Digital Projects that Inspire and Support Student Learning (Grades K-12)

This online course for teachers is designed to help K-12 educators design authentic, multimedia digital projects to showcase students’ learning. The course starts with a discussion on shifting the focus from students consuming knowledge to being producers of knowledge by leveraging technology to enhance learning. Teachers will dive into the Four Cs of 21st Century Learning to foster students’ critical thinking skills as well as explore how the backward design method can aid in designing student projects that align to content standards. The course presents three frameworks for teachers to follow for designing projects that require students to use various thinking skills, engage in inquiry and application to deepen understanding of content, and apply their learning in an authentic and meaningful context. Supporting students as they complete challenging projects is important, so instructional and differentiating strategies are provided to help teachers guide students through their projects. Teachers also gain their own hands-on experience with various digital tools that students can use to create digital content, including eBooks, comic books, infographics, podcasts, videos, websites, apps, and virtual experiences. Additionally, teachers are introduced to artificial intelligence tools that students can use to support their learning. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will have the confidence and skills to design engaging digital projects that inspire and support students’ learning.

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Canva: A Guide for Creating Engaging Classroom Content (Grades K-12)

This online course for K-12 teachers is designed to introduce the basics of using Canva for teaching and learning. The course starts with an overview of the Canva dashboard and editing interface. Teachers will explore Canva’s large gallery of free templates and learn how to filter for templates that fit their subject and grade levels. Teachers will learn how to create a graphic organizer from scratch to explore how easy it is to design educational content in Canva. From there, teachers will learn the basics of Canva Whiteboard, Canva Presentations, and Canva Videos, and how each option can be used in the classroom for direct instruction and student projects. Teachers will also explore two of Canva’s generative artificial intelligence tools to enhance classroom lessons. Finally, teachers will be given lesson ideas that will allow students to use Canva to create content to showcase their learning.

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Technology Tools to Amplify Learning Grades K-12

This online course for teachers is designed to help K-12 educators increase student engagement in the classroom by utilizing popular educational technology tools. Teachers will be introduced to the basics of fifteen effective and engaging educational technology tools and learn how each of them can be used to amplify learning. The course begins with an overview of the different forms of student engagement, and how technology can increase student engagement. From there, teachers are provided with step-by-step instructions on how to use Class Dojo, Kahoot!, Quizlet, Google Forms, Seesaw, Wakelet, FigJam by Figma, Edpuzzle, Nearpod, Book Creator, Padlet, Screencastify, Buncee, Google Slides, and Headspace within an educational context to engage students and enhance learning. Teachers will also learn about app smashing, along with complete instructions, as a strategy to create an engaging learning experience for students. For those interested in building their technology toolbelt, a variety of other available apps are shared for teachers to further explore on their own.

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Science Inquiry Using the 5E Model Grades K-6

This online course for teachers is designed for K-6 educators who wish to explore how to develop their students’ deep critical-thinking skills through an inquiry approach to teaching called the 5Es. After being introduced to the 5E model of scientific inquiry, teachers will take a deep dive through each of the five phases — engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation. Teachers will learn a variety of engaging instructional techniques and activities that are designed to encourage student exploration and stimulate students’ metacognitive skills. Teachers will learn a variety of strategies to elicit and develop students’ explanations of natural phenomena, including how to weave specific technology components into each phase of their 5E lessons so that students are further engaged in scientific inquiry.

 

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The Next Generation Science Standards Grades K-12

This online course for teachers is designed for educators in grades K-12 who want to unpack the complexity of the Next Generation Science Standards. This course takes teachers through a step-by-step explanation of the standards, including a thorough description of the conceptual framework leading into how to interpret the science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas at each respective grade band. Performance expectations for the standards are also addressed. The role of curricula is discussed, as well as how Universal Design for Learning plays an important role in the assessment of the standards. Teachers will be introduced to an overview of assessment and how it applies to the Next Generation Science standards, as well as a brief overview of how to bundle some of the core ideas contained within the standards. Suggestions for integrating technology into science instruction are also shared.

