Participants in this course will examine methodologies to facilitate the growth of curiosity and creativity in their students. Participants will learn how developing a classroom culture of curiosity and creativity can foster engaged and effective learning. Research suggests that increasing curiosity and creativity in a classroom can lead to a more student-centered classroom. Techniques to develop curiosity and creativity that leads to student engagement and achievement will be researched and explored. Foundational work in this course will include the research on developing creativity and curiosity strategies from simple to complex, lesson planning, and using project-based learning to enhance the classroom. Participants will synthesize these paradigms and leave the course with a better understanding of how to assess and develop creative and curious thought in their students, improve classroom culture through use of innovative strategies, develop an expertise in their own classroom to foster a creative environment, and foster the growth of curious learners to solve problems creatively.

Course #: IMS26541
Dates: 07/27/26 - 08/09/26
Categories:

Positive Classroom Management Instructional Strategies

Format:

Interactive

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This course is designed to help K-12 educators provide equitable access to a high-quality educational experience for English learners (ELs), students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and students with 504 plans. Educators will discover how to design meaningful and rigorous lessons, implement academic and behavioral accommodations and modifications, and select appropriate assessments that gauge student learning and steer instructional practices. Educators will also focus on facilitating an environment in which diversity is valued and the social and emotional needs of students are nurtured - in both the traditional (physical) and virtual classroom settings. Finally, forming effective partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations in order to maximize the potential of ELs and students with special needs will be highlighted.

Course #: IMS26542
Dates: 07/27/26 - 08/09/26
Categories:

Equity & Diversity Instructional Strategies

Format:

Interactive

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Participants will learn to develop, create, implement, and assess a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) program, lessons and units. A variety of frameworks will be reviewed and discussed to allow for easy replication of STEAM units and activities. Inquiry-based lessons for instruction and assessment will be explored to help gain a better understanding of possible classroom applications and projects. Educators will leave the course with a roadmap to better implement STEAM into their classroom, promote STEAM questioning, and develop STEAM PBL (Project-Based Learning) units.

Course #: IMF26014
Dates: 09/08/26 - 10/04/26
Categories:

21st-Century Teaching Content-Area Teaching

Format:

Interactive

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This course is designed to provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to build strong, positive relationships with students and their families. Participants will explore the crucial role these relationships play in fostering student achievement and creating a supportive classroom culture. The course covers key topics such as effective communication techniques, cultural competence, and strategies for engaging parents and caregivers. Drawing on the influential work of Dr. Joyce L. Epstein, whose framework of six types of parental involvement has significantly shaped how schools engage with families, educators will gain deeper insights into fostering meaningful family-school partnerships. Additionally, the course will highlight the research of Dr. Anne T. Henderson, who has extensive publications on building strong relationships. Educators will also learn methods to support students’ emotional and academic needs, manage conflicts, and build collaborative partnerships with families. By the end of this course, participants will develop an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate their knowledge and application of these strategies. Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMF26017
Dates: 10/05/26 - 11/01/26
Categories:

Educational Leadership Social & Emotional Learning Positive Classroom Management

Format:

Interactive

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In this course, educators will learn how to effectively assign a variety of assignments within Google Classroom, quick poll students, use the course stream, and Google Hangouts, assess students in a wide range of ways, create blogs, learn additional Google Classroom add-on features, and how to bring parents into the Google Classroom. Participants will become skilled on how to use Google digital resources to collaborate, create, communicate, and assess students using Google Chrome Applications. Completion of the course will provide a wealth of ideas and skills to create your dynamic online classroom.

Course #: IMF26020
Dates: 11/02/26 - 11/29/26
Categories:

Technology Tools for the Classroom

Format:

Interactive

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Participants in this course will take an in-depth look at the research by Angela Duckworth and how “grit” is clearly correlated to student success in the classroom and beyond. Participants will learn about grit and how it differs from resilience. Numerous grit strategies, classroom management practices, and strategic lesson planning development will be explored, discussed, and developed so that the participant will have a working knowledge of how to embed grit into their classroom culture at the conclusion of the course. Participants will learn how grit strategies can increase achievement and improve wellbeing, thus changing their students’ development trajectory when faced with a problem or difficult task. Additional topics include how grit is related to talent. What is productive struggle? What does a gritty student look like? How to effectively educate parents on bringing grit elements into their children’s lives at home will be explored. The course will allow participants to dive into grit research and learn about online web resources to support their gritty classroom during the school year and develop grit-infused lessons. It will conclude with participants developing an implementation plan or presentation to demonstrate knowledge and application of how grit frameworks/strategies impact their classroom so students can improve education performance and well-being. Throughout the course, students will participate in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed, and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided allowing the student to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMF26023
Dates: 11/30/26 - 12/27/26
Categories:

Positive Classroom Management Content-Area Teaching

Format:

Interactive

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