complete the CTM?
• How will my work be evaluated?
• Key Concepts
• Tips for Writing
• Electronic Teaching Portfolio
• Save and Plan Ahead
• Posting Documents to your E-Portfolio
• Service Project
• How to use WebBoard and Question Wall
• Help (with computer and courses)
• Revisions, Copyrights, and Permissions

Outline of certificate of teaching mastery

See below for a short description

A closer look

Course 1: Education for the New Millennium - Bringing New Thinking in Education into Classroom Practice

In this course, you'll be introduced to educational theories and approaches to learning and how to apply them to your classroom;aspects of effective teaching; and contemporary issues in education. The material reflects a pattern of inclusive, discovery-oriented,culturally-attuned, and globally-aware teaching.

Course 2: Teaching Methods - Looking at Theory, Planning, and Management

In this course, you'll be introduced to thematic learning and cooperative learning and you'll have a chance to developlesson plans with these ideas in mind. You are given practical tools for classroom management and ways in which you can guide students to think abouttheir own process of learning.

Course 3: Assessment Practices - Improving Student Performance

You'll discover a new way of designing curriculum so that you get the results you want. This course includes an introduction tostudent portfolios, problem-based learning, and rubrics that assess different aspects of student work such as mastery of the material, or theability to apply what one has learned to real-life experiences.