ASCD Online Courses

Further your professional development with convenient distance-learning online courses through the partnership of Stritch and ASCD, a community of educators who are committed to designing courses based on best practices to achieve the success of each learner.

ASCD Online Courses are currently priced at $260 each, are worth one graduate credit each and can be completed in a self-paced, independent study format within a three-month period. All courses are DPI approved and are ideal for satisfying educator license renewal.

To register by mail or fax, please click here to download an ASCD Registration Packet. To register by phone using a credit card, contact the Professional Development and Licensure Department at (800) 347-8822, wait for the prompt, press 6 then enter the ext. 4428.

Available Courses

Assessment

Assessment: Designing Performance Assessments, CEDUC 535

This course makes connections between student motivation and types of assessment used in the classroom. It also covers how to unpack learning standards and benchmarks, so that all assessment yields information about student progress and mastery of instructional goals. Performance assessment can be designed in a multitude of ways, in which both students and teachers can work together to determine the best product or performance to exemplify student understanding, knowledge, and ability to use what they’ve learned.

Formative Assessment: The Basics, CEDUC 570

This course gets at the heart of formative assessment, beyond the basics. The course begins with a lesson about understanding. What are we looking for when we say that we want students to understand a concept? Many educators suggest that if students can apply what they’ve learned, they’re on their way to understanding the content.

Brain-Based Learning

The Brain: Developing Lifelong Learning Habits 2^nd Ed., CEDUC 596

In The Brain: Developing Lifelong Learning Habits, you will learn about the thinking and learning skills that today’s students should be cultivating to become successful adults in the dynamic, rapidly changing, and flattened world into which they will graduate.You will be introduced to the idea of habits of mind; survey 16 distinct ways of seeing, understanding, and interacting with the world; and learn instructional strategies to help your students develop each of these thinking and learning habits.

The Brain: Memory and Learning Strategies, CEDUC 564

In The Brain: Memory and Learning Strategies, you will learn about the physical structures of the human brain that create and retain memories and how to use this information to improve your classroom teaching practice. The more you understand about how people form and retain memories, the more you will be able to help your students learn and use the academic content you are teaching them.

Classroom Management

Bullying: Taking Charge,CEDUC 558

In Bullying:Taking Charge, you will explore what bullying is and why it is important to address it on the student, teacher, and school level. You will also learn some practical tools for confronting and preventing bullying. Through video examples, in-depth reading, and problem-solving scenarios, you’ll learn how to recognize and detect bullying, address bullying with the bully as well as the victim, discuss bullying with students through classroom activities, and implement a community-wide bullying prevention program.

Classroom Inclusion: Implementing Strategies 2^nd Ed., CEDUC 647

This course provides valuable strategies for creating and working in an inclusive school environment. With this course, you’ll discover strategies for handling the logistics of the classroom environment,aids and supports, and curriculum modification. You’ll also learn the difference between accommodation and adaptation,and consider learning and teaching styles while developing differentiated activities that meet the array of student needs in your classroom. Finally, you’ll become informed about your state’s laws and mandates affecting how to monitor progress and measure achievement of all students in your inclusive classroom.

Classroom Management: Building Effective Relationships, CEDUC 554

In Classroom Management: Building Effective Relationships, you’ll investigate the various facets of classroom management. You will examine some common approaches to classroom management to find the one that is best for you, laying the foundation for your classroom management plan. You will then build on the foundation by examining the student-teacher relationship and uncovering the strategies that will support your approach to classroom management. Finally, you will learn how all of these pieces can fit together to create a cohesive, school wide model.

Embracing Diversity: Effective Teaching, CEDUC 649

In Embracing Diversity: Effective Teaching, you’ll consider the importance of building respect for racial and multicultural diversity, as well as combating gender and sexual bias through curriculum. You will also explore the role of conflict resolution and character educational in helping build learning environments that embrace diversity. Through video examples and in-depth readings, you will learn practical tools for building respect for all students.

Embracing Diversity: Global Education, CEDUC 540

In Embracing Diversity: Global Education, you’ll develop an understanding of the role of global awareness as an important skill for students in the 21^stcentury. Through video examples,in-depth readings, and problem-solving activities, you’ll learn various ways to infuse global awareness into your lessons, school activities, and community connections and make global connections through technology.

Embracing Diversity: Managing Diverse Schools and Classrooms 2^nd Ed., CEDUC 650

In Embracing Diversity: Managing Diverse Schools and Classrooms, you will explore the importance of promoting diversity and tolerance at both the classroom and school level. You will learn about many of the challenges that diverse schools face. In addition, you will have the opportunity to study classroom activities, procedures, and school wide initiatives that focus on tolerance and diversity, including ways to involve parents of all types in the school community. Through video examples and in-depth readings, you’ll learn practical ways to manage diverse classrooms and schools for the benefit of all students.

