PBS TeacherLine

INST120 Creating Units to Support Differing Learning Styles

Unlock the secrets to developing a curriculum that meets the learning needs of different types of students. Create a cross-curricular unit that integrates technology to support learning, and plan lessons that address the different ways that your students learn. Activities will help you build flexibility into your lesson plans, enabling you to integrate your new knowledge into your instruction.

INST125 Building Critical Thinking Skills for Online Research

Put 21st century skills into practice as you help students get the most from their online research by encouraging their critical-thinking and information literacy skills. Explore different information search process models and strengthen your own online research skills.

INST130 Utilizing Technology in Creating a Problem-Based Curriculum

Apply new strategies to develop your students' problem-solving skills. Discover how technology can enhance their ability to state problems, pose questions, find answers, and, ultimately, approach learning as a continuous interaction with their world. Then, select a problem for your students to solve and craft a lesson plan that demonstrates the learning process.

INST180 Differentiated Instruction

Meet the needs of all your middle school students with techniques to differentiate content, activities, and assessments. Discover methods for pre-assessment and strategies for tiered activities. Throughout the course you'll work on your final project: a differentiated instructional unit that meets your local standards of learning.

INST300 Curriculum Mapping I by Heidi Hayes Jacobs

Learn from the expert on curriculum mapping in this first of two courses developed with Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs. Understand how to incorporate mapping in classrooms to enrich curricula and have a powerful impact on student performance. You will finish the course with a complete peer-reviewed plan to adjust the scope and sequence of your curriculum to apply in your classroom right away.

INST305 Curriculum Mapping II by Heidi Hayes Jacobs

This follow up to Curriculum Mapping I shifts the focus from classroom data mapping to schoolwide curriculum planning, and explores the role of curriculum mapping teams. Analyze and refine the data in your curriculum maps, then apply seven phases of review and revision to develop one for your school. Note: Curriculum Mapping I must be completed before enrollment in this course.

INST310 Inquiry-Based Learning in the Classroom

Knowledge gained through investigation produces greater student understanding and achievement. Discover the key principles of inquiry-based learning, and observe and assess its effectiveness on class lessons and student Web projects. Develop an inquiry facilitation plan for a unit to implement inquiry based learning in your classroom.

INST315 Teaching for Multiple Intelligences

Discover the advantages of teaching methods that engage multiple intelligences and explore ways to implement them. You will also learn to teach and assess students differently based on their individual intellectual styles.

INST320 Connecting Family, Community and Schools

Learn the Action Team for Partnership (ATP) model and discover how to engage families and communities in children's education. Examine the "connection" issues, acquire tools to integrate partnership programming into your curriculum, and develop a plan that involves parents, family members, and community resources in your own classroom.

INST325 Using Assessment and Evaluation

Delve into the full array of assessment and evaluation tools, including rubrics, journals, formal and informal assessments, and portfolios. Then, create an effective rubric based on an existing student assignment.

INST330 Improving Learning Through Collaboration

Get actionable tips and strategies for applying the key principles of cooperative and collaborative learning in your classroom and incorporating them into your lesson plans.

INST335 Constructing Learning Centered Environments

This course uses a constructivist teaching model so you can experience this approach firsthand. You'll examine your role as a teacher and that of your students in the legacy model, while reflecting on how these roles may differ from your initial perceptions. You'll become familiar with the principles of constructivism including student-centered, inquiry-based learning, and problem-based learning.

MATH120 Fostering Cooperative Learning, Discussion, and Critical Thinking in Elementary Math

Highly developed collaborative and critical thinking skills are what your students need to meet standards and perform in high-stakes testing. Expand your collection of strategies for sharpening these skills using classroom technology.

MATH126 Ahead of the Curve: Exponential and Other Functions for Grades 6-8

Help middle school students function with functions. Study strategies for teaching exponential functions and growth, and solve a range of mathematical problems to understand the underlying mathematics of functions. Collaborate with peers online to find ways to recognize and address students' misconceptions.

MATH136 Patterns and Relations for Grades 6-8

Get to the heart of the matter. Learn to teach your middle schoolers how to represent, analyze, and generalize a variety of patterns - the very core of algebra. Solve sample pattern problems and connect the mathematics explored in the course with mathematics requirements in your district.

MATH150 Making Comparisons with Data Analysis for Grades 6-8

Get the inside track on what data analysis concepts your middle schoolers understand - and where they are likely to struggle. Discover concepts that are integral to making comparisons, including distribution and measures of spread, measures of center, graphic representation and interpretation, and communication of data-based conclusions.

MATH156 The Concept of Function for Grades 9-12

Understand more about what confuses your high school students when they encounter the theory of function. You'll examine theories of function as a process, a mathematical object, and a tool for description and prediction, and learn new ways to present the concept to your students.

MATH160 Gender Equity in the Mathematics Classroom

Does your learning environment support math success for boys and girls? This course introduces techniques to evaluate your teaching style for gender bias while exploring strategies to increase gender equity in a standards-driven instructional setting. To complete the course, you'll develop a project that creates or maintains gender-equitable mathematics curricula.

MATH165 Enabling Students with Special Needs to Succeed in Math Class

Make mathematics accessible and understandable for all students, including those with disabilities. In this course, you will learn how to adapt your own curricula and work with special needs teachers to help your students succeed in the classroom. As your final task, you will develop a plan that builds accessibility strategies into your daily teachings.

MATH171 Proportional Reasoning

Target middle school students' misconceptions about proportionality, as you learn new ways to teach ratio, proportion, and percents. After exploring various student approaches to proportion problems, and collaborating with other course participants, you'll be prepared to craft a lesson plan designed to teach a concept of proportion using your new knowledge.

