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Uncommon Sense Teaching
  • Level Foundation
  • Course by Deep Teaching Solutions
  • Offered by

About

The Uncommon Sense Teaching Specialization is a foundational program that prepares you to teach based on leading-edge insights from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and movie-making. Your instructors have real-world experience in teaching some of the world’s most popular courses, and they bring their background from academia and beyond, including perspectives that could be obtained only from decades of teaching at virtually every level, personal experience with neurodiversity, adventure from the Bering Sea to the South Pole Station in Antarctica, and much more. This specialization gives invaluable insight for: Teachers—K12, higher ed, adult learning, vocational trainers College students training to be teachers Professors and others who train teachers how to teach Industry trainers Coaches Tutors Parents, caregivers, and homeschoolers The Uncommon Sense Teaching Specialization provides a pathway for you to bring your teaching skillset to a higher level by helping you gain the knowledge and skills to level up your career or strengthen your teaching foundation—whoever you might be teaching. You can take either MOOC 0 or MOOC 1 first, and enjoy MOOC 2 after MOOC 1. Enjoy! Uncommon Sense Teaching Specialization MOOC 0: Teaching Online MOOC 1: Uncommon Sense Teaching MOOC 2: Uncommon Sense Teaching, Part 2

Modules

The Fundamentals of Learning and Inclusive Teaching

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • The Fundamentals of Learning and Inclusive Teaching

1 Discussions

  • Head on over to the discussion forum and introduce yourself!

6 Videos

  • 1: The Essence of How We Learn
  • 2: Learn It, Link It
  • 3: How Students Fool Themselves into Thinking They’re Learning
  • 4: Teaching Inclusively—The Importance of Working Memory Capacity
  • 5: Tricks for Expanding Working Memory (Hint—It Involves Long-Term Memory)
  • Optional Video: How to Integrate a Flashcard Retrieval Practice System into This Course

3 Readings

  • "Uncommon Sense Teaching" Syllabus
  • Guidance in Applying for Continuing Education or Professional Development Credit
  • The Fundamentals of Learning and Inclusive Teaching

Diving into the Practicalities of Teaching and Learning Inclusively

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Teaching and Learning Inclusively & Other Week 1 Materials

1 Discussions

  • What do you do to differentiate your instruction to help both hiker and race car learners?

5 Videos

  • 6: Inclusivity, Differentiation, and Scaffolding
  • 7: Practical Insights Related to Working Memory
  • 8: What Is Active Learning?
  • 9: Summary Week 1
  • Optional Video: Interview with Dr. Cory Steiner about His School's Conversion to Mastery Learning

1 Readings

  • Diving into the Practicalities of Teaching and Learning Inclusively

Declarative Learning, Consolidation, and Metaphor

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Declarative Learning, Consolidation, and Metaphor

1 Discussions

  • Discuss metaphors!

4 Videos

  • 1: Introduction to the Declarative Learning System (Hip Hip, Hooray!)
  • 2: I Do Declare, There’s a Hip Way to Get Info into Long-Term Memory!
  • 3: Concussion Dealt Me a Knockout Blow—The Value of Consolidation
  • 4: The Value of Metaphor

1 Readings

  • Declarative Learning, Consolidation, and Metaphor

Procedural Learning, Exercise, and Focus

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Procedural Learning, Exercise, and Focus & Other Week 2 (& 1) Materials

5 Videos

  • 5: Introduction to Procedural Learning
  • 6: Drill to SKILL
  • 7: The Power of Exercise
  • 8: The Vital Importance of Focus
  • 9: Summary Video Week 2: Helping the Brain Build Better Links for Learning

1 Readings

  • Procedural Learning, Exercise, and Focus

Honors Lesson

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Differentiation—Guiding Hikers and Racecars to the Finish Line

Procrastination, Practice, and Passion

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Procrastination, Practice, and Passion

5 Videos

  • 1: Focused and Diffuse Modes
  • 2: Procrastination and the Pomodoro Technique
  • 3: Diving Deeper into Procrastination
  • 4: Don’t Just Follow Your Passions—Broaden Them!
  • 5: Practice—the Key to Remarkable Changes

1 Readings

  • Procrastination, Practice, and Passion

Fairness for Success, Introduction to Motivation, and (oh no!) Rubrics!

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practice, Passion, and Procrastination & Other Week 3 Materials (with a bit of Week 2 Review!)

5 Videos

  • 6: Motivation, Habit, and Salt
  • 7: Rubrics
  • 8: Helping Students Succeed in Test-Taking
  • 9: Ensuring Equity, Fairness, and Inclusion in Your Testing
  • 10: Week 3 Summary

1 Readings

  • Fairness for Success, Introduction to Motivation, and (oh no!) Rubrics!

Insight from Evolution on How Modern Humans Learn

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Quiz: Insight from Evolution on How Modern Humans Learn

2 Videos

  • 1: Children’s Changing Brains
  • 2: When It Comes to Learning, Some Stuff Is Easy and Some Is Hard

1 Readings

  • Insight from Evolution on How Modern Humans Learn

Direct Instruction: A Magic Mixture of Explicit Instruction and Active Learning

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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4 Videos

  • 3: How Should Teaching Change as Students Grapple with More Difficult Material?
  • 4: Teacher-Directed Instruction Leads to Student-Directed Approaches
  • 5: Driving Home the Main Ideas
  • 6: Summary Video Week 4

1 Readings

  • Direct Instruction: A Magic Mixture of Explicit Instruction and Active Learning

Course Wrap Up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Final examination

1 Videos

  • 7: Wrap Up, Course 1

1 Readings

  • Ratings and Where to Go from Here!

Honors Lesson

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Teacher Professional Development Day—And You're the Star!

Auto Summary

Uncommon Sense Teaching is a transformative course designed for educators looking to elevate their teaching methods and outcomes. Focused on Personal Development, this course addresses common challenges such as ineffective learning time, student procrastination, and the need for more inclusive teaching strategies. By integrating cutting-edge neuroscience with practical classroom experiences, it offers innovative solutions to engage and motivate students of varying abilities. This course is ideal for teachers across all subjects and educational levels, including K-12, university, business, vocational, and even home education. Whether you teach math, literature, dance, or any other subject, you'll find valuable strategies to enhance your instructional approach and foster a more effective learning environment. Presented by Coursera, Uncommon Sense Teaching is accessible through Starter and Professional subscription plans. Don't miss this opportunity to advance your teaching skills and join the new era of education today!

Dr. Barbara Oakley
Instructors

Dr. Barbara Oakley

Beth Rogowsky
Instructors

Beth Rogowsky

Dr. Terrence Sejnowski
Instructors

Dr. Terrence Sejnowski