MEd for Experienced Educators, Problem-Based Learning Using Critical Skills

Reinvigorate your classroom.

As an experienced educator, you understand that students learn best by doing. Don’t give up creativity to meet new teaching standards. Enhance your classroom with complex, interesting, real-world learning opportunities that authentically boost student motivation and achievement. Integrate technology and develop quality assessment tools to document student success. The critical skills classroom has everything you need to bring your classroom back to life!

This degree is offered by AU New England.

Program Overview

Our Problem-Based Learning concentration uses the highly regarded Critical Skills Classroom. Since 1986, the Critical Skills program has offered educators a powerful set of learning experiences in support of classroom and school change initiatives through the MEd program as well as via institutes and workshops through the Antioch Center for School Renewal.

The Critical Skills Classroom is a comprehensive approach that creatively and effectively integrates four powerful teaching methodologies:

• collaborative learning
• experiential learning
• problem-based learning
• standards-aligned/ competency-based learning

The Critical Skills Classroom is a mindset in which the teacher and the student are co-learners, engaged in the same learning process but focused on different learning goals.  Students in the Critical Skills Concentration will not only learn about the CSC, but through it, learning with program faculty who are current k-12 teachers and leaders and who have significant experience and success implementing Critical Skills  in their own classrooms.

Degree Requirements

Program Length:

• 5 semesters
• 33 credits – fully on-line and low residency options available
• One-two courses per term

Online Courses:

• Building Inclusive Classroom Learning Communities
• Teacher Facilitation in a PBL Classroom
• Assessment in a PBL Classroom
• Instructional Design: Crafting Problem-Based Challenges
• Principles of STEM
• The Developing Mind * also offered as an on-campus summer option
• Philosophy of Education  * also offered as an on-campus summer option
• Teaching in the Critical Skills Classroom (online) OR Critical Skills Classroom Immersion (On Campus)

Practicum Courses:

• Child Study
• Curriculum
• Equity and Change

Summer Courses:

• Critical Skills Classroom Immersion (On Campus) OR Teaching in the Critical Skills Classroom (online)

For course descriptions, please see the current course catalog.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of our Critical Skills/ Problem-Based Learning (PBL) concentration are able to:

• Design powerful, real-world, problem-based learning experiences (aka Challenges) that target student acquisition of essential knowledge, critical skills and fundamental dispositions.
• Create strong, safe, collaborative classroom communities built on the principles of sustainability, inclusion and equity.
• Integrate, visibly and intentionally, critical skill development with content learning. These skills include: problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, creative thinking, organization, communication, collaboration, leadership, self-direction, curiosity, and ownership in learning.
• Engineer and implement comprehensive competency-based, authentic assessment practices, both formative and summative, to inform learning and teaching.