Getting Started with Student Portfolios, 2^ndEd. CEDUC 587

In Assessment:Getting Started with Student Portfolios, you’ll explore the research behind implementing a portfolio assessment as well as practical ways to implement the portfolio assessment in the classroom. Using the strategies presented in the course, you’ll be better equipped to increase your students’ ownership of their learning, help them develop positive reflection skills, and engage them in projects that are meaningful to them.

Inclusion: The Basics 2^nd, Ed. CEDUC 537

In Inclusion: The Basics, you’ll explore the definition of inclusion and inclusive schools and find out what inclusion is and what it isn’t. Through in-depth readings, examples, and applications, you’ll have a conceptual understanding of what constitutes inclusion in the public education setting and the related federal laws. You’ll also gain some practical strategies for adapting instructional activities and creating a welcoming, positive environment for all students.

Multiple Intelligences: Strengthening Your Teaching, CEDUC 567

In Multiple Intelligences: Strengthening Your Teaching, you’ll explore the theory and application of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences (MI) for the 21^st century classroom through videos, in-depth reading, and applications, you’ll assess your own strengths and weaknesses, learn tools for assessing your students, and explore specific ideas and techniques for supporting MI in classroom curriculum and activities.

Parents as Partners, CEDUC 661

Best practices suggest that when communities, schools, and families work together, the results are stronger communities that support the success of young people. The challenges that schools face today in fostering true parental engagement are the result of a multitude of complex issues, some of which we will examine in this course. By the end of this course, you will have completed an in-depth analysis of ways schools are successfully meeting the parent-school connection challenge. In addition, you will explore and adapt strategies to create that connection in ways that meet the specific needs of your school and community.

RTI – Response to Intervention, CEDUC 656

This course clarifies the purpose and requirements of Response to Intervention (RTI) and provides examples of what the three major components (assessment, interventions, and problem-solving process) might look like in secondary schools. This course also provides practical strategies for implementing the RTI framework in your classroom or school.

Understanding by Design 2^ndEd., CEDUC 572

In this course, you’ll explore how the principles and practices of Understanding by Design® can help you get the most out of your instructional time. Through video examples, in-depth readings,and downloadable applications, you’ll lean practical ways to put UbD™ to work in classrooms.

What Works in School: An Introduction,CEDUC 566

In What Works in Schools: Translating Research into action, you’ll investigate the evidence that supports a simple, yet profound, belief about teaching and learning – effective schools do make a difference in the lives of children and young people. By applying the knowledge you’ll gain from completing the six modules in this course, you will discover how schools can create an environment that affects student achievement and maximizes the capacity of all learners.

Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction: An Introduction 2^nd Ed., CEDUC 657

In Differentiated Instruction: An Introduction, you will build a conceptual understanding of the model of differentiated instruction (DI), including the philosophical underpinnings of this model. You will explore key characteristics and elements of differentiated instruction, as well as beliefs that guide the DI model and five non-negotiables of DI. You will also discover how differentiated classrooms differ from traditional classrooms and what concerns teachers have about practicing DI. Finally, you will review the steps for getting started with differentiated instruction. By the end of this course, you will be ready to start planning for differentiation in your teaching practice.

Differentiated Instruction: Creating an Environment that Supports Learning CEDUC 660

In Differentiated Instruction: Creating an Environment That Supports Learning, you will gain an understanding of the role that a classroom environment plays in differentiated instruction. Throughout this course, you will explore the key elements of a supportive environment that encourage the implementation of the philosophy of differentiation. You will learn how to encourage and facilitate community building that creates a classroom where teachers and students work together to collaborate and share responsibility for learning. Along with creating the physical environment, you will learn specific strategies to identify student needs, strengths, and interests. Finally, you will be able to foster positive communication with students and provide constructive feedback on their growth and progress.

Differentiated Instruction: Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom CEDUC 659

In Differentiated Instruction: Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom, you will examine issues and strategies for leading a differentiated classroom and managing the many details necessary for the class to run smoothly. You will explore how the teacher’s vision sets the stage for students’ confidence and effectiveness in a responsive classroom. You will also discover the direct link between teachers’ mindsets and their actions in the classroom, which influence how students come to see themselves as learners. You will also review several challenges that many teachers encounter when trying to implement differentiation, as well as concrete ideas for addressing them.

