EDFI 402

Faculty

• Dr. Rachel Vannatta, Area Coordinator
• Dr. Craig Mertler
• Dr. Mark Earley
• Dr. Erin Curran

• What is EDFI 402 (Assessment & Evaluation in Education)?
  EDFI 402 is a course that introduces pre-service teachers to the art and science of creating a variety of assessments for the classroom. Students learn how to read standardized test reports, create objective tests, and create performance assessments along with other related topics. Either EDFI 302 or EDFI 303 is a pre-requisite for EDFI 402, and there are 20 C/F hours associated with the course.
• Who takes EDFI 402 and when do they take it?
  EDFI 402 is a required part of the AYA methods block, so students in the AYA program will be registered for the course during their methods semester. Students in Middle Childhood and Early Childhood may take the course as well as long as they have met the pre-requisites; there are additional sections offered outside of the AYA methods blocks each semester.
• Remember your best guides are your checksheet and major advisor – check with them if you are not sure whether you need EDFI 402.

EDFI 641

• What is EDFI 641 (Statistics in Education)?
  EDFI 641 is an introductory-level course for graduate students in education and related fields. You are not expected to have any experience with statistics or research prior to taking the course. The course covers basic topics related to descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing in research. Most Master’s programs in the College of Education and Human Development require this course for graduation.
• Is EDFI 641 hard? Should I take it first or last in my program?
  EDFI 641 does not have to be hard if you come in with a positive attitude and are ready to learn. You are best advised to take the course early in your program because many graduate-level courses require you to read and understand empirical research articles – EDFI 641 gives you the tools to better understand what you are reading. NOTE: some programs require this course at a specific place in your programs, so you may not have a choice as to when you take it.
• What is the online version of EDFI 641 like? Is it better than taking it face-to-face?
  As with any online course, you must be a conscientious and self-regulated learner to succeed in the online EDFI 641 environment. The instructor(s) use a variety of multi-media tools to enhance your ability to learn and apply the course material. There is time to talk to and interact with the instructor, so you are not alone in this process.
• What about taking EDFI 641 in the summer? Does that make it harder?
  If you have never taken summer courses, you should be aware the 6-week time frame is fast. It may feel as though you are processing a lot of information very quickly. The instructors cover the same amount of material as a traditional 17-week semester, meeting twice a week instead of once. You need to be able to work diligently each week to process information and be prepared for each class meeting. Otherwise, the course is no different than during the fall or spring.

EDFI 642

• What is EDFI 642 (Research in Education)?
  EDFI 642 is an introductory-level course for graduate students in education and related fields. You are not expected to have any experience with statistics or research prior to taking the course, although EDFI 641 is recommended first. The course covers basic topics related to designing, conducting, and reading educational research. Many, but not all, Master’s programs in the College of Education and Human Development require this course for graduation.
• Is EDFI 642 hard? Should I take it first or last in my program?
  EDFI 642 does not have to be hard if you come in with a positive attitude and are ready to learn. You are best advised to take the course early in your program because many graduate-level courses require you to read and understand empirical research articles – EDFI 642 gives you the tools to better understand what you are reading. NOTE: some programs require this course at a specific place in your programs, so you may not have a choice as to when you take it.
• What is the online version of EDFI 642 like? Is it better than taking it face-to-face?
  As with any online course, you must be a conscientious and self-regulated learner to succeed in the online EDFI 642 environment. The instructor(s) use a variety of multi-media tools to enhance your ability to learn and apply the course material. There is time to talk to and interact with the instructor, so you are not alone in this process.
• What about taking EDFI 642 in the summer? Does that make it harder?
  If you have never taken summer courses, you should be aware the 6-week time frame is fast. It may feel as though you are processing a lot of information very quickly. The instructors cover the same amount of material as a traditional 17-week semester, meeting twice a week instead of once. You need to be able to work diligently each week to process information and be prepared for each class meeting. Otherwise, the course is no different than during the fall or spring.
• Can I take EDFI 641 and EDFI 642 at the same time?
  We strongly discourage students from taking both courses at once. Although it is possible, you are learning similar material in different contexts. Some of the material you learn in EDFI 642 you do not learn until later in EDFI 641, so you may be a bit more confused than your peers who have taken EDFI 641 already. Consult with your advisor and the instructors of EDFI 641 and EDFI 642 if you absolutely need this option to graduate.