EDU 804: EdS Capstone Course

Overview

Your specialist's capstone project is your creative expression of your learning, an imaginative application of your Ed.S. coursework to an educational situation. Its purpose is to allow you to prove that you have attained a sufficient level of mastery of the core concepts and skills covered by the Ed.S. program. Over the course of your specialist’s program, you have encountered many theories, learned many skills and strategies, and discussed many aspects of educational effectiveness. In this course, you will have a chance to synthesize all of this information into a capstone project that exemplifies your newly acquired knowledge and expertise. You will also show that you can apply this knowledge to a real and practical educational problem or opportunity.

At the beginning of the course, you will look through the portfolio of work you have compiled throughout your specialist's program and select the piece that you would like to build upon for your capstone project. Any proposal, course project, or team initiative that encompasses the capstone project criteria is acceptable. Suitable projects may take many forms as long as they address an authentic need of a learning community and demonstrate sound educational pedagogy by blending practice, tools, and research. You may choose to work on your own or team up with other Ed.S. students and do a combined project. Finally, a successful project will build community relationships, provide innovative leadership, and result in a better approach to helping students learn and develop.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Complete a capstone project that demonstrates successful application of the knowledge and skills you have acquired during your tenure in the Ed.S. program to a real educational issue or opportunity.
• Create a Learning Report that explains the connections between your project and the JIU workplace competencies.
• Report the details of your capstone project in a professionally suitable form, worthy of publication.
ENROLLMENT
To enroll in this course, please complete the online application.

Required Texts
EDU 804 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore