Foundations of Teaching for Learning Capstone: The Reflective Practitioner from Coursera

This course is open to learners who have completed all eight courses on the Foundations of Teaching for Learning MOOC. It revisits topics covered and focuses on what it really means to be a reflective practitioner. One of the great paradoxes of learning is that the more you know the more you become aware of what you don’t know... and the more you want to know! This course offers an opportunity to further deepen and broaden your professional expertise. It provides an opportunity to participate in practical tasks and assessments that draw on the knowledge and skills gained in the previous courses.  

If you have completed the eight courses, signed up to the Signature track, met all the assessment requirements of the programme and would like to continue to build on your interest and achievements, this course is for you! There is enough challenge and scope for learners who already have teaching experience, but this course is also suitable for less experienced learners who may not have a great deal of teacher education or may not yet hold a teaching qualification.

Announcement for US based teachers:

Coursera and its partners are proud to offer eligible teachers in the US free Course Certificates for this course and other high-quality teacher professional development courses, through the Connected effort announced by President Obama.

To participate in this opportunity, US district leaders simply need to approve Coursera teacher professional development by completing a brief form at: www.coursera.org/tpd.

US Teachers interested in this opportunity are also encouraged to follow the link to learn more and www.coursera.org/tpd.

Once a district’s form has been verified, the district leader will be notified and teachers in the district will receive access to free verified certificates for Coursera professional development.

Coursera and the Commonwealth Education Trust thank educators for the hard work they do every day and hope this opportunity will assist US teachers to continue developing their craft in a meaningful and flexible way.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction and Review phase

Looking back on eight satisfactorily completed courses, what have been the key ideas and highlights of your learning? How much of that learning will have a direct impact on your teaching? On your personal and professional values? On your relationship with colleagues? With children? With parents or other adults?

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides an opportunity for learners to reflect on their teaching and develop a plan to improve their practice

Suitable for both experienced and less experienced teachers

Involves completing practical tasks and assessments, which provides hands-on experience and allows for immediate application of knowledge gained

Explores the importance of feedback and offers opportunities for learners to receive and provide feedback from their peers

Taught by reputable professors with expertise in teaching and education

Coursework includes creating lesson plans, a practice common in teaching

Reviews summary

Capstone on reflective teaching practice

According to learners, this capstone course provides a positive conclusion to the Foundations of Teaching for Learning series, offering a crucial opportunity for deep reflection. Students find the practical tasks, particularly the focus on lesson plans and evaluation, highly beneficial for applying concepts from previous courses. Many highlight the course's ability to help them become more conscious and intentional practitioners. While the structure and content are generally well-received, some note the experience can be influenced by the quality of peer feedback received in the evaluation phases. Overall, it is seen as a valuable experience for professional development.

Effectively builds on the entire series.

"This course beautifully wraps up the entire Foundations of Teaching for Learning series, integrating everything we learned."

"It served as an excellent culmination, bringing together key ideas from the 8 previous courses."

"The capstone requires drawing upon knowledge and skills gained throughout the program."

"Completing this course felt like putting all the pieces from the prior modules together."

Focuses on applying concepts to practice.

"Applying the principles learned in the previous courses through practical tasks like creating lesson plans was very helpful."

"I appreciated the focus on practical application, which directly relates to my everyday teaching."

"The tasks required me to think critically about how theory translates into classroom practice."

"This capstone helped bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world teaching scenarios."

Positively influences professional practice.

"This course significantly impacted my approach to teaching and my professional growth."

"I feel more confident and reflective in my role as an educator after taking this capstone."

"The concepts and practices introduced have changed the way I plan and evaluate my lessons."

"It is a valuable professional development experience for anyone in education."

Develops skills for deeper reflection.

"The focus on becoming a reflective practitioner is incredibly valuable; it challenged me to think deeply about my teaching."

"This course helped me solidify my reflective practice, making me a more conscious and intentional teacher."

"I learned how to reflect meaningfully on my actions and decisions in the classroom."

"The course provided a structured approach to reflection that I can apply long after completing it."

Experiences with peer feedback vary.

"The peer feedback part is a bit hit or miss; some feedback was very insightful, others less so."

"The quality of feedback I received from peers wasn't always helpful, which impacted the evaluation phase."

