In this course, students gain an understanding of educational research and critically analyze resources of research, such as professional journals, Internet sites, technical reports, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)documents, and reports of professional organizations. The students will examine historical trends and themes in education and how they have changed and progressed to newer, cutting-edge educational research that informs classroom instruction. Students will analyze research data and reports of research with the purposes of, gaining understanding of sound educational research techniques; evaluating research designs including issues of validity and reliability; gaining knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative data collection procedures; interpreting the results and implications of research; and learning the form of technical, scholarly writing. Through course experiences, students will be prepared to write meaningful research questions and design methodologies for conducting their own classroom research projects. Students will also learn to be effective consumers of research, equipped with skills needed to make sense of classroom, district, state, national, and international educational research studies.