MATH175 Developing Algebraic Thinking in Grades K-2

Learn and apply strategies for incorporating algebra into the classroom by exploring the algebraic content present in your current teachings and developing a connection between algebra and K-2 arithmetic.

MATH181 Math in Everyday Life for Grades K-5

Make mathematics "real" for your young students with a fresh look at problem solving, calculators, and the Internet in the classroom. Review the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Calculator-Usage and Problem-Solving Standards for a framework to design lesson plans, address content, and meet state standards. Then, develop a "walking field trip" through tasks found in students' daily lives.

MATH186 Math in Everyday Life for Grades 6-8

Math is all around us and you can energize middle school math instruction with real-world challenges. Examine the importance of problem-solving skills, calculators, and the Internet in the classroom while addressing national math standards.

MATH201 Shaping Up: Teaching Geometry Using Technology in Grades 6-8

(Formerly MATH200) Discover and implement new, effective strategies to teach geometry to students by integrating software, Web-based activities, as well the NCTM standards into lesson plans for your 6-8 classroom.

MATH211 Just the Stats: Data Analysis for Grades 6-8

Learn to evaluate and select appropriate Web-based activities that help students learn data collection and analysis using National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards as your guide to the ways technology can enhance the subject. You'll then be able to develop data analysis lessons that successfully integrate technology.

MATH216 The Odds Are Good: Probability for Grades 6-8

We'll bet that we've got what you're looking for! Discover techniques to develop lessons about probability that meet the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards, use technology as a teaching tool, and incorporate new pedagogical strategies for teaching probability to middle school students.

MATH221 Count on It: Number Sense for Grades K-5

Make sense out of "number sense," as you discover the role it plays in students' mathematical development, and the impact it has on their future performance. Identify effective assessment strategies, examine lesson plans, Web resources, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards.

MATH226 Ready to Teach Fractions: Part 1

Unlock the mysteries surrounding children's struggle with fractions. Through the work of the Rational Number Project (RNP), you will view fraction number sense as an extension of whole number sense, and become familiar with the Lesh Translation Model. As the cornerstone of this course, the practical and research-based RNP fraction curriculum will be made available for classroom implementation.

MATH230 Fostering Collaboration, Discussion, and Critical Thinking in Middle School Math

Explore and develop math lessons that encourage higher-level thinking and discussion. Use proven Internet resources to incorporate critical thinking and cooperative learning into your mathematics curriculum.

MATH231 Ready to Teach Fractions: Part 2

Build on the understanding you gained in Ready to Teach Fractions Part 1, the prerequisite course focused on developing meaning for fractions and working with concrete models for equivalent fractions. In Part 2, you'll learn more about the Rational Number Project (RNP) philosophy for addition, subtraction, multiplications, and division concretely and meaningfully. As the cornerstone of this course, the curriculum will provide you with instructional activities to help students operate with fractions involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Ready to Teach Fractions Part 2 is an ideal "next step" to help students overcome the fear of fractions.

MATH236 Patterns and Relations: Algebra Concepts for Grades 1-5

Teach your students how algebra connects to patterns and relationships, by incorporating manipulatives, technology, problem-solving activities, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards into your algebra curriculum.

MATH240 Measurement: Surface Area and Volume in Grades 6-8

Clarify the concepts of surface area and volume for middle schoolers using nets/maps, interactives and the van Hiele model of geometric thought. Learn how to encourage students' reasoning, while addressing the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Utilize PBS's resources such as Misunderstood Minds, to address students with math disabilities. Create a lesson on surface area and volume.

MATH246 Rational Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, and Percents in Grades 6-8

Help your middle schoolers unravel the mysteries of rational numbers, fractions, decimals and percents. Using sample problems, you will build your understanding of how students approach their study, and learn practical, proven ways to redirect their thinking. For a final project, you will create a rational number lesson plan that includes a student assessment component.

MATH250 Understanding Numbers and Operations: Addition and Subtraction in Grades PreK-3

Lay the foundation that your students will build on to meet mathematical standards for years to come. Learn to teach "mental arithmetic" to enhance your students' understanding of addition and subtraction. Develop your understanding of computational strategies by observing students, exploring lesson plans, and examining Web resources.

MATH270 Developing Algebraic Thinking in Grades 3-5

Help your 3rd- to 5th-graders think algebraically by learning strategies for incorporating algebra in your classroom. Explore the algebraic content in your current teachings and develop a connection between algebra and mathematics.

MATH280 Understanding Counting and Numbers

Here is a unique opportunity to understand more about the ways your youngest students learn to count, recognize numerals, understand fractions, and learn about place value. Explore activities that support multiple intelligences, examine constructivist theories within the curriculum, and help students meet National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Along the way, you will develop strategies to help students build counting skills and understand our number system. Finally, you'll create a lesson plan to teach the concepts of counting and numbers.

MATH285 Understanding the Number System

Learn more about base number systems through activities, videos, and readings. Develop lesson plans designed to teach the base-ten number system, including factors, even/odd numbers, negative numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents.

MATH410 Seeing Math™: Linear Functions

Discover a fresh approach to teaching linear functions through the use of real-world problems that generate varied approaches and solutions. Learn how multiple representations and solutions strengthen students' understanding of functions, equations, and problem solving.