Differentiated Instruction: Teaching with Students Differences in Mind CEDUC 658

In Differentiated Instruction: Teaching with Student Differences in Mind, you will learn how teachers in a differentiated classroom plan for differentiation for readiness, interest, and learning profile, using multiple instructional strategies. You will also see how many of the components of differentiation previously discussed in this suite of courses come together to ensure solid planning and execution of high-quality differentiation. By the end of this course, through video examples, in-depth readings and reflections, and practical applications, you’ll be ready to start planning for specific differentiated tasks in your teaching practice. You will also be familiar with some key strategies that support differentiation.

Differentiated Instruction: Using Ongoing Assessment to Inform Instruction CEDUC 662

In Differentiated Instruction: Using Ongoing Assessment to Inform Instruction, you will learn how teachers in a differentiated classroom plan for on-going assessment and use information collected from assessments to inform instruction. By the end of this course, through video examples, in-depth readings, practical applications, and personal reflections, you’ll be ready to start planning both formative and summative assessments in your differentiated classroom and using the data collected for instructional and evaluative purposes, as appropriate.

Literacy

Common Core and Literacy Strategies: English Language Arts, CEDUC 641

In Common Core and Literacy Strategies: English Language Arts, you’ll explore how the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) approach literacy in new and important ways. You will see a new emphasis on critical thinking skills in the area of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Through video examples, in-depth readings, and downloadable applications, you’ll learn practical ways to put CCSS to work in classrooms.

Common Core and Literacy Strategies: History/Social Studies, CEDUC 642

In Common Core and Literacy Strategies: History/Social Studies, you’ll explore how the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) approach literacy in new and important ways. You will see a strong emphasis on literacy as a means for improving critical thinking skills.You’ll discover that the CCSS have unique reading and writing standards for literacy in history/social studies for grades 6-12. Through video examples, in-depth readings, and downloadable applications, you’ll learn practical ways to put CCSS to work in your classroom.

Common Core and Literacy Strategies: Mathematics, CEDUC 637

In Common Core and Literacy Strategies: Mathematics, you’ll explore how the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) approach literacy in new and important ways. You will see a new emphasis on critical thinking skills in the areas of arithmetic, word problems, and other mathematical foundations. Through video examples, in-depth readings, and downloadable applications, you’ll learn practical ways to put CCSS to work in your classroom.

Common Core and Literacy Strategies: Science, CEDUC 640

In Common Core and Literacy Strategies: Science, you’ll explore how the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) approach literacy in new and important ways. You will see a new emphasis on critical-thinking skills in the area of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Through video examples, in-depth readings, and downloadable application activities, you’ll learn practical ways to put the standards to work in your classroom.

Math

Common Core and Mathematics, Grades K-5, CEDUC 639

In the Common Core and Mathematics: Grades K-5, you will explore the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). This course will provide information on the background of the new standards as well as details on the standards for content and the standards for practice. Additionally, the course covers the six domains for grades K-5 including strategies, ideas for assessment, and common misconceptions. By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of these topics, along with some ideas and tools on how to implement the CCSSM in your classroom.

Common Core Mathematics, Grades 9-12, CEDUC 638

In the Common Core and Mathematics: Grades 6 - 8, you will explore the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). This course will provide information on the background of the new standards as well as details on the standards for content and the standards for practice. Additionally, the course covers the six domains for grades 6 – 8, including strategies, ideas for assessment, and common misconceptions. By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of these topics, along with some ideas and tools on how to implement the CCSSM in your classroom.

Technology

Technology in Schools: Teaching Better, CEDUC 636

In Technology in Schools:A Balanced Perspective, you will learn about the challenges and benefits of incorporating technology into instruction. You will discover engaging and meaningful ways to encourage proper technology integration in schools and work toward increasing access for all students. You will also examine the importance of helping students and their families think critically about the role technology plays in their daily lives.

Teacher Professional Development

Teaching with Poverty in Mind, CEDUC 663

Teaching with Poverty in Mind will introduce you to the latest research on poverty and how it affects students' cognitive development and academic performance. In this course, you will learn how to differentiate among different types of poverty and understand the unique aspects and effects of each; you will learn about the real, physical effects that poverty can have on a developing brain; and you will learn school wide and classroom-level strategies for countering those negative effects to help your students grow, thrive, and find academic success.

The Reflective Educator, CEDUC 553

In The Reflective Educator, you will explore the role of reflection in your professional growth,as well as the role that reflection plays in student learning. This course will provide information on self-reflection, reflection in action, the benefits of professional learning communities, the importance of reflection in developing thoughtful learners, inquiry-based lesson planning, teacher inquiry, and taking an inquiry stance in your teaching practice. By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of these topics and will have developed a set of actionable strategies to help integrate reflection into your professional practice and your students’ work.