"Getting useful feedback depends heavily on who is reviewing your work."

"I found providing feedback valuable, but receiving feedback wasn't consistently high quality."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Foundations of Teaching for Learning Capstone: The Reflective Practitioner with these activities:

Review educational psychology concepts

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Strengthen your understanding of the principles that underpin effective teaching.

Browse courses on Educational Psychology

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Review your notes from previous courses or readings.
Take practice quizzes or mock exams.
Discuss key concepts with a peer or mentor.

Practice creating lesson plans

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Develop your ability to translate theory into practice.

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Choose a topic and grade level.
Identify the learning objectives for your lesson.
Develop a sequence of activities to achieve your learning objectives.

Practice lesson plans

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Put your knowledge of lesson planning into practice by creating your own lesson plans.

Browse courses on Lesson Planning

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Identify a topic to teach.
Create a set of learning objectives.
Plan activities and resources to meet the objectives.
Reflect on your lesson plan and make revisions as needed.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Read "Becoming a Reflective Practitioner" by Schon

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Gain a theoretical understanding of reflective practice in education.

View How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic: Principles... on Amazon

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Read the introduction and first two chapters.
Reflect on your own experiences as a learner and educator.
Identify key concepts in the book related to reflective practice.

Participate in peer review of lesson plans

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Gain feedback on your lesson plans.

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Find a partner or small group to review your lesson plans.
Share your lesson plans with each other.
Provide feedback on each other's lesson plans.

Create a reflective journal

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Develop a practice of reflecting on your teaching practice.

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Choose a format for your journal (e.g., digital, paper).
Establish a regular schedule for writing in your journal.
Reflect on your experiences from the past day.

Contribute to the course forum

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Engage with other learners and share your perspectives.

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Join the course forum.
Participate in discussions.
Share your insights and experiences.

Develop a portfolio of lesson plans

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Showcase your ability to plan effective instruction.

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Collect your lesson plans from the course.
Select your best lesson plans.
Organize your lesson plans into a portfolio.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundations of Teaching for Learning Capstone: The Reflective Practitioner will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Teacher

Teachers plan, implement, and evaluate instructional programs to facilitate the learning of students. They typically work in pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Education Researcher

Education Researchers conduct research on teaching and learning to improve educational practices. They typically work in universities, research institutions, and school districts. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Researcher

Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. They typically specialize in a particular subject area and teach courses in that area. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Professor

Instructional Coach

Instructional Coaches provide support and guidance to teachers to help them improve their teaching practices. They typically work in schools and other educational institutions to observe teachers, provide feedback, and model effective teaching methods. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Coach

School Principal

School Principals are responsible for the overall operation of a school. They typically work with teachers, administrators, and parents to create a positive learning environment for students. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Principal

Superintendent of Schools

Superintendents of Schools are responsible for the oversight of a school district. They typically work with school principals, teachers, and parents to develop and implement educational policies and programs. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Superintendent of Schools

Education Policy Analyst

Education Policy Analysts develop and analyze policies that affect education. They typically work for government agencies, think tanks, and advocacy organizations. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Policy Analyst

Education Administrator

Education Administrators oversee the operation of schools and other educational institutions. They typically work with teachers, administrators, and parents to create a positive learning environment for students. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Administrator

Education Consultant

Education Consultants provide guidance and support to schools and other educational institutions on a variety of issues, including curriculum development, instructional methods, and assessment. They typically work with administrators, teachers, and parents to improve teaching and learning. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Consultant

Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants provide guidance and support to schools and other educational institutions on a variety of issues, including curriculum development, instructional methods, and assessment. They typically work with administrators, teachers, and parents to improve teaching and learning. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Consultant

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers design and develop educational programs and materials for schools and other educational institutions. They typically work with teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders to create curricula that meet the needs of students. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Learning Specialist

Learning Specialists work with students who have learning difficulties or disabilities to help them reach their full potential. They typically work in schools and other educational institutions to assess students' needs, develop individualized learning plans, and provide support and guidance. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers apply their knowledge of best practices in teaching and learning to design and develop engaging and effective learning experiences. They typically work in corporate settings and education institutions to develop online courses, training materials, and other learning resources. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in the principles of teaching and learning, and in developing skills in lesson planning and evaluation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer