National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) Level I Course Syllabus Page 1 of 4 TEACHING HOW TO LEARN: Developing Cognitive Competencies Level I Introduction COURSE DESCRIPTION This course introduces and develops the foundational methodology for training students how to learn using the first level of NILD Educational Therapy techniques. Three learning components are addressed: A. Philosophy - The underlying premise of NILD instruction is the theoretical position that every learner can improve in cognitive, academic, perceptual, and emotional functioning. B. Assessment – A combination of psychological and educational assessments reveal patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Informal tests are used to support and clarify student profiles. C. Intervention – Specific intervention is designed to address particular learning needs with the intention of targeting and developing areas of cognitive vulnerability. Objectives A. General: Successful completion of this course will equip the beginning educational therapist to identify and assess student needs and utilize NILD techniques enabling students to succeed in the classroom and in life. B. Specific: Upon successful completion of this course, the educational therapist will be able to: 1. Demonstrate a beginning understanding of NILD philosophy and methodology 2. Describe NILD’s comprehensive approach that develops learning through perception, academics, cognition and emotions 3. Explain the differences between NILD methodology and tutoring 4. Understand how reading, math and spelling can be impacted by improving cognitive functioning 5. Identify learning challenges and apply specific tools to develop and enhance thinking skills 6. Design an educational therapy program according to the strengths and vulnerabilities determined by assessment and implement an effective intervention program based on the NILD techniques 7. Begin to learn how to assess students annually 8. Develop literacy skills in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics and syllabication Requirements I. COURSE REQUIREMENTS A. Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree, preferably in education or related field B. Pre-Course Preparation: Prior to beginning the course, observe a live or recorded NILD Educational Therapy® session C. Course Activities: Full participation in all activities and assignments is expected including attendance at all residency week classes. 1. Online coursework (four weeks prior to Residency):  Order course materials (see below) in advance of online course  Select a student with whom to practice techniques as they are learned  Have a chalkboard available for practice sessions (can be portable on tripod)  Practice techniques and read assignments as assigned  Complete reaction papers that are a personal response to the information read 801 Greenbrier Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320 PH: 757‐423‐8646  FAX: 757‐451‐0970 Email: [email protected] National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) Level I Course Syllabus Page 2 of 4 D. E. F. G. H.  Contribute to online discussions weekly 2. Residency (classroom) coursework (Monday - Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm; Friday 8:30am – 12:00pm):  Work with a partner practicing and refining NILD Educational Therapy® techniques  Complete evening assignments  Complete the final course assignment Course Workload The time required to complete your assignments has been estimated as follows: Online coursework: 10 – 15 hours per week for four weeks Residency week: 50 hours (includes class time and homework) Training Requirements for NILD Professionally Certified Educational Therapist (PCET): NILD Level I training is the first step toward NILD certification. All Educational Therapists are expected to continue their training at a Level II course within three years. Those trained in the NILD model will be considered educational therapist interns until reaching full certification status. Interns may apply for certification following successful completion of Level III. Course Evaluation 1. There are four categories of assignments that combine for the overall course grade: Distance assignments – 40% Class participation – 20% Therapy demonstration – 20% Final assignment – 20% 2. Included in the “Distance assignments” category are one reaction paper and four Knowledge Surveys (quizzes) that are graded. The “Class participation” category is based upon online Discussion Board participation and Residency/classroom participation. There are numerous reading assignments that are required but not graded. The Therapy demonstration grade is determined during residency week. The Final assignment is a 3 – 4 page paper based upon your reading of a book written by NILD founder Grace Mutzabaugh, called A Work of His Grace. 3. Grades are determined using a scale of 0 – 100 for each assignment. Participant grades will be recorded by the instructor in the Blackboard grade center. 4. Participant grades can be viewed in Blackboard at any time during the course. Please note that grades are required to be inputted into the Blackboard grade center for all participants regardless of whether they are seeking graduate credit or not. Grades for the Knowledge Surveys are automatically entered by Blackboard and the course instructor manually enters in Blackboard grades for all other assignments. NILD Membership/Licensure: Your course tuition includes a one-year NILD membership and license. Upon successful completion of the course you will automatically become an NILD member and licensed as an NILD Educational Therapist to use the NILD materials and methodology for the ensuing year. Other membership benefits include: 10% discount on all materials purchased from NILD, discounts on NILD Conferences and workshops, free subscription to NILD’s “e-conference” email discussion group, a listing on NILD’s Find-a-Therapist website, and more. To remain active as an NILD Educational Therapist your NILD Membership and License will need to be renewed annually. Graduate Credit: NILD has arranged with Regent University an opportunity for course participants to obtain 3 graduate credits upon successful completion of the NILD courses. No additional coursework is required but there is a tuition fee (see Course Application) that is paid to NILD. Also, Regent University requires that course participants be admitted in their graduate program in order to receive graduate credit. There are additional fees paid directly to Regent. For more information, go to: http://www.regent.edu/acad/schedu/masters-idp-ed-therapy/apply-idp.cfm. For 801 Greenbrier Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320 PH: 757‐423‐8646  FAX: 757‐451‐0970 Email: [email protected] National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) Level I Course Syllabus Page 3 of 4 I. information about Regent University’s Master of Education with emphasis in Educational Therapy, go to: http://www.regent.edu/acad/schedu/masters-idp-ed-therapy. OPTIONAL Workshops: Only available in Virginia Beach, VA (Regent University). See NILD course application for pricing information. a. NILD Group Literacy–Bridging and Extending Following residency week is an optional ten hour workshop on Friday 1:00pm – 5pm and Saturday 9am – 4pm to equip you to be more flexible with your service delivery with an emphasis on literacy development in students enrolled in resource rooms or in various group settings.  