Below you will find online professional development resources curated by the NEARI PD Committee. Links are provided for members by category.
Online Professional Development for Teachers
NEA Microcredentials
nea.certificationbank.com/
****In order to respond responsibly to the COVID-19 outbreak we have compiled a list of NEA Micro-credentials that do not require student interactions or face-to-face contact with others. This list also includes topics that you may find helpful as you transition to distance learning. It is our hopes that your professional learning continues to be meaningful and relevant and will help educators meet the needs of the current situation.****
https://nea.certificationbank.com/NEA/Stack_Library
A micro-credential is a short, competency-based recognition that allows an educator to demonstrate mastery in a particular area, such as creating a safe learning environment for LGBTQ students or education policymaking. Our micro-credentials are grounded in research and best practice and designed to be:
- Personalized: You can create your own learning journey, based on your interests and career goals; gaps in your skills; and the specific needs of your students, school, and district.
- Flexible: You can study when it’s convenient for you, alone or with your peers.
- Performance-based: Unlike “sit-and-get” certifications, NEA micro-credentials are awarded based on demonstrated mastery of the subject matter, not just for showing up.
Full description of NEA Microcredentials: cgps.nea.org/micro-credentials/how-it-works/
Each Microcredential has detailed resources that can be used for Professional Development in addition or apart from the Microcredential.
Highlander Institute
RI Distance Learning Helpline
highlanderinstitute.org/distance-learning-helpline/
During this uncertain time, we are here to support you. The Fuse RI Fellow network is available to address your concerns, answer your questions, and provide troubleshooting advice as we all take on the challenge of creating distance learning environments. Please complete this brief form to share some contextual information about your question/need/issue and select the best time to chat. Thank you!
Young Educators Society Virtual Teaching Resources
www.yesri.org/virtual-teaching-ri
Google for Education Training
teachercenter.withgoogle.com/training
Chrome Extensions for Struggling Students and Special Needs
www.controlaltachieve.com
Technology can be a powerful tool to assist students with special needs or any sort of learning challenge. In particular the Chrome web browser allows users to install a wide variety of web extensions that provide tools that can help all learners, regardless of ability level.
PBS Teachers’ Lounge
Distance Learning Tips From One Teacher to Another
https://www.pbs.org/education/blog
Bridge RI: Online Professional Learning
mtssri.org
MTSS Rhode Island uses blended professional learning to support districts, schools, and individual educators in the implementation of a multi-tiered system of support framework. Onsite, face-to-face training and technical assistance is strategically paired with online learning to support Rhode Island educators with building and sustaining a multi-tiered system of support framework. BRIDGE-RI, MTSS Rhode Island's dedicated learning management system, allows educators to search for and enroll in high quality online professional learning on a variety of topics related to MTSS. Explore the sections below to learn more about MTSS Rhode Island's online professional learning opportunities through BRIDGE-RI.
Here’s a list of digital tools and resources available to teacher/staff for Distance Learning.
Teaching Tolerance: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/a-trauma-informed-approach-to-teaching-through-coronavirus
National Council for Teachers of Mathematics
www.nctm.org/
Join NCTM as we celebrate our Centennial with 100 Days of Professional Learning with live 60-minute webinars presented by selected speakers from the NCTM Centennial Annual Meeting & Exposition program that was to take place in Chicago.
Each webinar will be held at 7 p.m. Eastern time on 100 selected days from April 1 leading up to the October NCTM 2020 Annual Meeting & Exposition in St. Louis. A variety of speakers and topics are geared to meet all grade bands and interests. Webinars will be recorded and made available at www.nctm.org/100 up to the St. Louis Annual Meeting.
Rhode Island American Federation of Teachers: Upcoming and Recorded Virtual PD Sessions
https://sites.google.com/riilsr.org/riftpddl/home
Updates and Resources from Rhode Island PBS Education Services
Overview
Specifically see: PBS Learning Media: PreK-12 Resources for Emergency Closings
https://ri.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/emergency-closings-collection/
As teachers, students, and families deal with school closures, PBS LearningMedia producers and educators have come together to curate a special collection of resources organized by grade and subject area. Find videos, lesson plans, and activities that support learning at home. Create a free account to save and organize content.
Featured lesson plans in this collection contain full contextualization for the media they include. Plan and adapt our lessons in creative ways, using the Lesson Builder tool, Google Classroom, Remind, and more.
For early educators, we’ve assembled packets of printable activities to download and share with parents and students.
PreK-K packet
Grades 1-2 packets
Spanish-language content:
Recursos de PreK-12 para Cierres de Emergencia
San Diego Curated Resources
Content coordinators from the San Diego County Office of Education curated this subject-specific list of resources to support distance learning.
CA Shared Resources
Distance Learning Resources from the Smithsonian
The Smithsonian has launched a central portal highlighting an array of distance learning resources, from STEM webcasts to American history podcasts and comprehensive lesson plans. Offerings range from low- or no-tech (interviewing family members for oral history projects) to high-tech (diving into an interactive exploration module).