MATH415 Seeing Math™: Transformations of Linear Functions

Learn how to help students grasp the symbolic representations of functions, while representing families of linear functions in multiple formats. Observe and discuss videos of students to gain insight into student thinking and explore strategies to address their misconceptions. Acquire interactive software and activities to use in the classroom that demonstrate the link between symbolic forms of linear functions and graphical forms.

MATH420 Seeing Math™: Linear Equations

Develop strategies for teaching students how to represent and manipulate linear equations. Examine the rationale behind the symbol manipulation that maintains an equality or corresponding inequality. Use symbolic and graphic techniques to solve equations.

MATH425 Seeing Math™: Systems of Linear Equations

Uncover each step in the solution process as you learn ways to help your students master the skills they need to answer questions like these: "What does it mean to solve a system of linear equations?" and "What do all of the procedures used to solve such systems have in common?"

MATH430 Seeing Math™: Proportional Reasoning

Discover techniques to successfully guide your students through the critical transition from elementary mathematics and computing to the more complex, proportional thinking of algebra. Adapt problems from your curriculum to different learning styles using graphing, multimedia technology, and other strategies.

MATH435 Seeing Math™: Quadratic Functions

Learn high-impact modeling and problem-solving techniques to teach quadratic functions. Learn how to use multiple representations - tables, graphs, and symbolic expressions - as powerful tools to model physical situations and predict patterns.

MATH440 Seeing Math™: Transformations of Quadratic Functions

Work with families of quadratic functions to help your students understand what makes a function quadratic. Explore the information conveyed by polynomials, vertex and root forms, and assist students in shifting between object and process viewpoints. As a final project, you'll create a lesson plan or action plan applying the strategies learned.

MATH445 Seeing Math™: Quadratic Equations

Move beyond tried-and-true quadratic equation teaching techniques and look at the big picture: what the results reveal, how to interpret them within the context of a problem, and how to find related information. Manipulate the three symbolic forms of a quadratic function in order to inspect and predict shape, orientation, and location, and connect graphic and symbolic representations.

MATH455 Seeing Math™: Data Analysis

What do the measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode) tell you about the data? Teach your students how to answer that question and encourage them to look beyond calculations and individual data points. Explain how the measures are related to the whole set and see the data as an aggregate; help students perform higher-order statistical thinking.

RDLA044 Read With Me: Developing Early Literacy with Children

"Read with Me: Developing Early Literacy with Children" is designed for preschool teachers and caregivers who want to have fun reading, singing, and sharing stories with children.

RDLA051 Raising Readers: Preparing Preschoolers for Success

This course focuses on preparing preschoolers for success by developing their early literacy skills. Using recent early literacy research from Susan B. Neuman and Kathleen Roskos, you'll learn to plan meaningful early literacy-learning experiences that build on preschoolers' prior knowledge, expand their vocabulary, and strengthen oral language development.

RDLA056 Raising Readers: Ready to Read and Write with Digital Media (PreK)

"Raising Readers: Ready to Read and Write with Digital Media" demonstrates how preschool teachers and care givers can use digital media - specifically PBS programming and online resources-as a teaching tool to help young children develop essential early literacy and reading skills.

RDLA120 Integrating the Internet into the K-2 Language Arts Curriculum

Hone your skills at finding the right Internet resources, and selecting the resources that will work best for your students and learning plans using the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) as a guide. As a final project, develop a plan for meaningfully integrating your choices into your language arts curriculum.

RDLA125 Children's Authors on the Web: Online Sites that Motivate Students to Write

Discover the power of author studies to motivate students to read and write. This course uses a problem-based approach to teach the techniques of conducting an author study integrating technology and the Internet. Explore author and other Web sites to collect resources that will introduce your students to many genres.

RDLA130 Teaching Reading in Science

Help students unravel the mysteries and complexities of scientific concepts by training them to approach science texts in new ways. Learn effective strategies to help your students arrange ideas, understand text organization, set goals for reading, make meaningful connections, and persevere through challenging materials.

RDLA135 Teaching Reading in Mathematics

Effective reading skills are critical for student achievement in mathematics. Learn and share strategies to help struggling students sort ideas, understand text organization, connect text to mathematical concepts and operations, and tackle challenging reading content. This course aligns with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Communication Standards.

RDLA150 An Introduction to Underlying Principles and Research for Effective Literacy Instruction

Meet NCLB's requirements for research-based literacy and reading instruction by analyzing in-depth studies of the use of phonemic awareness, phonics, and word recognition to develop the skills required for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to expand vocabulary, improve comprehension and fluency, and gain independence.

RDLA152 An Introduction to Underlying Principles and Research for Effective Literacy Instruction

Meet NCLB's requirements for research-based literacy and reading instruction by analyzing in-depth studies of the use of phonemic awareness, phonics, and word recognition to develop the skills required for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to expand vocabulary, improve comprehension and fluency, and gain independence.

RDLA155 Teaching Phonemic Awareness and Phonics

Bring the ideal balance of oral language, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics, and written language to your language arts instruction. Study the stages of literacy development and practice assessing the performance of budding young readers. Learn to design instructional activities that strengthen students' skills in phonemic and phonological awareness.

RDLA157 Teaching Phonemic Awareness and Phonics

Bring the ideal balance of oral language, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics, and written language to your language arts instruction. Study the stages of literacy development and practice assessing the performance of budding young readers. Learn to design instructional activities that strengthen students' skills in phonemic and phonological awareness.

RDLA160 Teaching Phonics and Spelling for Emergent Readers

Introduce your youngest readers and writers to the world of phonics and spelling with research-based instructional activities drawn from principles that formed the basis of NCLB. Practice assessing the performance of emergent readers and analyzing student work samples to determine their knowledge levels. Use assessment data to design appropriate activities for teaching phonics and spelling.

