Browse PLS Courses
Experience the many benefits of our graduate courses, which are backed by impeccable research in the science of learning. Venture into a new world of ideas, open your mind to new possibilities, and change the lives of children. You will stay current in education trends and learn how to enhance the classroom experience for both you and your students.
PLS site-based classes are conveniently scheduled and strategically located to meet the needs of teachers. Earn three-hour graduate credit with site-based and online classes for teacher recertification or apply to master's degree requirements.
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Achieving Student Outcomes Through Cooperative Learning®
Become proficient in setting up, monitoring, and debriefing group learning activities for the classroom while teaching interpersonal skills. Discover how quick cooperative learning starters immediately involve students in specific learning tasks.
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Action Research for the Classroom™ Online
Explore your instructional practices then develop, conduct, and analyze the results of a data collection plan. As a culminating activity, write an action research report showcasing your findings and how you plan to improve your current practices.
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Action Research in the E-Learning Environment™ Online
In the e-learning environment, action research takes on a new dimension as educators integrate technology into traditional research methodologies. Discover online data collection techniques, interpret the data to affect change in the online classroom, and develop a research plan that integrates e-learning technology and supports teacher research.
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Behavioral, Academic, and Social Interventions for the Classroom™
Implement the Solution Seeking Cycle and the Intervention Pyramid to design effective universal and targeted interventions for the classroom. Learn how to foster a climate of respect and responsibility that supports student resiliency with an emphasis on strengths-based learning, creating learning alliances, and designing REACH lessons. The strategies offered in this course will help you meet the expectations of a Response to Intervention (RTI) classroom.
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Blended and Synchronous Learning Design™ Online
This course focuses on two different formats for online e-learning environments: blended and synchronous. In this course, you will define these environments, understand the development process each one requires, and conclude with considerations for implementing each.
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Brain-Based Ways We Think and Learn®
Explore the four basic thinking skills of induction, deduction, analysis, and synthesis. Experience, model, and internalize specific techniques of brain-based teaching and learning. Integrate thinking processes into real-life applications.
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Building Communication and Teamwork in the Classroom®
Reach a new level of positive communication with strategies necessary to foster an emotionally-engaging classroom where students are connected to school, learning, and one another.
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Building Online Collaborative Environments™ Online
Experience the Web as a means of constructing new knowledge through conversation, networking, and collaboration. Harness the power of online technologies like blogs, podcasts, and wikis for student engagement and learning. Focus on currently-available tools and effectively utilizing them for student research, writing, and learning.
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Building Your Technology Education and Skills®
Acquire teacher technology education by discovering uses for basic computer and related technology in the classroom. Create motivational materials, manage classroom chores, use the Internet, and identify quality teacher and student software. (Additional fees may apply for this course.)
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Classroom Management: Orchestrating a Community of Learners®
When students are empowered to take responsibility for their own learning experiences, you are freed from constantly dealing with behavioral and organizational issues. Discover and practice skills for orchestrating classroom life and learning so that instruction flows smoothly, student misbehavior is minimized, and learning potential is maximized.
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Classroom Management: Orchestrating a Community of Learners® Online
When students are empowered to take responsibility for their own learning experiences, you are freed from constantly dealing with behavioral and organizational issues. Discover and practice skills for orchestrating classroom life and learning so that instruction flows smoothly, student misbehavior is minimized, and learning potential is maximized.
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Collaborative Inquiry for Students: Preparing Minds for the Future®
Design collaborative inquiry learning experiences for the twenty-first century classroom. Explore the various models of collaborative inquiry that develop the skills students need now and in the future. Discover big-picture strategies for teaching collaboration, teamwork, and decision making via real-world inquiry experiences based on essential questions.inquiry experiences for students that encourage depth of knowledge, promote critical thinking, and incorporate the skills students need now and in the future.
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Creating Professional Learning Communities™ Online
| Discover how professional learning communities create a culture of success by promoting student achievement, cultivating collaboration among educators, and encouraging positive school reform. Collaborate with classmates and learn how to apply a team’s collective intelligence to achieve results. Effective communication, responding to challenges, shared leadership, team building, and evaluating data to establish goals are explored throughout this powerful and dynamic course. |
Cultural Competence: A Transformative Journey™ Online
Discover how your cultural lens influences your relationship with students and families. Explore the framework “know yourself, your students, and your practice”to understand your role in student achievement and as an agent of change for social justice.
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Designing Motivation for All Learners®
| Explore the dimensions of motivation and a variety of motivational classroom strategies designed to support content and enhance student motivation. Evaluate your strengths as a motivational leader and assess the qualities of a motivational classroom environment. |
Developing 21st Century Literacy Skills™ Online
Examine 21st century frameworks and why information literacy is a critical skill in today’s classroom. Explore multimedia skills, digital storytelling, the read/writeWeb, metrics and assessment, and the need for organizational and social change as agents for integrating 21st century skills into today’s curriculum.