Smithsonian Resources
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Online Professional Development for Paraprofessionals/Teacher Assistants
NEA Microcredentials
****In order to respond responsibly to the COVID-19 outbreak we have compiled a list of NEA Micro-credentials that do not require student interactions or face-to-face contact with others. This list also includes topics that you may find helpful as you transition to distance learning. It is our hopes that your professional learning continues to be meaningful and relevant and will help educators meet the needs of the current situation.****
https://nea.certificationbank.com/NEA/Stack_Library
The micro-credential implementation support model brings educators together in collaborative groups, such as professional learning communities (PLCs), to focus on common learning goals. NEA's micro-credential offerings vary from Bully Free Schools, Supporting LGBTQ Students, to Classroom Management. Micro-credentials allow ESP the opportunity to move along the ESP Professional Growth Continuum through online professional development.
Link to full description of NEA Microcredentials:
cgps.nea.org/micro-credentials/how-it-works/
Each Microcredential has detailed resources that can be used for Professional Development in addition or apart from the Microcredential
NEA Professional Development Webinar Training Archives
www.nea.org/home/70358.htm
www.nea.org/esppdrecordings
NEA ESP Quality Department in the Center of Great Public Schools, in collaboration with various professionals in the education workforce, have created a wide variety of professional development webinars designed to support the professional growth of Education Support Professionals (ESP).
NEA ESP Professional Growth Continuum
www.nea.org/esppgc
Education Support Professionals (ESP) play a key role in ensuring student success, and their positive impact can be enhanced when there are clear expectations, when they are valued, and when they have opportunities for professional growth. To help ESP reach their professional potential, we’ve developed the ESP Professional Growth Continuum (PGC) through participatory action research and with the active involvement of ESP and other stakeholders. The PGC provides clear pathways for professional learning and growth throughout the careers of ESP.
The ESP Professional Growth Continuum (PGC) consists of eight Universal Standards within three Levels of Practice. The three Levels of Practice begin with Foundational, moving to Proficient, and working toward an Advanced/Mastery level of professional practice. These three Levels of Practice span across all nine ESP career families with opportunities for ESP to enhance their professional standing by being a role model, mentor, and/or leader at each level.
NEA School Me Podcasts
school-me.simplecast.com/
This podcast brings you advice from educators who have been there, done that. Get classroom management tips, lesson plan ideas, and other life-hacks to help inspire your career. Many episodes are ESP specific.
Pennsylvania Department of Education: Knowledge and Skill Development for Special Education Paraprofessionals
pattan.framewelder.com/
These trainings are designed to provide practical information regarding educational methods and resources that may be used by special education paraprofessionals working with students in a variety of educational settings.
Autism-Focused Intervention Resources and Modules
afirm.fpg.unc.edu/afirm-modules
Each AFIRM module focuses on an Evidenced Based Practices for learners with ASD and includes:
- engaging case examples that demonstrate the behavior or practice in use,
- multimedia presentation of content with audio and video clips, and
- interactive assessments that provide you with feedback based on your responses.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Trauma Sensitive Schools Online Professional Development
dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/trauma/modules
Welcome to DPI’s TSS Online Professional Development System. This is a free, online, on-demand system consisting of three primary components. Through this system, learners will understand the prevalence and impact of toxic stress on youth and those who care for them. Additionally, participants will understand how to infuse the values of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment into various aspects of their existing equitable multi-level system of support. This infusion is what we call the trauma-informed lens.
Build Your SEL Expertise
dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/social-emotional-learning/build-your-sel-expertise
The purpose of this page is to provide an array of resources on various topics for educators to broaden their understanding of social and emotional learning. Topics listed will have current articles, videos, websites, and more to support those who wish to build their social and emotional learning expertise.
Bridge RI: Online Professional Learning
mtssri.org/mod/page/view.php?id=198
MTSS Rhode Island uses blended professional learning to support districts, schools, and individual educators in the implementation of a multi-tiered system of support framework. Onsite, face-to-face training and technical assistance is strategically paired with online learning to support Rhode Island educators with building and sustaining a multi-tiered system of support framework. BRIDGE-RI, MTSS Rhode Island's dedicated learning management system, allows educators to search for and enroll in high quality online professional learning on a variety of topics related to MTSS. Explore the sections below to learn more about MTSS Rhode Island's online professional learning opportunities through BRIDGE-RI.
Google for Education Training
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Online Professional Development for Secretarial and Clerical Staff
NEA Microcredentials
Microcredential Library: nea.certificationbank.com/NEA/Stack_Library
Create an Account to Access Microcredentials here: nea.certificationbank.com/
Specific Microcredentials
Education Support Professionals: Professional Growth Continuum:
nea.certificationbank.com
You will learn how to use The Universal Standards and Levels of Practice to reflect on current levels of skills and knowledge, and map out the area(s) that can be strengthened or improved upon in order to move along the continuum of professional growth.
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Online Professional Development for Custodian and Maintenance Staff
NEA Microcredentials
Microcredential Library: nea.certificationbank.com/NEA/Stack_Library
Specific Microcredentials
Education Support Professionals: Professional Growth Continuum
nea.certificationbank.com
You will learn how to use The Universal Standards and Levels of Practice to reflect on current levels of skills and knowledge, and map out the area(s) that can be strengthened or improved upon in order to move along the continuum of professional growth.
Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases
2-Hour Virtually Delivered, NO-COST Training
The New England Consortium, based at UMass Lowell, offers a 2-hour awareness training in protecting yourself from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. TNEC is a worker health and safety training program funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and since 1987 has delivered training to workers in New England in hazardous materials and emergency response, disaster preparedness, infectious disease preparedness, and general workplace health and safety. This no-cost training is delivered virtually with live instructors.
This course will be offered from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on specific dates, click below for details.
TNEC Covid-19 Course Details
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