Refine the implementation of the reading tools that NILD has developed  Learn how to infuse essential literacy components into students’ language arts curriculum  Learn how to use intentional questioning and leverage peer learning accelerate the development of literacy skills  Learn how to broaden your scope of services, strengthen your students’ literacy skills and reach more struggling readers.  There is an additional cost but no additional materials are required (see Course Application). PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of NILD Level I Course. b. NILD Group Math – Bridging and Extending Following residency week is an optional ten hour workshop on Friday 1:00pm – 5pm and Saturday 9am – 4pm to equip you to be more flexible with your service delivery with an emphasis on math development in students enrolled in resource rooms or in various group settings.  Discover the foundational math concepts that every student must know  Recognize the stages of number development  Learn fun activities that develop number sense  Learn how to motivate a reluctant student who is afraid of math  Come and learn how to create dynamic math activities that develop foundational mathematic concepts and strengthen math confidence in your students  There is an additional cost but no additional materials are required (see Course Application). PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of NILD Level I Course II. TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS Using the Blackboard system, available through Regent University, online students access and download course materials, submit assignments, and interact with instructors and fellow students. This is a distance learning course combining four weeks of online coursework with one residency week of classroom instruction. Throughout the course, students must have an email account, high-speed internet access, and a functioning web browser. III. COURSE MATERIALS REQUIRED These materials are required and must be obtained before the Online portion of the course begins. A. Available from Outside Suppliers:  Speech to Print, Language Essentials for Teachers, 2nd Edition (2010), Louisa Cook Moats, Ed.D. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-1-59857-050-2. Available at: www.amazon.com. 801 Greenbrier Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320 PH: 757‐423‐8646  FAX: 757‐451‐0970 Email: [email protected] National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) Level I Course Syllabus Page 4 of 4  The Clinical Practice of Educational Therapy: A Teaching Model (2010), Ficksman and Adelizzi. ISBN: 978-0-415-99857-4. Available at: www.aetonline.org.  Let’s Read (Books 3 – 5). ISBN: 083885302X; 083885303X; 083885304X. Available at Educators Publishing Services online store: http://eps.schoolspecialty.com/products/details.cfm?seriesonly=5300M  Getting the Main Idea (Book D, 2006). SRA –Specific Skills Series. ISBN: 978-0076039869. Available (enter ISBN number in search box) at: https://www.mheonline.com/search_results/keyword_search.  Lauri Toys Alphabet Avalanche - (500 crepe rubber letters). Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Lauri‐Toys‐Alphabet‐Avalanche‐500‐Letters/dp/B000F8R6JK.  Writing Frame. Available from Zaner-Bloser at: http://shop.zaner-bloser.com/p-24-writing-frame.aspx. (SKU: 978-0-7367-4937-4).  Note: Many of the above items may be obtained in a single transaction through the Regent Bookstore for your convenience. Go to: www.regentbookstore.net. B. Available from NILD: The following course materials may be purchased as a package at a specially discounted price (see Course Application) or items may be individually purchased through NILD’s estore http://estore.nild.org. The Level I Course Materials Package includes:  The Blue Book Method: An Associate  Sounds of Speech Key Word Approach  Sounds of Language  Phonic Spelling Workbook  A Work of His Grace by Grace  Student Reference Sheets & Writing Mutzabaugh, NILD Founder Exercises  Rhythmic Writing & Morse Code  Teacher’s Word List laminated cards  Blue Book CD#1  Buzzer  KEYWO  Chalkholder & chalk C. Course Manual: You will be printing the course manual one portion at a time as you proceed through the four weeks of online coursework. By the end of the four weeks you will have printed the entire course manual. It is very important that you keep your manual organized in a convenient binder. We recommend a 1.5" three-ring binder to contain the pages of your course manual, notes, and other relevant documents. Your course manual will become a vital resource for you and you must bring it to residency. D. Materials to bring to residency: Some of the materials listed above in III.A. and III.B. are only used during the online portion of the course. Following are the materials that must be brought with you to the residency portion of the course. You will be using these materials when you practice therapy techniques with other participants and for your therapy demonstration:  Let’s Read (Books 3 – 5)  Teacher’s Word List  Getting the Main Idea (Book D)  KEYWO  Alphabet Avalanche rubber letters  Sounds of Speech  Writing Frame  Sounds of Language  The Blue Book Method: An Associate  Rhythmic Writing & Morse Code Key Word Approach laminated cards  Phonic Spelling Workbook  Buzzer  Student Reference Sheets & Writing  Chalkholder & chalk Exercises PLEASE BRING YOUR NILD LEVEL I COURSE MANUAL TO RESIDENCY 801 Greenbrier Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320 PH: 757‐423‐8646  FAX: 757‐451‐0970 Email: [email protected]