RDLA162 Teaching Phonics and Spelling for Emergent Readers

Introduce your youngest readers and writers to the world of phonics and spelling with research-based instructional activities drawn from principles that formed the basis of NCLB. Practice assessing the performance of emergent readers and analyzing students' work samples to determine their knowledge levels. Use assessment data to design appropriate activities for teaching phonics and spelling.

RDLA165 Teaching Phonics and Spelling for Beginning and Transitional Readers

Engage your beginning and transitional readers and writers with research-based phonics and spelling activities. Study and discuss topics such as the principles which form the foundation for NCLB and traditional versus contemporary perspectives on spelling instruction. Investigate better ways to help students develop oral reading fluency through learning letters, letter-sound correspondence, letter-sound patterns, and high frequency words, then assess a student's skill level in spelling to set appropriate individual goals. At the conclusion of the course, create a case study of a second grade speller.

RDLA167 Teaching Phonics and Spelling for Beginning and Transitional Readers

Engage your beginning and transitional readers and writers with research-based phonics and spelling activities. Study and discuss topics such as the principles that form the foundation for NCLB and traditional versus contemporary perspectives on spelling instruction.

RDLA170 Teaching Vocabulary: Word Meanings and Word Knowledge

Design more effective lesson plans by learning to evaluate your students' word knowledge and to incorporate vocabulary instructional strategies. Explore the role of vocabulary knowledge in the relationship between the written vocabularies of reading and writing, and the oral vocabularies of listening and speaking. Evaluate how your instructional practices align with National Council of Teachers of English/International Reading Association (NCTE/IRA) standards and your state's standards.

RDLA172 Teaching Vocabulary: Word Meanings and Word Knowledge

Design more effective lesson plans by learning to evaluate your students' word knowledge and to incorporate vocabulary instructional strategies. Explore the role of vocabulary knowledge in the relationship between the written vocabularies of reading and writing, and the oral vocabularies of listening and speaking. Evaluate how your instructional practices align with National Council of Teachers of English/International Reading Association (NCTE/IRA) standards and your state's standards.

RDLA175 Teaching Vocabulary: Word Meanings and Word Knowledge

Enhance students' reading comprehension through context-based instruction, direct instruction, and incidental exposure. Learn to incorporate proven vocabulary instructional strategies into your teaching. Then evaluate how your own instructional practices map to the National Council of Teachers of English/International Reading Association (NCTE/IRA)standards and your state's standards.

RDLA177 Teaching Vocabulary: Word Meanings and Word Knowledge

Enhance students' reading comprehension through context-based instruction, direct instruction, and incidental exposure. Learn to incorporate proven vocabulary instructional strategies into your teaching. Then evaluate how your own instructional practices map to the National Council of Teachers of English/International Reading Association (NCTE/IRA) standards and your state's standards.

RDLA180 Teaching Narrative and Expository Comprehension

Play, art, drama, and technology can extend student learning far beyond read-aloud sessions. Discover techniques for varying genres and including expository texts to strengthen comprehension. Practice questioning skills to aid comprehension during read-alouds. A plan for incorporating expository text into instruction is the culminating project.

RDLA182 Teaching Narrative and Expository Text Comprehension

Play, art, drama, and technology can extend student learning far beyond read-aloud sessions. Discover techniques for varying genres and including expository texts to strengthen comprehension. Practice questioning skills to aid comprehension during read-alouds. A plan for incorporating expository text into instruction is the culminating project.

RDLA185 Teaching Narrative and Expository Text Comprehension

Explore smart strategies for assessing student comprehension and study the challenges that affect comprehension in the early elementary grades, such as the impact of genre. Develop lesson plans for direct instruction and collaborative approaches to teaching comprehension skills. The final task is to evaluate your school's reading comprehension curriculum.

RDLA187 Teaching Narrative and Expository Text Comprehension

Explore smart strategies for assessing student comprehension and study the challenges that affect comprehension in the early elementary grades, such as the impact of genre. Develop lesson plans for direct instruction and collaborative approaches to teaching comprehension skills. The final task is to evaluate your school's reading comprehension curriculum.

RDLA190 Teaching Narrative and Expository Comprehension

Learn proven comprehension assessment techniques that will enable you to plan appropriate instruction for your 4th- to 6th-graders. Develop narrative and expository text lesson plans that use a collaborative teaching approach for direct comprehension instruction.

RDLA192 Teaching Narrative and Expository Text Comprehension

Learn proven comprehension assessment techniques that will enable you to plan appropriate instruction for your 4th- to 6th-graders. Develop narrative and expository text lesson plans that use a collaborative teaching approach for direct comprehension instruction.

RDLA195 Teaching Reading Fluency

A fluent reader is more confident and successful. Learn quantitative and qualitative techniques to assess and improve students' fluency, and discover ways technology can foster students' fluency progress. Apply practical, research-based strategies that leverage trusted PBS resources to help parents make the home-to-school connection. This course is also ideal for teachers who work with older, struggling readers. Content aligns with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12.

RDLA200 Facilitating Oral Language Development

Blending both theoretical and practical information about oral language development for students PreK 3, this course will introduce you to proven ways to assess students' oral language skills and will give you the opportunity to practice strategies for teaching vocabulary to young students. The course also covers tactics for differentiating instruction to meet the needs of diverse students.

RDLA205 Effective Writing Instruction

Even the youngest students can develop early writing skills. This course explores the theory and practice of writing instruction and covers practical strategies to support students' writing development including modeled writing, shared writing, interactive writing, and independent writing. You'll practice to improve your own teaching and assessment of students' writing products.

