FIELD-BASED EXPERIENCES

Woven into the MIL program is a series of field-based experiences.

Autumn 2009: Selecting from a variety of possible opportunities situated in their school or district, students will arrange to observe or shadow instructional leadership activity for the equivalent of one day during late summer or fall of 2009. Students will write a short structured reflection on the experience that will be the focus of one of the autumn reflective seminar sessions.

Winter 2010: All students in the cohort will take Action Research for Teachers (see description in Core Courses). As part of the course activities, students will identify a problem of teaching or instructional leadership practice that they wish to investigate. The course will end with a draft proposal for the culminating inquiry project.

Spring 2010: The spring reflective seminar sessions will draw from the content of the action research course. The focus will be on refining the inquiry proposal and on preparation for carrying out the inquiry project during the second year of the program.

Fall-Spring, 2010-2011: The reflective seminar will continue to meet during the second year of the program. Students will carry out their inquiry projects, analyze their data, and write their culminating project reports. The focus during this period will be on completing coursework and supporting investigation into problems of instructional leadership practice.