This course examines, discusses and offers hands-on learning on research that shows students who are physically fit and well-nourished perform at a higher academic level. The impact of stress, poor nutrition, poor time management, and lack of physical activity on students and educators will be examined in order to better facilitate the learning process.

Learner variability is the rule in today’s fast-paced classrooms. Research suggests that it is no longer acceptable to design with an average learner in mind. Instead, we must design learning experiences and environments for ALL students. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework designed to personalize learning, proactively address learning challenges, and design with access in mind. This course provides participants with a fundamental understanding of UDL, how to design accessible lessons, and infuse educational technology to personalize learning.

Focus on keeping ahead of the technological curve, regardless of your initial comfort working with technology. This course is designed to increase confidence in integrating technology using emerging web applications. Explore the use of educational technology to facilitate student learning and have students become digitally prepared for the 21st century. Question previously conceived notions about content creation, delivery, storage, and assessment, while stretching existing teaching methods to adapt to changing student needs. NOTE: A laptop with WiFi capability is required.

An exploration and application of instructional strategies to teach students to be better thinkers will be undertaken, including the examination of five researched-based themes: learning to think skillfully, thinking to learn, thinking cooperatively, thinking about one’s thinking (metacognition), and thinking big (applying thinking skills and processes to real-world problems).

Neuroscience research on how the brain learns and processes information will be examined, with an emphasis on the functions of the senses, working memory, long-term memory, storage and retrieval, and the development of self-concept. How and when to present new information, techniques to improve processing and retention, left/right brain preferences, and promoting higher-level thinking will also be explored.

Shift the discipline paradigm from controlling student behavior through rewards and punishment to helping all students make better choices. Structured around research-based school success factors, course content identifies the four goals of misbehavior, builds a positive classroom climate, and presents multiple strategies to use at the moment misbehaviors occur.

Experience and analyze authentic assessment as an accurate means to assess student learning. Discover the importance of communicating learning goals to students. Align those goals and standards with the assessments implemented to guide instruction and evaluate student progress. Study the progression of the standards-based movement and how the Common Core State Standards will better allow educators to prepare students for the future.

Modeling dynamic movement and kinesthetic activity to enliven K -12 classroom content is a key part of this course. Discover the connection between movement, the brain, and learning. Examine implicit learning, class cohesion activities, content-based kinesthetic activities, brain breaks, and energizers. Use movement to meet standards, improve test scores, and develop life skills. Note: This course involves optional physical activities.

Strategies for classroom engagement and lesson delivery in a changing diverse classroom will be examined. The focus is on understanding ourselves in today’s society to understand and guide our young learners. A study of multiculturalism, the changing diverse learners through a lens of their socioeconomic status, and making lasting parental connections within our school communities will be explored.

Study a three-dimensional model to understand why students may act irresponsibly in the classroom and what can be done about it. Develop an approach that focuses on students’ internal dialogues to help them resolve inner conflicts as well as examine strategies for improving responsibility in the learning community.

The traditional reward-punishment model does little to promote achievement; however, concrete research-based ways to motivate students do exist. Motivation, as it applies to the learning process, will be surveyed: basic human needs, the driving force behind all human behavior, inspiration, peak performance, energizing classroom strategies, and frameworks that encourage change and achievement.

Inclusion and Disability Awareness should be a way of life in the 21st-century classroom. Gain a deeper understanding of disabilities; examine the social, academic, and physical considerations in school, community, and home environments. The emphasis is on ways to integrate information about disabilities into the curriculum and manage specific classroom environments.

Study Carol Ann Tomlinson's framework for designing effective instruction that responds to the needs of all learners using learning style, interest, and level of readiness. This course will investigate the theory, rationale, and principles of Differentiated Instruction and apply them to the classroom setting. Explore DI principles and strategies and diverse methods of assessment.

Compare and contrast the qualities of Jung's four temperaments. Examine each style and organizational preference, as well as the needs of each type in the classroom. Issues relating to teaching, learning, classroom management, communication, conflict resolution, esteem building, and problem-solving will be applied to classroom situations.