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Differentiated Instruction for Today’s Classroom®
All students can thrive in today’s standards-based learning environment when you know how to apply the practical and effective skills of differentiated instruction. Learn key knowledge and skills to implement differentiated instruction successfully in your own classroom.
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Differentiated Instruction for Today’s Classroom® Online
All students can thrive in today’s standards-based learning environment when their teachers know how to apply the practical and effective skills of differentiated instruction. Learn key knowledge and skills to implement differentiated instruction successfully in your own classroom.
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Educating the Net-Generation™ Online
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| Explore the learning styles, expectations, and technical acumen of the Net-Generation. Identify this generation’s key educational and cultural influences then create pedagogy which meets their needs. |
Facilitating Online Learning Communities™ Online
Discover the strategies and best practices of successful online facilitation in order to engage diverse learners, support various learning styles, and handle conflict constructively. Learn how to manage assessments and feedback, analyze and solve problems, and create a plan of action for teaching in an online learning environment.
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Foundations of Literacy: Beginning Reading™ Online
Examine the National Reading Panel and International Reading Association’s components of reading. Create reading lesson plans and hands-on activities which include the reading components and that increase reading fluency and motivation.
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Geometry for Middle School Educators™ Online
Apply research-based teaching strategies designed to develop mathematical literacy and foster logical thinking. Build upon and expand your current understanding of geometry
by exploring how lateral thinking, vocabulary, a knowledge of learning styles, an understanding of your state standards, and technology enhance student learning.
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Infusing Arts into the Curriculum™ Online
Discover the roles and benefits of an arts-infused lesson plan. Appeal to diverse learning styles with an arts-infused unit of study which you can use in your own classroom.
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Instructional Design for Online Educators™ Online
Instructional design is the process of analyzing learner needs and developing instruction that answers those needs. Understand the basics of instructional design, explore philosophies of e-learning, and receive hands-on experience with online delivery and interaction techniques and tools.
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Meaningful Activities to Generate Interesting Classrooms®
The first step to designing interactive and engaging learning activities within existing curriculum is to unlock creativity. Establish clear and meaningful criteria when preparing activities and actively engage students in learning.
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Merging Educational Goals and Interactive Multimedia Projects®
Explore ways to incorporate multimedia projects into your classroom. Find out how to empower students to move beyond rote learning into problem solving, collaboration, researching, designing, testing, and communicating. You must have a working knowledge of PowerPoint before enrolling in this course. (Additional fees may apply for this course.)
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Merging Educational Goals and Interactive Multimedia Projects® Online
Explore ways to incorporate multimedia projects into the classroom
. Empower students to move beyond rote learning into problem solving, collaboration, researching, designing, testing, and communicating. You must have a working knowledge of PowerPoint
before enrolling in this course.
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Purposeful Learning Through Multiple Intelligences®
Discover the power and potential of teaching and learning through Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences. Explore the subcapacities of the intelligences and your personal dominant intelligence. Experience classroom strategies and explore entry points for integrating the intelligences into your classroom to engage and challenge diverse learners.
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Purposeful Learning Through Multiple Intelligences® Online
Acquire an understanding of Howard Gardner’s intelligences and how to apply them in the classroom. View a multitude of Web sites, experience the intelligences personally, and create lesson plans that can be used immediately.
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Reading Across the Curriculum™
Discover research-based active reading comprehension strategies that you can apply to your content area. This course emphasizes learning styles, types of text, notation systems, content-area reading, assessments, fluency, motivation, and grade-level vocabulary.
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Reading Across the Curriculum™ Online
Discover research-based active reading comprehension strategies
which you can apply to your grade level or content area. This course emphasizes learning styles, types of text, notation systems, content-area reading, assessments, fluency, motivation, and grade-level vocabulary.
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Response to Intervention™ Online
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| Gain an overview of the RTI framework for providing data-differentiated instruction to meet the needs of today’s diverse learners. Understand RTI principles, types of assessment, and how to use curriculum-based measures. Create intervention lesson plans and determine methods for monitoring student progress. |
Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in Today’s Classroom™ Online
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| Explore the importance of integrating rigor, relevance, and relationships into classroom practice in order to provide these skills and improve achievement throughout the K-12 system as well as to meet CCSS. Develop a deeper understanding of rigor, relevance, and relationships as they are used in academic settings and experience multiple opportunities to reflect on your own practices, engage with new ideas, and apply tools and processes to use with students. |
SAS for Pennsylvania Educators™
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| Explore a comprehensive approach to student achievement through the Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (SAS). With a focus on the concepts and strategies on which the portal is based, you will navigate the six portal components as you design standards-based lessons. (This course meets the requirements for conversion to Level II Certification.) |
SAS for Pennsylvania Educators™ Online
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| Discover the benefits of the Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (SAS) approach to teaching and learning. Improve student learning and achievement. Engage in comprehensive and collaborative planning and discussion related to curriculum and instruction. Utilize the SAS portal and related technologies to develop lesson plans based on curriculum frameworks that integrate best instructional strategies, resources, and sound assessment approaches and techniques. |
Secondary Content Methods™ Online
Examine the content in the core curriculum content standards in New Jersey secondary schools to help students make connections among the higher level courses they have taken in college and the material taught in those schools.
