This course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to effectively motivate students who exhibit resistant attitudes such as "I won't," "I can't," and "I quit." Participants will explore the underlying causes of these attitudes, including lack of confidence, fear of failure, and learned helplessness. The course will provide strategies based on the latest educational psychology research centered around the research of Dr. Eric Thomas, Dr. Carol Dweck, and more to re-engage these students, foster a positive mindset towards challenges and understand the importance of classroom engagement. Participants will learn how to implement motivational strategies, adapt teaching methods, and develop supportive classroom cultures to encourage student perseverance and resilience. The course will conclude with participants developing an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate knowledge and application of how to empower these students in the classroom so they can improve student well-being and performance. Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMW25018
Dates: 04/07/25 - 05/04/25
Categories:

Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management Content-Area Teaching Diverse Learners

Format:

Interactive

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To leverage our world’s ever-changing and developing depth of online resources, educators will learn how to use a variety of online websites, applications, and various other digital resources to enhance classroom instruction and support the needs of all learners through multiple learning mediums. Educators will become exposed to a variety of digital resources to foster collaboration between students, stimulate creativity, create differentiated assessments easily, and strengthen the communication pathways home to parents. Participants will gain an understanding of internet resources that can aid in audio/video recording, interactive whiteboards, brainstorming, mind-mapping, project management, portfolios, creation of quizzes-polls-surveys, study-guides/flashcards, flipped classroom tools and screencasting, online formative assessments, eBooks, and social media as a vehicle for communication with students and parents, as well as other communication applications. Participants will leave the course with tools to maximize the learning environment through technology engagement and inspire creativity in their students.

Course #: IMW25028
Dates: 05/05/25 - 06/01/25
Categories:

Technology Tools for the Classroom Content-Area Teaching

Format:

Interactive

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This course is designed to provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to build strong, positive relationships with students and their families. Participants will explore the crucial role these relationships play in fostering student achievement and creating a supportive classroom culture. The course covers key topics such as effective communication techniques, cultural competence, and strategies for engaging parents and caregivers. Drawing on the influential work of Dr. Joyce L. Epstein, whose framework of six types of parental involvement has significantly shaped how schools engage with families, educators will gain deeper insights into fostering meaningful family-school partnerships. Additionally, the course will highlight the research of Dr. Anne T. Henderson, who has extensive publications on building strong relationships. Educators will also learn methods to support students’ emotional and academic needs, manage conflicts, and build collaborative partnerships with families. By the end of this course, participants will develop an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate their knowledge and application of these strategies. Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMS25500
Dates: 06/02/25 - 06/15/25
Categories:

Educational Leadership Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management

Format:

Interactive

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This course is designed to provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their teaching practices. Participants will explore the transformative potential of AI in education, examining its ability to enhance personalized learning, streamline assessments, and support classroom management. The course covers key topics such as ethical considerations, strategies for using AI to differentiate instruction, and techniques for fostering student engagement through AI-powered tools. The course introduces AI to teachers through a variety of learning mediums including, videos, webinars, interactive applications, and current research applications/articles. Drawing on the latest research and practical applications, educators will gain a deeper understanding of how AI can empower teachers and students alike while addressing challenges such as bias, privacy, and equitable access (US Department of Education, 15). Educators will learn to leverage AI tools to optimize their instructional strategies and introduce students to foundational AI concepts, fostering digital literacy and preparing learners for a technology-driven world (Poth, 2023). By the end of this course, educators will be equipped with practical tools and strategies for incorporating AI into their teaching, enabling them to create dynamic, inclusive learning environments. Participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback from their instructor, allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMS25537
Dates: 06/30/25 - 07/13/25
Categories:

Positive Classroom Management Technology Tools for the Classroom

Format:

Interactive

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Participants in this course will learn how to build academic success for today’s learners, known as the “Swipe Generation.” and how Swipe technology shapes emerging learning styles. This generation needs to rely heavily on technology skills to enhance their learning by developing problem-solving strategies and also reflect on their thinking and learning process. Participants will explore ways to enhance student performance by implementing a series of strategies to meet the unique needs of every learner in the classroom. These learning strategies can be applied, but first, students must become interested in and find the content worthy of their attention, which requires sustained mental effort, commitment, and engagement that can support the success of every learner. Foundational work in this course will include research on understanding effective practices, student learning strategies, and classroom outcomes that utilize technology and higher-level thinking skills. Participants will synthesize these paradigms and develop a new understanding of educators’ role in the classroom, along with new tools, strategies, and techniques for cultivating students’ learning and a state-of-the-art teaching approach to meet their educational goals. Throughout the course, students will participate in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed, and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the student to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMS25518
Dates: 07/07/25 - 07/20/25
Categories:

Positive Classroom Management Technology Tools for the Classroom Content-Area Teaching

Format:

Interactive

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Today’s schools are richer in diversity than ever before. This course is designed to provide educators with the resources, tools, and steps necessary to foster a welcoming, safe, and productive learning environment built on respect for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) for all students. Course participants will examine the implications of historical inequities on personal beliefs and practices, as well as modern day school policies and procedures. Educators will be challenged to look at their professional practices and curriculum materials from new perspectives and will be empowered with resources and strategies necessary to advance DEIB initiatives in their classrooms and schools. Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMS25528
Dates: 07/21/25 - 08/03/25
Categories:

Equity & Diversity Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management

Format:

Interactive

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