RDLA210 Effective Writing Instruction

Learn to use Writing Workshops to teach the theory and practice of writing to your early elementary students. From setting up and maintaining a Writing Workshop to analyzing obstacles to good student writing, you'll have the opportunity to share insights with online colleagues. You'll write a synthesis paper or design a class Web site to accompany a Writing Workshop program as your final project.

RDLA215 Effective Writing Instruction

Discover the course that previous participants have called "a real eye-opener with very practical information." Focusing on research paper writing, you'll learn to find topics that capture and maintain the interest of young adolescents. In addition, the course explores the connection between reading and writing, and how technology supports writing, revising, storing, and publishing a research paper.

RDLA220 Teaching Writing in the Content Areas

You can bring writing into your classroom in all content areas with a practical plan developed in this course. Covering the research basis for writing across the curriculum, the course will help you teach students effective writing processes, including finding the time to write. You'll learn sound techniques for evaluating writing skills and discover proven ways to promote writing to students.

RDLA225 Teaching Writing in Science

Learn to assess your students' understanding of science concepts by integrating writing instruction into your curriculum. Help your students engage in persuasive writing tasks, and develop an instructional plan over the length of the course for using writing effectively in your classroom. Put your plan into action and gain insight from the experience.

RDLA230 Teaching Writing in Mathematics

Integrating writing into mathematics presents both challenges and opportunities. Discover the tools you need to make it work. Use a mathography lesson to gain insight into your students' attitudes and learn how to help your students organize and communicate mathematical concepts, and interact with others. Then, develop a plan of action for implementing writing in a mathematics program.

RDLA340 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas

You can master new strategies to address students' needs in various grade levels. From exploring environments that promote effective learning to examining the skills students need to read content material successfully, this course will introduce you to essential techniques that support more independent reading and learning.

RDLA345 Early Literacy Learning (K-2) - Part 1

Learn about the components of a balanced literacy program through an early literacy framework that incorporates reading and writing as integral skills and represents a wide array of literacy activities. Designed for literacy teachers, grades K-2, this course is also valuable for reading specialists and those who teach older students struggling with reading and writing.

RDLA350 Early Literacy Learning (K-2) - Part 2

In this course, we focus on implementing a balanced literacy program using an early literacy framework. You'll practice balanced literacy techniques including read-aloud, shared reading, word wall, and interactive writing strategies, and learn how technology can help you differentiate instruction.

RDLA363 Supporting ELLs: Oral Language Development

This unique two-session course uses material derived from RDLA 200: Facilitating Oral Language Development to offer an intensive focus on the needs of English Language Learners. The course provides both theoretical and practical information to apply in helping non-native English speakers develop language skills, meet learning standards, and experience success in school.

RDLA366 Supporting ELLs: Assessing Language Development

Classroom assessment can promote language development and mastery for English language learners. Explore how to use classroom assessments effectively and strategically as tools to diagnose learning issues and as springboards to more effective educational practices, curricula, and strategies that help students learn.

RDLA373 Supporting ELLs: Vocabulary Development in Grades PreK-3

Discover the practices that best promote vocabulary development for English language learners. Learn why vocabulary development is so crucial to ELLs' success in school. In this course, you'll explore the similarities and differences between the strategies for teaching vocabulary development for ELLs and those for native English speakers. We'll also explore the role that knowledge of the student's primary language plays in successful English vocabulary development.

RDLA376 Supporting ELLs: Reading Fluency in Grades 2-5

Reading fluency strategies are an important tool in teaching students to read, especially (ELLs) who may be struggling readers. This course will explore what reading fluency is and the importance of reading fluency to the literacy development of ELLs. Learners will have the opportunity to implement a reading fluency assessment and then use the results for the basis of a discussion on how reading fluency assessment informs instruction. Learners will also complete a course project where they develop a Fluency Action Plan specifically designed for English language learners. The action plan incorporates various reading fluency instructional strategies, integrates technology, and lists a variety of relevant resources.

RDLA383 Supporting ELLs: Writing Development in Grades PreK-3

"What classroom practices best promote ELLs' writing development?" Develop an understanding and identify the specific needs of ELLs in writing, by integrating research on how writing and language develops in ELLs with an understanding of the considerations that need to be made for ELLs. These considerations include state, national, and local standards and the use of assessment as a tool for informing instruction. Discuss strategies to support ELLs' writing development, including group lessons in which writing and spelling are modeled for students, programs found to be effective for ELLs, and the use of technology. The course project enables learners to synthesize the information they have learned in the course in the form of an e-article that they will post to an educational blog or a multimedia presentation as part of an online presentation tool.

SCIE120 Scientific Inquiry and Field Work: Discovering with Technology for Grades 6-8

Keep your students engaged by incorporating current technology into your science curriculum. Visit Web sites that enable students to collect and analyze data using online equipment and learn high-tech strategies that allow them to record and analyze information, investigate the results, and share their findings. Then, design a unit plan for an ecosystem field trip.

SCIE125 Fostering Cooperative Learning, Inquiry, and Critical Thinking in Elementary Science

Learn to meet national science standards by helping students develop the skills necessary to analyze ideas, think critically, and communicate clearly. Create lessons and activities that support collaboration, inquiry, and critical thinking.

SCIE130 Fostering Collaboration, Inquiry, and Critical Thinking in Middle School Science

Science can engage and encourage students to think critically and logically. In this course, you will learn to integrate technology into the classroom to encourage students to ask questions, collaborate with others, and explore and evaluate data. Discover software and Web activities designed to help your students organize and consolidate their thinking and analyze ideas clearly.

