LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

From the education reference

discovery learning
Learning that takes place, not through instruction, but through examination, analysis, or experimentation.
blended learning
A student-centered approach to creating a learning experience whereby the learner interacts with other students, with the instructor, and with content through thoughtful integration of online and face-to-face environments.
service learning
Intentional combination of community service objectives and learning opportunities that benefits both the recipient and provider of the service. Student service learning projects should be structured to link learning tasks to self-reflection so that they enrich learning, strengthen communities, and teach civic responsibility.
cooperative learning
Instructional method in which students work together in small, heterogeneous groups to complete a problem, project, or other instructional goal, while teachers act as guides or facilitators. This method works to reinforce a student’s own learning as well as the learning of his or her fellow group members.
collaborative learning
An umbrella term for the variety of approaches and models in education that involve the shared intellectual efforts by students working in small groups to accomplish a goal or complete a task.
learning contract
An agreement between a teacher and a student regarding how that student will achieve specified learning goals or objectives.
learning disability
A discrepancy between expected achievement and observed achievement, also known as "unexpected underachievement."
project-based learning
Teaching approach that engages students in sustained, collaborative real-world investigations. Projects are organized around a driving question, and students participate in a variety of tasks that seek to meaningfully address this question.
Dimensions of Learning model
Model of learning developed by Marzano et al (1988) that links content area knowledge, metacognition, and critical and creative thinking with a taxonomy of thinking skills and thinking processes.
digital game-based learning
Instructional method that incorporates educational content or learning principles into video games with the goal of engaging learners. Applications of digital game-based learning draw upon the constructivist theory of education.
problem-based learning
Model of instruction in which the teacher poses an authentic problem for student resolution. PBL may be one among many strategies in a classroom or an entire curricular and instructional approach. In the course of problem-solving, students work cooperatively in groups to learn content and skills related to real world problems. The teacher acts as a facilitator to learning.

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A crash course in ESL
"A Crash Course in ESL" will prepare you to work with ESL parents and create a welcoming environment for ESL students.
Format: article/online course
A crash course in ESL for administrators
Grasp pedagogy, policy and procedure for teaching and working with English language learners. This course will prepare administrators to work with ESL parents and create a welcoming environment for ESL students.
Format: article/online course
A Crash Course in ESL: Online course syllabus
Syllabus for the course "A Crash Course in ESL" which provides a concise overview of strategies and best practices for administrators working with English language learners.
Format: syllabus
Acceptable use policy for online courses
Policies governing the acceptable and unacceptable use of email, messaging clients, and online dicussion areas by students taking online courses through LEARN NC.
Format: article/help
Accessibility, usability and visual design -- Carolina Online Teacher Program
An introduction to basic web design, accessibility, and usability principles. You will learn how much the placement of materials, the use of graphics, and even color and font styles can affect students' success in your online course.
Format: article/online course
Accommodations for students with disabilities in online courses
This document explains how students with disabilities can request accommodations when taking LEARN NC's online courses.
Format: article/help
Adolescent literacy for middle grades
Help your students become more strategic readers. You’ll improve your own reading comprehension by teaching and modeling a variety of reading strategies. This course will introduce you to literacy resources and reading tools that will assist and enhance daily instruction.
Format: article/online course
Adolescent literacy: English language arts comprehension strategies
This course will equip teachers with a variety of strategies and resources to enhance literacy instruction in the classroom in an ongoing and purposeful manner.
Format: article/online course
Adolescent literacy: Social studies comprehension strategies
"Adolescent Literacy: Social Studies Strategies" equips teachers with a variety of strategies and resources to enhance literacy instruction in the social studies classroom in an ongoing and purposeful manner.
Format: article/online course
African American history to 1950
This course explores African American history in the contexts of United States, North Carolina, and world history.
Format: article/online course
Algebraic thinking in elementary school
This online course will enable participants to learn how to include opportunities in the upper elementary curriculum for children to think about basic algebraic concepts, and to appreciate the importance of algebraic thinking.
Format: article/online course
American Indians in North Carolina
In this course you'll explore American Indian history in North Carolina from the earliest evidence of human habitation in the state through first contact with Europeans, the Trail of Tears, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and into the present day.
Format: article/online course
American Indians in the United States
This online course examines American Indian history in the United States from the earliest evidence of human habitation through first contact with Europeans, conflicts in the West, World War II and other key events in 20th century U.S. history, the American Indian rights movement, and into the present day.
Format: article/online course
Assessment and Evaluation in Your Online Course -- Carolina Online Teacher Program
This course provides a collection of resources that define the unique assessment process of online courses.
Format: article/online course
Assessment and Evaluation in Your Online Course: Online course syllabus
Syllabus for the online class, Assessment and Evaluation in Your Online Course, which provides a collection of resources and exercises that define the unique assessment process of online courses.
Format: syllabus
Asynchronous conversation matters: Part II
Meaningful online asynchronous discussion requires careful planning. Using the tips from this article, teachers can create questions that will generate enthusiasm for a topic and motivate students to think critically and practice skills of collaborative dialogue.
Format: article
By Bill Ferriter.
Becoming an online teacher
For even the most experienced classroom teacher, teaching online requires a thoughtful transition to the new environment.
Format: article
By Bobby Hobgood, Ed.D..
Beginning teacher success
"Beginning Teacher Success" is designed to support beginning teachers with assignments and reading materials to guide and scaffold learning the best teaching practices.
Format: course/online course
Beyond blended learning: Reaching every student
This archived presentation from the 2010 NCTIES conference explores the theory and application of blended learning and offers ten ways to improve teaching using a blended approach.
Format: presentation/best practice
Biodiversity in your backyard
Biodiversity in Your Backyard designed to help teachers of elementary-aged students to explore the topic of biodiversity and expand their knowledge of life science.
Format: article/online course