 

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A New Approach to Spelling Instruction Grades K-6

This online course for teachers is designed for K-6 educators interested in learning a variety of ways to teach essential spelling skills to their students. Spelling is an essential and complex skill and an important component of the overall language arts curriculum. Instead of looking at spelling as a memorization process, spelling should be thought of as a building block of literacy development. In this course, teachers will learn a variety of proven ways to increase students’ spelling skills using interactive, developmental, and fun activities. The course begins by explaining the connection between spelling and literacy, as well as discussing spelling standards and spelling principles to know and teach. Then, specific information about the developmental stages of spelling are shared. Teachers will also understand how invented spelling fits in to a complete spelling and writing program. Strategies such as word families, mnemonics, and self-correction model will all be shared. Ideas for simple spelling games are provided as a fun way to change up spelling instruction. Teachers will also gain technology resources that can be used to promote spelling and vocabulary development.

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Using Google Classroom for Teaching and Learning Grades K-12

This online course for teachers of grades K-12 will help educators discover how to use all the features of Google Classroom to enhance your teaching. Strategies for using the announcement, question, and assignment options to enhance the learning process will be emphasized as teachers move toward a paperless classroom. Teachers will also learn how to effectively use all of the quiz options. Strategies for differentiating instruction using the features of Google Classroom will be explored. Specific instructions for integrating Google Classroom with other Google products such as Google Calendar and Google Docs, as well as popular educational extensions and apps will be shared. Additionally, instructions for using the Google Classroom mobile app will be provided. Finally, using Google Classroom for assessment through the use of rubrics as well as the gradebook function are also shared.

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Unleashing the Power of the NGSS and STEM Grades 3-5

This online course for teachers takes educators of grades 3-5 through a step-by-step explanation of the standards and includes examples and suggestions of how to incorporate them into their science lessons. The course also guides teachers through how to interpret the science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas contained within the NGSS. Teachers will be introduced to various instructional models for learning, including the 5Es of inquiry, the 4E x 2 model, and Universal Design for Learning. Teachers will learn how to create an active learner-centered classroom so that various STEM strategies can be used to connect the design and implementation of NGSS-based science lessons, labs, and stations. Teachers will be introduced to an overview of assessment and how it applies to the Next Generation Science Standards, as well as a brief overview of how to blend technology and flip a science classroom to make it more student-centered.

 

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Bridging the Gap: High-Yield Strategies to Recover from Learning Loss Grades K-12

This online course for teachers is designed to give K-12 educators the tools they need to help bridge the learning gap for their students. The course begins by discussing the impact that the coronavirus had on students and schools. Teachers will learn strategies for using a variety of social and emotional best practices to attend to the whole student so that trauma and anxiety can be addressed head-on. As the course progresses, teachers will learn how to motivate their returning students by meeting them where they are through several research-backed best practices such as tiered lessons, guided inquiry, project-based learning, and active learning strategies. Teachers will take a deep dive into nine high-yield instructional strategies that have been proven to show the most potential for bridging any learning gaps. Teachers will learn how to compact their curriculum and to leverage technology in their favor.

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Boosting Student Engagement Using Active Learning Strategies Grades PreK-5

This online continuing education course is designed to prepare PreK-5 teachers to boost student engagement and community within their classroom walls using a variety of active learning strategies. The course begins by introducing teachers to the different types of engagement. Teachers will learn specific strategies to capture their students’ attention. From there, the course explores several teacher-driven, as well as, student-driven engagement techniques, all of which are designed to improve student engagement and boost classroom community. From establishing a positive classroom culture to exploring specific scaffolding techniques, teachers will learn how to transform their lessons so that students stay active and engaged. Strategies for making classroom experiences more relatable and fun through such things as classroom transformations, virtual field trips, expert talks, and project-based learning are explored. Additionally, teachers will examine a variety of interactive edtech tools to assist them in their efforts to build intrinsic motivation, capitalizing on their students’ love for technology.

For more information, visit the website.