SCIE500 Teaching Elementary Life Science - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

Enhance your understanding and teaching of life science. In addition to developing content knowledge, you will be introduced to the constructivist learning model, learn a range of effective teaching methodologies and experience a media-rich learning environment which you can use with your students.

SCIE502 Science and the Living World - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Elementary Life Science. Explore the essential question of how to use processes of scientific inquiry to learn and teach about the living world. Examine the characteristics common to all organisms and learn techniques to surface your students' prior knowledge and understanding.

SCIE504 Plants and Animals - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Elementary Life Science. Lead your students' examination of how the structures and functions of plants and animals help them meet their needs as living things. Explore strategies for the use of concept maps and effective uses of live plants and animals in the classroom to present plants as producers and animals as consumers.

SCIE506 Heredity and Adaptation - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Elementary Life Science. Go beyond the topics typically taught in elementary life science to provide your students with a foundation for the larger K-12 science scope and sequence. As you review the difference between inherited and environmental traits and examine the processes of heredity and natural selection, you will focus on ways to prepare your students for future study in genetics and evolution.

SCIE508 Ecosystems and Human Impact - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Elementary Life Science. Examine the complex interactions of living and nonliving things that comprise an ecosystem. Explore a range of effective questioning techniques and discussion strategies for the classroom that can provide a context for understanding the nature of human impact on ecosystems.

SCIE510 Teaching Middle School Life Science - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

Experience the constructivist-learning model firsthand as you deepen your knowledge of the entire range of life science topics: from the structure and function of organisms and cells, to applied genetics and natural selection. This course incorporates inquiry, methodology, and metacognitive strategies for learning and teaching.

SCIE512 Structure and Function - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Life Science. Provide your middle schoolers with a meaningful understanding of the ways that an organism's characteristics enable it to survive and reproduce in its particular environment by learning to incorporate elements of the scientific process into your teaching. Discover impactful ways to use models in middle school life science.

SCIE514 Regulation and Behavior - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Life Science. Help your students to understand the state of homeostasis --its importance to survival and how it is achieved through the combination of physical traits and behaviors. Learn about the use of prediction as a learning tool and ways to use the classroom environment to enhance student learning of these truly vital topics.

SCIE516 Reproduction and Genetics - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Life Science It's in their genes: middle school students can decode the mysteries of DNA and chromosomes. Learn techniques to make the abstract concepts of genetics and heredity concrete as you explore the mechanisms of cell division and specialization, DNA replication and protein synthesis, and the variability within species.

SCIE518 Natural Selection and Applied Genetics - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Life Science Enhance your understanding and your teaching of the processes of adaptation and the factors that determine what genetic traits are passed on to new generations. You will examine how natural selection helps populations adapt to changes in the environment over time and how humans have used our understanding of genetics and selection to change the course of evolution. Throughout the course you'll gain experience in employing informed discussion and debate as a teaching strategy and build your confidence in approaching controversial subjects.

SCIE520 Teaching High School Biology - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

Learn inquiry-based approaches to teaching standards-based science topics, including genetics, evolution, and cell biology. Gain practice using multimedia to explore novel learning environments and methodologies that foster student interest, involve them in the research process, advance their critical thinking skills, and develop their conceptual understanding.

SCIE522 Inquiry in Science Education - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Biology Examine how using inquiry-based teaching and learning strategies can improve students' understanding of science. This course introduces the essential elements of classroom inquiry and ways to apply the scientific process as a teaching and learning tool.

SCIE524 Teaching About Genetics - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Biology Provide your students with a deep and meaningful understanding of genetics by learning to employ content knowledge, sound teaching strategies, and real-life case studies. You'll explore methods to identify the challenging topics and "big ideas" in genetics and discover new resources and strategies to approach them. Note: The content of this topic immersion course is drawn from our full survey course Teaching High School Biology (SCIE520). When planning their professional development, learners should select either the full survey course or choose one or more of the topic immersion component courses.

SCIE526 Teaching About Evolution - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Biology You can prepare your students to form their own, deep understanding of evolution by employing the effective questioning, assessment, and inquiry strategies illustrated in this course. You'll examine the use of evidence in both scientific inquiry and classroom practice and explore ways to deepen student comprehension of evolution.

SCIE528 Designing Effective Lessons - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Biology Master the principle of "backward design" to plan and revise lessons that will improve your teaching of cell biology, ecology, and other biology topics. You'll explore the role that classroom environment plays in learning and identify strategies for developing a supportive learning environment.

SCIE530 Teaching Elementary Physical Science - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

Enhance your understanding and teaching of physical science by exploring the concepts of motion, force, and matter that are part of daily life. Learn to incorporate observation, discourse, and experimentation into classroom lessons.

SCIE532 Motion and Forces in Your World - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Elementary Physical Science. Look at examples of motion in the world to understand how and why things move. Explore concepts of motion, force, speed and acceleration, and investigate ways for your students to identify and build upon prior knowledge.

SCIE534 Understanding Motion and Force - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Elementary Physical Science. Learn to identify and analyze the forces that cause the motions of rolling, falling, floating, and sinking. Explore ways to foster learning through the making and testing of predictions and develop strategies to employ observation and experimentation to illustrate the major forces that act on moving objects.

SCIE536 Understanding Properties and Structure - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Elementary Physical Science. Leverage the power of the real-world context for physical science learning. In this course you'll investigate the physical properties of objects and how their structures affect their response to forces. You'll complete the course prepared to use prediction and testing as a learning tool and assess learning in an ongoing manner.