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Simulations and Gaming Technologies for the Classroom™ Online
Critically evaluate learning games to determine how they relate to academic content and standards. Identify how particular game mechanics appeal to diverse learners.
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Strategies for Middle School Science Teachers™ Online
Design effective lesson plans, integrate technology, manage the classroom, develop assessments, and meet the needs of diverse learners while connecting the science classroom to the real world.
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Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom™
| Explore strategies and design lessons that focus on the learning challenges of diverse learners commonly encountered in an inclusive classroom. Discover strategies in six areas of instruction that are focused on the academic and social success of a community of learners. (This course is designed for all teachers, grade levels, and subject areas.) |
Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom™ Online
| Explore strategies and design lessons that focus on the learning challenges of diverse learners commonly encountered in an inclusive classroom. Discover strategies in six areas of instruction that are focused on the academic and social success of a community of learners. (This course is designed for all teachers, grade levels, and subject areas.) |
Structured English Immersion Training (Augmented)
This course equips PreK-12 educators with the essential knowledge and skills to design standards-based objectives, monitor and assess student progress and achievement, and design and deliver research-based instruction that meets the academic and social needs of English Language Learners (ELL).
Structured English Immersion Training (Augmented) PD
This course equips PreK-12 educators with the essential knowledge and skills to design standards-based objectives, monitor and assess student progress and achievement, and design and deliver research-based instruction that meets the academic and social needs of English Language Learners.
Structured English Immersion Training for Educators
Gain the essential knowledge and skills required to implement differentiated instruction that meets the individual needs of English Language Learners. Discover effective, manageable strategies for satisfying an increasingly diverse student population and explore cultural and social aspects of the English Language Learner.
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Structured English Immersion Training for Educators PD
Gain the essential knowledge and skills required to implement differentiated instruction that meets the individual needs of English Language Learners. Discover effective, manageable strategies for satisfying an increasingly diverse student population and explore cultural and social aspects of the English Language Learner.
Student Engagement and Standards-Based Learning™
Optimize student engagement and improve student achievement by developing high-yield learning activities aligned to standards and process skills. Develop standards-based activities designed to engage learners, foster 21st century skills, and adapt to learner needs. Experience a variety of standards-based activities for use in your classroom.
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Successful Teaching for Acceptance of Responsibility®
Gain new techniques to model, teach, and support responsible student behavior while creating a classroom that fosters personal power and self-responsible behaviors. Explore how you can expand your own personal power by encouraging appropriate behavior and empowering students to make good decisions.
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Successful Teaching for Acceptance of Responsibility® Online
Gain new techniques to model, teach, and support responsible student behavior while creating a classroom that fosters personal power and self-responsible behaviors. Examine how you can expand your own personal power by encouraging appropriate behavior and empowering students to make good decisions.
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Teaching Algebra to Middle School Students™ Online
Explore and evaluate the major concepts fundamental to teaching algebra to middle school students.Topics include algebraic number sense, order of operations, linear functions, properties of slope, and an introduction to quadratic equations.
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Teaching the English Language Learner™ Online
Identify the academic content which English language learners need to compete with native speakers in a consistently competitive global and information society. Design and deliver appropriate language and content instruction for these students.
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Teaching Through Learning Channels®
Learn how to match brain-compatible teaching strategies with learning style preferences while addressing the basic motivational needs of students.
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Teaching Through Learning Channels® Online
Learn how to match brain-compatible teaching strategies
with learning style preferences while addressing the basic motivational needs of students.
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Thinking Mathematically: Elementary Edition® Online
Deepen your knowledge, appreciation, and understanding of K-6 mathematics. Utilize the NCTM Content and Process Strands in order to understand what students need to know and be able to do in math. Investigate methods for developing mathematical literacy, fostering logical thinking, and increasing student engagement and interest. New concepts and ideas will bridge your understanding and appreciation of math and help create connections between math and real-life student experiences.
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Using Online Resources to Bring Primary Sources to the Classroom™ Online
Discover how digital primary source archives can enhance and improve student learning. Use online resources to access and analyze primary sources, think critically about classroom applications, and develop authentic, engaging learning experiences for students.
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Writing Across the Curriculum™ Online
In this hands-on writing workshop appropriate for teachers of grades 3 through 8, you will discover content-area appropriate strategies for modeling writing formats, and teaching effective writing skills, supporting below-grade level writers, engaging all students in writing, and balancing the expectations of writing and content in both formal and informal assessments.
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