2007 DOE Summer Professional Development Institutes

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses

A pilot project funded by NCLB, Title IID

Participants receive PDPs. Courses are at no cost to participants. Graduate credit is available for a fee.

PROGRAM INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM Through NCLB Title IID, the Massachusetts Department of Education is pleased to support this program. The Partnership for Online Professional Development (POPD) is a pilot program designed to improve teaching practices, promote student learning, and provide capacity-building solutions through the use MassONE and other innovative educational practices. The courses will be offered on a pilot basis during the winter of 2008 to educators in the districts receiving the POPD grants and their partners. In the summer of 2008, the courses will be offered statewide on a space-available basis, with preference given to educators from the districts receiving the POPD grants.

REGISTRATION/APPLICATION PROCEDURES To register, please follow the instructions for the course of your choice. Registration and notification of acceptance will be done by each grant recipient or course provider, as indicated in the course descriptions. Since space is limited, you should register as early as possible. Participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must participate in the entire program of the selected course.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS Each course will provide approximately 45 hours of instruction. Participants are required to participate in all sessions, take part in pre-and post-assessments of course content, and complete projects outside of class that demonstrate their learning. Teachers’ course-related work should be included in their personal professional development plans and should be linked to school and district priorities.

Because all courses will be offered online through MassONE, every participant needs to have a MassONE account at the time of registration. Information about signing up for an account is available on MassONE's web site at http://massone.mass.edu/teachers/register.html.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POINTS AND GRADUATE CREDIT Participants can earn up to 50 PDPs for attending all sessions, taking the pre-and post- assessments and completing a project that documents their learning. No PDPs will be awarded for partial completion. Most courses offer optional graduate credit for which participants may register at their own expense.

CANCELLATION POLICY The Department reserves the right to cancel any course that does not have at least 15 participants. In case of cancellation, the course provider will notify teachers who have registered prior to the planned opening day of the course.

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 2 A NOTE ABOUT COURSE LEVELS

The courses are designed to support teacher learning at four general stages of content knowledge and development of skills for standards-based instruction. Teachers should select courses that best meet their needs.

Level I: Foundations. For teachers seeking to develop a working knowledge of a content topic and standards-based teaching practices. These courses address the foundational content knowledge of the discipline and key instructional strategies. Level II: Applications. For teachers who have a working knowledge of the content area to be studied and possess skills in articulating standards-based objectives and lesson plans. These courses emphasize in-depth content and instructional knowledge to implement effective standards-based instruction. Level III: Advanced Study. For teachers with expertise in the content area and experience implementing standards-based instruction. These courses provide opportunities to engage in in-depth exploration of student learning, specific instructional strategies, and advanced study of a content topic. Level IV: Coaching. For expert teachers and administrators. These courses provide a framework and strategies to guide content-focused coaching and instructional leadership.

COURSE LIST

NOTE: This publication lists full details for the winter courses. Details about the summer courses will be posted in May.

Science Teaching Elementary Life Science (Level I)...... page 3 Teaching Earth and Space Science (Level I)...... page 4 Teaching Electricity and Circuits through Inquiry (Level I)...... page 5 Every Student Is a Champion: Assistive Technology and Universal Design (Level I)...... page 6

Mathematics Fractions for Elementary School Teachers (Level I)...... page 7 Building a Number Sense Toolkit: Using Data to Teach and Assess (Level III)...... page 8 Algebraic Thinking: Differentiating to Reach All Learners (Level II)...... page 9

English language arts Reading Comprehension Strategies and Universal Design for Learning (Level II)...... page 10

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 3 Winter Online Courses

Teaching Elementary Life Science

Curriculum area: Science and Technology/Engineering

Grade levels: K–6

Grant recipient: Easthampton Public Schools

Course provider: WGBY is the local course provider for PBS TeacherLine, a premier resource offering online professional development to individual PreK-12 teachers and districts. PBS TeacherLine is committed to helping educators acquire the skills they need to become—and stay —the highly qualified teachers. And, as a division of PBS, with its history of providing outstanding educational resources, our mission is not only to inform but to inspire.