SCIE540 Teaching Middle School Physical Science - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

Deepen your understanding of the science concepts needed to teach standards-based curricula in middle school. Increase your content knowledge of physical science topics of energy transfer, light and waves, heat transfer, and density and solubility. Learn methods and metacognitive strategies for learning and teaching, including scientific reasoning, prediction, and abstract and critical thinking.

SCIE542 Understanding Energy Transfer - Special Collection: Teachers Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Physical Science. Capture your students' attention in a flash. Discover compelling examples of energy transfer from everyday situations to share with your students. Develop effective ways to illustrate the concept of conservation of energy and to explain what happens when energy is converted from one form to another.

SCIE544 Understanding Waves - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Physical Science Advance your understanding and increase the effectiveness of your teaching about the fundamental principles of light absorption and reflection and the similarities and differences between different types of waves, from sound waves to visible light. Explore the use of guiding questions and prediction strategies.

SCIE546 Understanding Heat Transfer - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Physical Science. Investigate the mechanisms and influences of different types of heat transfer, including radiation, convection, and conduction, using theoretical models and real world examples. Examine teaching models using formative assessment strategies specifically suited to these topics.

SCIE548 Understanding Solubility and Density - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Middle School Physical Science. Uncover unique and engaging resources that allow you and your students to investigate changes in density, and how dissolving one substance into another affects mass and volume. Within the context of these topics, you will learn to create a classroom that fosters inquiry learning.

SCIE550 Teaching High School Physical Science - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

Learn inquiry-based methods and strategies to teaching the standards-based science topics that teachers and students find most challenging, including atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, motions and forces, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Use multimedia to explore novel learning environments and methodologies that foster student interest.

SCIE552 Inquiry in Physical Science Education - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Physical Science Examine how using inquiry-based teaching and learning strategies can improve students' understanding of atomic and molecular structure and other topics in physical science. Explore effective ways to bring the scientific process into the classroom.

SCIE554 Assessing Understanding - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Physical Science Explore techniques for assessing what students know before, during, and after a lesson and discover how the knowledge students bring with them to a lesson affect their learning. Uncover specific teaching strategies that can help determine what your students understand about chemical reactions, atomic bonding, and other topics.

SCIE556 Building Understanding - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Physical Science Learn to match pedagogical strategies to specific topics such as motions and forces to increase the effectiveness of your teaching of science content. Practice modifying your teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of each learner.

SCIE558 Teaching Effective Lessons - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching High School Physical Science Learn to apply the principles of effective curriculum design to your own lesson planning. You'll examine models of environments that foster inquiry based learning and apply what you learn to improve lessons on waves or motions and forces.

SCIE560 Teaching Earth and Space Science - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

Master the principles of constructivist-learning and exploration based science instruction as you gain a comprehensive understanding of earth and space science to drive your students' success. You will develop content knowledge about Earth as a system, landform processes, Earth's history, and weather and climate and discover a range of effective methods and strategies to approach these topics.

SCIE562 Introduction to the Earth System - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Earth and Space Science Explore the key areas of content and methodology for teaching earth and space science effectively. Look at Earth as a system and examine how this system functions to create the physical world around us. Review Earth system science in the context of research about how people learn and inquiry-based instructional models.

SCIE564 Structure of the Earth System - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Earth and Space Science Develop content knowledge about landform processes, data sets, and mapping tools while you learn teaching methodologies, strategies, and tools for use in teaching earth and space science concepts. Uncover the processes that account for the Earth's ever-changing appearance, and investigate how the rock cycle connects to these processes.

SCIE566 Earth in Time and Space - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Earth and Space Science Explore how the geological record helps us understand the long history of the Earth system and how the Sun-Earth-Moon system affects our world. Learn effective ways to illustrate the vast scales associated with the solar system and the universe.

SCIE568 Weather and Climate - Special Collection: Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston

A topic immersion course on Teaching Earth and Space Science Examine the causes of weather and explore technological advances to monitor weather. Consider the impact of human activity on climate change.

TECH145 Teaching with WebQuests for Grades K-12

Discover Internet resources that promote inquiry oriented student learning and smart use of the Web for research and class assignments. In this course, you will explore WebQuests and learn to integrate the Internet into your curriculum effectively. You will design a WebQuest to enhance a classroom unit or curriculum area to engage students in meaningful research.

TECH150 Enhancing Multicultural Education with Technology for Grades K-8

Create a learning environment where all children feel their culture can be expressed and appreciated. Discover how to build a collection of educational resources and technologies that can effectively unlock new worlds and encourage students to immerse themselves in different cultural experiences. The final assignment is to design a creative teaching unit incorporating community and Internet resources to advance multicultural studies in the classroom.

TECH155 Collaborating on the Internet: Keypal Projects that Promote Cultural Awareness for Grades 4-8

Keypal online exchanges will open a world of cultural awareness, geographic knowledge and language skills for your students. This course will help you design a successful, collaborative keypal project for your own classroom so your students can connect with peers worldwide.

TECH160 Putting Technology to Use in the Classroom: Where to Start

Gain a better understanding of key issues surrounding technology integration, such as how to meet technology standards and choose the most suitable technology for a specific purpose. Identify lessons or concepts in your classroom that may benefit from technological enhancement. Learn to devise a strategy for integrating technology into your lesson plans.