This course focuses on keeping educators on the cutting edge of free available resources to improve instruction regardless of their teaching situation. Participants will experience a variety of different engaging instructional tools to enhance their own content delivery as well as providing access to their content in new and exciting ways. This course is designed to enhance the educator's knowledge base of content curation and improve their teaching pedagogy around the proper use of instructional technology in a digestible, understandable, and engaging format.

This course examines, discusses and offers hands-on learning to understand the dynamics of upper elementary, middle, and high school students and how they learn best when their needs are recognized and addressed. Content addresses research in the psychology of pre-adolescents and adolescents from a variety of perspectives, including studies in neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, and education. This course also explores research-based strategies to engage all students and improve the depth of their learning.

Bullying is an important issue facing families, schools, communities, and society. Understand the issues and develop strategies to address the problem. Examine the socialization curriculum and gain an awareness of bullying behavior, the reaction of the victim, the responsibility of bystanders, and how to create a bully-proof assurance in classrooms and schools.

Teachers of English Language Learners (ELs) no longer solely applies to educators who are certified in ESOL. Explore the guiding principles of English language instruction. Examine how culturally responsive teaching and critical pedagogy build the foundation for meaningful relationships. Learn how to scaffold instruction, design formative assessments that build on background knowledge, and promote proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in all content areas. Experience seven modules that lay a novice-level foundation in Spanish to be able to communicate with many ELs at the beginning of their language journeys. *Special Topic - course number will appear as a different number on the transcript. Please contact us if you need a letter of explanation.

Today's classrooms include a spectrum of learners who have different levels of attention, learning, communication, and behaviors. This course is designed to offer educators a spectrum of instructional strategies. Learn how to apply research-based educational strategies to advance the knowledge and skills of your students with exceptionalities. This includes, but is not limited to students with ADHD, autism, intellectual, learning, sensory, and emotional differences. Tap into your students' strengths with appropriate interventions and curriculum practices.

Design kinesthetic activities for the K-12 classroom focusing on teaching Common Core and national standards-based content. Refine strategies and techniques regarding The Six-Part Framework to ensure maximum student participation that enhances academic achievement, builds class cohesion, and develops life skills. Create new activities and tactics to enhance the learning process for both educator and student. Design effective action plans to increase movement in the school environment. Note: This course involves optional physical activities.

Collaboration, cooperation, innovation, creativity, and critical thinking (all 21st Century Skills) are demonstrated using interactive hands-on structures and activities. The goal: is to engage students living in a global community and ultimately working in a global marketplace. Participants can expect to learn how to successfully encourage students to work cooperatively and collaboratively to think, create, share, and grow interdependently.

Teaching is a complex and highly skilled activity, and teachers continuously exercise judgment in deciding how to act to support learning most effectively. Reflective practice enables teachers to move towards expert leadership in their field. Learn how to combine a model of effective instruction with goal setting, focused practice, and feedback to improve instructional practices. This updated course is based on Marzano's 41 elements of effective teaching that have been shown to enhance student achievement.

This course will provide educators with a comprehensive understanding of how artificial intelligence is transforming education. Participants will explore AI-powered tools, their applications in K-12 classrooms, ethical considerations, privacy and security concerns, and policies and regulations related to AI in education. Participants will learn how to use AI-powered tools to personalize learning experiences for students, automate administrative tasks, and collect and analyze data. Best practices for integrating AI in all classrooms and strategies for evaluating the effectiveness of AI-powered education will be examined.

Design a blended educational approach that creates a balance between movement and technology to optimize student learning and success, as well as enhance academic achievement and student well-being. Build an effective plan that considers experience and educational needs. Learn how to merge these two concepts together to promote a classroom environment that effectively meets content standards and enriches the learning process while preparing students for future challenges.

This course introduces educators to mindfulness as a lifestyle and more importantly, as an instructional style rather than an isolated period of instructional time. Establishing best practices in mindfulness instruction is a key component of this course. Developing personal practice and how mindfulness affects the brain coincide to define the role of the mindful teacher. How to introduce mindfulness to our communities is addressed, as well as Cognitive Load Theory. The practice of mindfulness is incredibly beneficial to the brain, body, and breath connection, and cannot afford to be dismissed in educational settings.