Description: Teaching Elementary Life Science is designed to enhance educators' understanding and teaching of life science. This course begins with the principles of constructivist learning, inquiry, and exploration-based science. Throughout, the emphasis on content gives teachers a comprehensive understanding of life science to increase students' understanding at an elementary level. This course will conclude with the development of a curriculum design project and a final assessment.

Course level: I (See introduction for definitions of levels.)

Start and end dates: January 14–March 16, 2008

Application procedure: Contact Heather Lavigne at WGBY for an application at [email protected]. Applications are due to WGBY by December 21st, 2007. Mail or e-mail application to Heather Lavigne, WGBY, 44 Hampden Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or [email protected]. Course participants will be notified by January 4, 2008.

Contact person: Heather Lavigne, WGBY (413) 781-2801 ext. 286 [email protected]

Optional graduate credits: 3 credits available from Westfield State College for $285

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 4 Winter Online Courses (continued)

Teaching Earth and Space Science

Grade levels: K–8

Grant recipient: Easthampton Public Schools

Course provider: WGBY is the local course provider for PBS TeacherLine, a premier resource offering online professional development to individual PreK-12 teachers and districts. PBS TeacherLine is committed to helping educators acquire the skills they need to become—and stay —the highly qualified teachers. And, as a division of PBS, with its history of providing outstanding educational resources, our mission is not only to inform but to inspire.

Description: Teaching Earth and Space Science focuses on three elements: content knowledge, inquiry and other teaching strategies, and use of multimedia and visualization tools in teaching and learning. Course goals include developing content knowledge about Earth’s history, weather and climate, the Sun-Earth-Moon system, following inquiry-based learning models, introducing a media-rich learning environment to use with students, and providing effective teaching methodologies, strategies, and tools for use in teaching earth and space science concepts.

Start and end dates: January 14–March 16

Application procedure: Contact Heather Lavigne at WGBY for an application at [email protected]. Applications are due to WGBY by December 21st, 2007. Mail or e-mail application to Heather Lavigne, WGBY, 44 Hampden Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or [email protected]. Course participants will be notified by January 4, 2008.

Contact person: Heather Lavigne, WGBY (413) 781-2801 ext. 286 [email protected]

Optional graduate credits: 3 credits available from Westfield State College for $285

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 5 Winter Online Courses (continued)

Teaching Electricity and Circuits through Inquiry

Grade levels: 3–5

Grant recipient: New Bedford Public Schools

Course provider: EdTech Leaders Online (ETLO) is a nationally recognized, capacity-building online professional development program that provides online facilitator and course developer training and a catalogue of over 40 standards-based online workshops in specific K-12 subject areas and grade levels. Since the program began in the fall of 2000, ETLO has worked with school districts, state departments of education, and colleges and universities in more than 35 states, training more than 1400 online specialists who in turn have provided online courses to more than 30,000 teachers and administrators. ETLO is based at Education Development Center (EDC), an international non-profit organization located in Newton, Massachusetts.

Description: Participants in this course will learn about the science behind electric circuits and how this content can be taught through inquiry. The course will help teachers gain a better understanding of electricity and circuit content, including conducting and insulating materials, open and closed circuits, series and parallel circuits, and electromagnets. Participants will consider inquiry-based methods to introduce the content to students and enhance their questioning techniques to help students make predictions about electricity and circuits. The Final Project will require participants to demonstrate the key concepts they have learned and to apply the teaching methods introduced in the course.

Course level: II (See introduction for definitions of levels.)

Web conference: There will be a wrap-up web conference near the end of the course.

Application procedure: An online application form will be available starting November 5 at http://www.newbedford.k12.ma.us/online.htm . Registration will close on December 7.

