Online Professional Development Modules

Phase I: 2011–2012

The Call for Change

This module explains the three major initiatives that have positioned North Carolina at the forefront of change: our Accountability and Curriculum Reform Effort, known as ACRE; Race to the Top; and Career and College: Ready, Set, Go! (1.5 contact hours)

Understanding the Standards

This module gives an overview of the Common Core State Standards and the N.C. Essential Standards. It also has content-specific sections that introduce the standards and provide a foundation for participants to delve deeper using Instructional Toolkit documents, such as crosswalks and the unpacked standards. (2 contact hours)

Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy

This module provides an overview of cognitive dimensions, knowledge domains, verbs and their relationship to instruction, learning, and assessment. (1 contact hour)

Formative Assessment and NC FALCON

NC FALCON consists of five modules that support the implementation of formative assessment in classrooms. Each module features a professional learning community where educators can share successes and challenges through positive collaboration. (contact hours vary; see individual modules)

Designing Local Curricula for the 21st Century Learner

After completing this module, you will be able to determine the shared responsibilities for developing local curricula, understand the dimensions of curriculum, identify and evaluate local resources for implementing the new state standards, and work collaboratively to create and implement plans of action for developing curricula, instruction, and assessment. (1 contact hour)

North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards

The new Professional Teaching Standards were adopted by the State Board of Education in 2007. These standards serve as the basis for teacher preparation, teacher evaluation, and professional development. This module gives an in-depth explanation of the five standards and their elements. (7 contact hours)

Understanding Student Behavior in the Classroom

This module is for middle and high school teachers and school staff. The module will help teachers and staff develop an enhanced awareness of behavioral health issues in the classroom which may foster academic achievement for all students, decrease dropout rates, and increase North Carolina's graduation rates. (5 contact hours)

Phase III: 2013–2014

Measures of Student Learning, Grades 9–12

The module is for teachers in grades 9–12 who will be administering the Measures of Student Learning. The module has two broad goals: First, for teachers to develop a deeper understanding of the Measures of Student Learning, including their purpose, how they have been designed, and the basic structure of the assessments. Second, for teachers to be able to apply the rubric to grade student responses to the performance tasks on the Measures of Student Learning. (CEUs at LEA discretion)

Measures of Student Learning: Common Exams, Middle and Elementary Grades

The target audience for this informational module is teachers in the elementary and middle school who will be administering the Measures of Student Learning: Common Exams. The module has two broad goals: First, for teachers to develop a deeper understanding of the Common Exams, including their purpose, how they have been designed, and the basic structure of the assessments. Second, for teachers to be able to apply the rubric to grade student responses to the performance tasks on the Common Exams. (CEUs at LEA discretion)

To be released June 28:

Building and Sustaining Professional Development

This module supports district, charter leaders and teacher-leaders in establishing systems and structures for planning, designing and evaluating high quality professional development. The focus will be on Guskey'’s model for PD evaluation.

Data Literacy in Action

In this module, the concepts of data literacy introduced in the introductory module will be explored further. The module will introduce a data interpretation cycle that can be used to inform instructional decision making and will address the steps of that cycle in depth. (1.0 CEU)

Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects, Part 2

Learners will review the standards in their disciplines and understand how the teaching of literacy is a school-wide responsibility. They will also examine teacher behaviors, pedagogical approaches, and students’ skills and attitudes surrounding the development of CCSS in the respective disciplines. They will then have guided practice examining, discussing, and creating learning activities for their students that integrate the North Carolina Essential Standards and the Common Core Literacy Standards for disciplines in grades 6–12. (0.6 CEU + optional 0.4 CEU)

NC Principal and Assistant Principal Evaluation: Understanding the Process

This module explores the steps of the North Carolina Principal and Assistant Principal Evaluation Process, including orientation, self-assessment, goal-setting, mid-year meeting, conferencing, and summary evaluation. (0.5 CEU)

NC Teacher Evaluation: Understanding the Process

This module explores the steps of the North Carolina Educator Evaluation Process, including self-assessment, goal-setting, observations and conferencing, planning professional development, and summary evaluations. (0.5 CEU)

Responsibilities of the 21st-Century Educator

This module begins with the foundational 4Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity) and how those components contribute to educational practice. Learners will explore Professional Learning Networks and tools to create them; explore global awareness, global empathy and how to connect a classroom to the global community; and look at student-centered instruction and the use of digital strategies to promote such instruction. (1.0 CEU)

21st-Century Mentoring

All North Carolina students deserve effective teachers. This module helps mentors in implementing best practices for guiding beginning teachers to reach their fullest potential. The module is built around the North Carolina Mentor Standards which are aligned with the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards. (1.0 CEU)

Universal Design for Learning

Today’s classrooms consist of a diverse group of learners. This module focuses on ensuring that every student has equal access to learning by removing barriers that are often present in curriculum. (1.0 CEU)

To be released Fall 2013:

Supporting the 4Cs through Digital Strategies (MOOClet)

This module will be piloted in the fall.