This course is the culminating experience for candidates in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching. In this course, candidates will have the opportunity to implement, at an advanced level, educational concepts and practices gained through earlier coursework by designing, implementing and presenting findings for an action research project. Working with a faculty mentor, candidates will select a topic to investigate in their school or classroom, relating to an area of concern the candidate has regarding their students and their learning and/or ability to be successful in school. Typically the area to be studied will be an outcome of the candidate’s work in the Educational Research course.
Candidates will demonstrate advanced pedagogical knowledge, skills, understanding, and collegial orientation whereby they will contribute to the future improvement of education through the construction and application of knowledge. Candidates will be involved in advanced work for the purpose of reflecting on practice and integrating content area knowledge and pedagogy. Candidates will begin the investigation of an aspect of curriculum and/or instruction and its impact on student learning and complete an action research project within the context of an educational setting. Each candidate will present the findings and final paper to a university faculty member / mentor. A culminating presentation will serve as evidence of the candidate’s commitment to continuing professional growth and contributions to the field.
Credits
This course may be taken either as part of a Master's Degree or CAGS Program or as an individual course for PDPs. Graduate Credit through Fitchburg State University is available at additional cost.
Cost and Registration
This course is included in your Masters plan of study if you are enrolled with Fitchburg State. The course may also be taken individually for professional development and/or license renewal.
Important Notice for Master's Degree Candidates: Capstone should be taken only after the successful completion of Educational Research.
Course Structure
This course includes a mix of asynchronous and synchronous online learning experiences. The first synchronous meeting session will be held at 97 Hawley St. in Northampton (pending COVID guidance) with the remaining date via Google Meet.
Coursework begins on the course start date. You will be required to log in and complete activities prior to the first online synchronous session.
Please reserve all session dates in your calendar.