Contact person: John Gomes, New Bedford Public Schools 508.997.4511 ext 3455 [email protected]

Optional graduate credits: 3 credits available from Salem State College for $200

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 6 Winter Online Courses (continued) Every Student is a Champion: Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning Strategies to Support Middle School Students in Science

Grade levels: 6–8

Grant recipient: Brockton Public Schools

Course provider: The Massachusetts Elementary School Principals' Association (MESPA) is the largest professional school administrators' organization in Massachusetts. They provide extensive face to face and online professional development programs and courses for all educators, Pre-K–12.

Description: This online course addresses the skills, strategies and devices necessary to create a universally designed classroom that maximizes every student’s ability to achieve at high levels. The course targets general and special educators in grades 6-8 and focuses on the development and integration of universally designed supports for reading and writing skills in science. Teachers will learn to employ varied strategies in working with students (whole class, small group, peer to peer, individual) in order to address the needs of their students as well as to provide multiple options for students’ expression of their understanding of skills and concepts.

Face-to-face session: January 8, 3:30-7:30 p.m. in the Crosby Administration Building computer lab, 43 Crescent St., Brockton

Application procedure: There will be an online registration form on the Brockton Public Schools website. Under the Teachers & Staff tab will be a webpage named Professional Development and on this page will be a link to the registration form that can be completed and emailed to: [email protected] . Participants will be notified by December 10 as to whether they have been accepted into the course.

Contact person: Helen Virga, Brockton Public Schools 508-894-4203 [email protected]

Optional graduate credits: 3 credits available from Fitchburg State College for $285

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 7 Winter Online Courses (continued) Fractions for Elementary School Teachers

Curriculum area: Mathematics

Grade levels: K–5

Grant recipient: Springfield Public Schools

Course provider: Virtual High School Global Consortium is a collaborative of over 450 high and middle schools in 28 states and 35 international schools working together to offer online courses to students. VHS offers online professional development to prepare classroom teachers to teach online, and provides the administrative, management, technical and training support needed to design and deliver high-quality, innovative core, technical and elective courses over the Internet. VHS is proud to have worked with the Springfield School district to bring Massachusetts elementary school teachers an online class whose purpose is to increase teacher's knowledge and understanding of fractions.

Description: This course is designed to promote the understanding of fractions for elementary school teachers both from a conceptual as well as a mechanical perspective. Each participant will create a standards-based portfolio of lessons, specific to their own grade level, to teach fractions to their own students.

Application procedure: In order to apply, potential participants need their MassONE user name and password (http://massone.mass.edu/teachers/register.html.). They will then go to the application site (http://www.govhs.org/MassONE ) to complete the application.

Contact person: Tracy Sheehan, Virtual High School Global Consortium 978-897-1900 [email protected]

Optional graduate credits: 2 credits available from Framingham State College for $250

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 8 Winter Online Courses (continued) Building a Number Sense Toolkit: Using Data to Understand, Teach, and Assess Number Sense Standards

Grade levels: 3–8

Grant recipient: Community Day Charter Public School

Course provider: Community Partners Initiative (CPI) is the training division of The Community Group, an educationally focused nonprofit that has successfully provided early education and elementary education programs since 1970. CPI offers seminars, workshops, CEU and college courses, technical assistance, data analysis and reporting services, and data resources for educators in Massachusetts and beyond. CPI's services are developed and delivered by educators who draw upon their extensive knowledge of research-based practices and successful teaching strategies acquired in the programs managed by The Community Group.

Description: This course is designed for math teachers with a range of experience. Course participants will analyze Massachusetts number sense standards and examine how to use data to effectively teach and assess number sense concepts. Other topics that the course will address include: the role of vocabulary and discussion in the development of students' number sense; curriculum mapping number sense standards; using MCAS data as a lens on students’ mathematical understanding; and teaching and assessing Open Response questions related to number sense. The course will include one face-to-face session, comprised of three hours of course content and an optional three-hour technology support session. The course will also include ongoing online discussions, small group activities, relevant readings, and a final project.

Course level: III (See introduction for definitions of levels.)