TECH190 Contemporary Issues - Using Technology for Discussion, Debate, and Problem Solving in the Middle School Curriculum

Technology can help students develop debate and problem-solving skills. This course introduces new strategies for incorporating current events, controversial issues, and pop culture into the curriculum. If you want to bring contemporary issues into your social studies, humanities, or science classroom, this is your course!

TECH195 Teaching and Learning with Graphic Organizers: Featuring Inspiration

Electronic graphic organizers can help students organize ideas, convey complex concepts, progress through the steps of the writing process, and develop their mathematical and scientific thinking skills. Address different learning styles by presenting information in a visual format that shows the connections between concepts.

TECH300 The Computer for Personal Productivity

Discover how your computer and Web-based tools, such as Web 2.0, can help you be more productive and effective in the classroom. You will explore technology tools to communicate with colleagues, students, and parents, create lesson plans and instructional materials, and manage electronic information.

TECH305 Using Multimedia to Develop Understanding

Help students in all grades use multimedia tools to demonstrate their authentic understanding of a subject. This course shows how Bloom's Taxonomy can help guide your assessment of a project's promotion of higher-level thinking skills. Learn to instill a strong understanding of content while promoting critical-thinking. Develop a project that integrates the use of multimedia in class assignments.

TECH310 The Classroom Computer as a Learning Station

You can guide students as they use technology, so they learn and accomplish more - and their research is more productive. Practice designing learning station activities and providing peer review support throughout the course. As your optional task, implement and revise one activity, reflect on the learning experience, and then develop a detailed plan for your new classroom learning station.

TECH315 Cooperation and Collaboration in the 21st Century

The 21st century can be defined as "The Age of Collaboration". This course will help you to understand the importance of teaching collaboration and cooperation and its place in the school curriculum and the lives of your students. Learn about Web 2.0 technologies, how they can support collaborative learning, and how to create and integrate meaningful projects into your classroom curriculum. Course formerly called "Using the Computer for Cooperative Experiences.

TECH316 El Uso de la Computadora en las Experiencias Cooperativas

Course content is identical to TECH315. Reconocer aacute;n cómo mediante la integración de tecnología, se pueden diseñar actividades de aprendizaje cooperativo que motivan a los estudiantes a trabajar juntos y a compartir retos en su proceso de aprendizaje mientras desarrollan habilidades de pensamiento crítico.

TECH320 Introduction to a One-Computer Classroom

Your computer can do more than you may know - discover how to use it as a presentation tool, a personal productivity assistant, a catalyst for creating interactive group experiences, and a student learning center. For your final assignment, choose one of these applications, then create and implement a lesson plan to apply in your classroom.

TECH325 Searching and Researching on the Internet

Students need digital literacy now more than ever before. Learn strategies for helping your students develop searching and researching skills, including the use of Web 2.0 tools such as Web start pages, blogs, wikis, and social bookmarks. Explore ways to create authentic learning environments that make use of primary resources, go beyond sites such as Wikipedia for research, and teach responsible Web use.

TECH330 Communicate and Collaborate Online

Develop powerful skills for researching, evaluating and using online educational communication tools. Explore Web 2.0 tools such as Wikis, blogs, and social networking and media sites, as well as e-mail, discussion boards, and videoconferencing, while researching several collaborative classroom projects that use these tools.

TECH335 Publishing on the Web

Master basic knowledge and skills needed for Web publishing. Examine school- based Web sites and other Web-publishing projects to identify both effective and ineffective presentations. An easy-to-use Web page template and basic HTML prompts are provided to help you complete your final task: creating an effective Web page.

TECH340 Evaluating and Organizing Internet Resources and Content

Web 2.0 is changing the way we use the Internet. In this course, you will develop skills needed to prepare students for evaluating and organizing Internet resources and content using Web 2.0 tools. Learn the skills and strategies students need to become digital citizens, as well as how to organize Web sites and their content through the use of free online tools.

TECH401 Capstone Introduction: Planning a Technology Portfolio

This course will start you on a path toward ISTE NETS•T proficiency. Through readings, examination of your own teaching practices and the ISTE NETS•T, and exploration of available technologies and sample technology-integration projects, you will increase your understanding of and comfort with the NETS•T and their practical applications in the classroom.

TECH410 Capstone I: Developing a NETS•T Technology Portfolio

In this 12-week course you will deepen your thinking about effective teaching with technology. Learn how to collaborate to create a digital portfolio demonstrating the 2008 NETS•T incorporating lessons or projects that exemplify effective use of technology. Capstone I is a prerequisite for enrollment in Capstone II.

Note: The project plan developed in Capstone Introduction must be approved prior to enrollment.

TECH415 PBS TeacherLine / ISTE Capstone Certificate Program / Capstone II

PBS TeacherLine has teamed up with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) to certify teachers who lead the way in classroom technology integration. The Capstone Program consists of three courses. In Capstone II, you will create a portfolio exhibit, showcasing your students' use of technology.

TECH522 Online Facilitator Training I: Mastering the Skills of Online Teaching

Online facilitators take on many important roles and, thus, wear different managerial, technical, social, and pedagogical hats. Effective facilitators must know how to provide formative feedback, offer technical guidance, foster community, and communicate 'from the side' in a way that encourages learners to construct knowledge together. This course will formally introduce you to those roles and provide you with the opportunity to try on and practice wearing several of these hats. Through research-based articles and readings, discussions, collaborative projects, and other interactive experiences, you will have multiple opportunities to build and master online facilitation skills. A simulation environment (Facilitator Training Lab) will give you an opportunity to practice specific facilitator skills. To synthesize all your learning, you will create a case study based on the experiences of a hypothetical online facilitator as your final project.