• Introduction
• Recognition
• Partner University
• Curriculum
• Course Delivery Format
• Admission
• Graduation Requirement

Introduction

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Teaching and Learning program offered in partnership with the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of practicing teachers.

The degree is for experienced teachers who want to learn the best of what research shows about the science and practice of learning and teaching. Research shows that the quality of a student‘s teacher affects that student through a lifetime. The shift in today‘s school reform call is from how teachers teach to how students learn and what teachers must know and be able to do to facilitate student learning. To be able to accomplish this task, teachers must understand student development and how students learn. Qualified teachers are the key to economic success of any country.

Teachers have need for continuous renewal of teaching skills and expertise. In particular, teachers need to upgrade their knowledge regarding what the World Bank (2008) calls transversal skills that will enable secondary school graduates to adapt to changes in society and the labor market. Teaching these skills requires a paradigm shift in pedagogy to include -inquiry-based learning and the adaptation of teaching to the learning capacity of individual students that require new competencies of teachers. The Master of Science in Teaching and Learning is a professional degree that incorporates research about the practice of teaching and how students learn. Students who complete the degree will be prepared to become teacher leaders in their school or to be mentor teachers. The program is based on the best of what is known from research about how students learn and pedagogical processes.

Through a commitment to academic excellence, the Master of Science in Teaching and Learning develops highly competent, confident, and professional graduates who are prepared to be accomplished teachers and to contribute to effective schooling. The program prepares teachers who can:

• Analyze learner characteristics that influence student development and academic achievement;

• Consider various theories of learning and review research on brain-based learning;

• Understand/investigate the professional practice as the critical link between standards, assessments and student achievement of outcomes;

• Evaluate curriculum options and the linkages between assessment-based curriculum and instructional strategies;

• Examine differentiated instruction for students with special needs;

• Investigate instructional reading strategies, literacy materials and assessment approaches in K-12 reading education;

• Explore and practice teaching strategies for appropriate subject fields including development of activities, materials, lesson plans and micro-teaching for higher-order thinking skills;

• Apply concepts, techniques, and theories learned in courses to classroom settings;

• Enhance learning through activities and methodologies that engage all sensory modalities;

• Integrate learning across curriculum areas; and,

• Facilitate student inquiry skills and student ownership and direction in their own learning.

In addition, accomplished teachers are expected to have the skills to:

• Work collaboratively;

• Apply and assess current technologies for educational improvement;

• Examine current research and development in a range of settings, including the U.A.E., that inform best practice in teaching;

• Manifest a professional code of ethics and values;

• Assume stewardship of pedagogical processes and assessment; and,

• Accept responsibility for the improvement of the educational setting for all learners.

Recognition

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Teaching and Learning program is approved by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. As Zayed University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the program is internationally recognized for further education and employment in private and public sector organizations.

Furthermore, the College of Education is a candidate for:

• NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education), based in the U.S.A.

Partner University

University of Washington in Seattle, Washington

The participation of the partner university allows the Master of Science in Teaching and Learning program to select experts in their respective fields of study who bring a depth of knowledge and an emphasis on practical application, both of which are essential to creating a relevant masters program.

The University of Washington's College of Education is ranked 7th in the nation among all Colleges of Education in the U.S. News and World Report 2008. The College offers outstanding programs in educational leadership, special education, principal education, and English as a Second Language. In addition, the University of Washington's College of Education faculty are renowned for their research, and the College is one of 10 selected by the Carnegie Cooperation to participate in renewal of teacher education. The College is also the lead research institution on learning as a science.

The University of Washington is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Within the College of Education, a number of degree programs have formal accreditation.

Curriculum

Prior to formal coursework, students participate in an orientation program where they are introduced to the nature and requirements of the program, some of the major issues involved in being a graduate student, the facilities offered in the program such as the library, online databases and other resources, the Curriculum Resource Center, the Graduate Writing Center, academic reading and writing preparation, and ways of communicating with faculty.

The Master of Science in Teaching and Learning curriculum consists of the following 10 courses:

• EDC 650 Science of Cognition and Learning
• EDC 661 Implementing a Research-based Framework for Education
• EDC 665 Teaching in a Complex World
• EDC 662 Using Technology in the Classroom
• EDC 663 Using Assessment for Learning
• EDC 664 The Intersection of Development and Learning
• EDC 646 Implementing Inclusive Education
• EDC 668 Developing the School as a Learning Community
• EDC 667 Knowing and Teaching
• EDC 695 Research Seminar

Course Delivery Format

Each of the courses is offered during either a six to eight week period or an intensive period. Each course includes face-to-face instruction in addition to out-of-class activities conducted independently or through technology applications that complement the course interactions. All courses are based on 15 contact hours per credit.

The Master of Science Teaching and Learning program is delivered over a period of 24 months at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi and/or Dubai.

For more information on the admission deadline, please visit Key Dates section on our website.

Admission

• Admission is open to males and females of all nationalities.
• Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher from an accredited university.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to manage a challenging, fast-paced program.
• 

For more information on the admission requirements, application procedure and program cost, please visit the Admissions and Fees section of our website.

Graduation Requirement

Graduate students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in course work and complete a final project in fulfillment of the requirements of a masters degree.