Face-to-face sessions: January 19 at the Community Group headquarters, 190 Hampshire Street in Lawrence

Application procedure: Apply online at http://vcs.cpieducate.org/numbersenseapp.html The application requires educators to provide their MassONE username, along with other relevant information. Any questions should be directed to: [email protected] Educators will be notified as to their acceptance on or before Dec. 14.

Contact person: Laura Richane, Program Director, Community Partners Initiative (978) 682-6628 ext. 538 [email protected]

Optional graduate credits: 3 credits available from Salem State College for $250

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 9 Winter Online Courses (continued) Algebraic Thinking: Differentiating to Reach All Learners

Grade levels: 4–10

Grant recipient: Winchendon Public Schools

Course provider: EdTech Leaders Online (ETLO) is a nationally recognized, capacity-building online professional development program that provides online facilitator and course developer training and a catalogue of over 40 standards-based online workshops in specific K-12 subject areas and grade levels. Since the program began in the fall of 2000, ETLO has worked with school districts, state departments of education, and colleges and universities in more than 35 states, training more than 1400 online specialists who in turn have provided online courses to more than 30,000 teachers and administrators. ETLO is based at Education Development Center (EDC), an international non-profit organization located in Newton, Massachusetts.

Description: Algebraic thinking is more than solving a wide variety of algebra problems; it encompasses a set of mathematical habits of mind that are particular to algebra. This course will introduce participants to a framework for describing algebraic thinking, seeing and creating opportunities for algebraic thinking in classroom activities, and identifying evidence of algebraic thinking in students’ work. Participants will learn ways to apply principles of differentiated instruction specifically to mathematics teaching. Technology is central to this effort, both as a tool for reaching a wide variety of learners and for focusing students on the underlying larger conceptual ideas that form the foundation of sound algebraic thinking. Technology tools and web-based materials provide important ways for math educators to meet key standards that emphasize problem solving and connections between mathematics, other disciplines, and the real world. This course will provide participants with a variety of activities and problems that promote algebraic thinking, introduce them to online tools, and guide them in using principles of differentiated instruction to adapt existing lessons to promote richer algebraic thinking.

Application procedure: Contact Valorie M. Miller at [email protected] to access an application form. The application is not complete until the form has been completed and submitted via email, fax or U.S. mail. The deadline date for registering is Friday, December 21. Confirmation of a seat will be sent out to participants by Friday, January 4, 2008.

Contact person: Valorie Miller, Winchendon Public Schools 978-297-0261 [email protected]

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 10 Optional graduate credits: 2 credits available from Fitchburg State College for $225 Winter Online Courses (continued) Reading Comprehension Strategies and Universal Design for Learning for the Middle and High School Teacher

Curriculum area: English Language Arts, social studies, science

Grade levels: 6–12

Grant recipient: Northampton Smith Vocational Regional School District

Course provider: Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST is a nonprofit education research & development organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals, including those with disabilities, through Universal Design for Learning.

Description: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) calls for:  Multiple means of representation, to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge,  Multiple means of expression, to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know, and  Multiple means of engagement, to tap into learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation. This course will concretize the principles, applications, and research background of UDL by exploring how instructional technologies can be used effectively, how digital media can increase the accessibility of core instructional materials and textbooks, and how these tools and supports can support middle and high school students in developing reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.

Start and end dates: January 7–April 2 (Orientation must be completed prior to Jan. 7.)

Face-to-face session: January 7, 2:00–5:00 p.m. in Northampton

Web conferences: Feb 13 (optional), March 12, April 2

Application procedure: To receive an application send an email with your name, district, email address, grade level, subject taught, MassONE user name to [email protected]. The application will be sent and must be returned via email by Dec. 14, 2007. Participants will be notified by Dec. 21, 2007. Limited enrollment. Apply as soon as possible.

Contact person: Beth Dichter, Northampton Public Schools 413-587-1365 [email protected] Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 11 Optional graduate credits: 3 credits available from Salem State College for $195

Winter 2008 Online Professional Development Courses 12