Professional Development
View our options for Professional Learning below by clicking on the tabs for PDA Facilitated Courses, Gifted Endorsement Courses, or Additional PD. Descriptions and registration links are included with the details for the courses, and courses are listed in order of the start date for each class.
You can also view our entire
Calendar
PDA Facilitated Courses
Fall Offerings: August 2021 through December 2021
The BESE Portal to Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) is a partnership between the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Student education (BESE) and the Bureau of Educator Certification. Available to Florida educators since 2003, the courses are funded by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Student Education (BESE). Courses are coordinated by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Administration Project and the eighteen FDLRS Network Associate Centers, a FLDOE/BESE project, in collaboration with the Florida Center for Interactive Media at FSU. There are courses available through the statewide portal (https://fl-pda.org), as well as courses offered locally through FDLRS Heartland.
The following six courses will be taught by either FDLRS Heartland personnel or by teachers from one of the Heartland districts (DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, or Highlands). There is a General FAQ document available that has additional details about what a Facilitated PDA Course entails.
Participants will access the materials through the online learning portal for PDA courses, in addition to attending mandatory virtual "face-to-face" meetings on either Zoom or Adobe Connect. Participants will receive information about their first virtual meeting, which will occur on Day 1 of the course, in the week prior to the start date. During this first meeting, login information and how to access materials will be discussed, as well as class pacing and other details about coursework.
DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration button under each course.
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course (some registrations may not be available yet).
Technology for the Diverse Classroom
- Course Dates: August 31 through September 28, 2021
- Inservice Points: 20 SWD Points
- Instructor: Sonja Bennett
- Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about instructional technology, assistive technology, accessible instructional materials, and Universal Design for Learning. Content and activities include how to determine appropriate tools to meet student needs and identify available resources to support district/school use of instructional technology, assistive technology, accessible instructional materials, and Universal Design for Learning.
- Meetings: There will be three required virtual meetings during the course, with the first meeting on August 31, 2021.
- Deadline to Register: August 29, 2021
Exploring Structured Literacy
- Course Dates: September 7 through November 16, 2021
- Inservice Points: 40 SWD Points. This course also meets the 40 inservice hours for the reading instruction certification requirement established in Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., Renewal and Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate.
- Instructors: Amanda Beeler and Summer Sorrells
- Description: This course will allow K-6 educators to develop, increase, and demonstrate knowledge of explicit, systematic, sequential, and multi-sensory approaches to reading instruction as outlined in the 40-hour in-service requirement identified in Florida Statute s. 1012.585(3) F.S. In order for educators to effectively meet the needs of students with persistent reading difficulties and disabilities, including dyslexia, emphasis of this professional learning opportunity is focused on reading instruction that builds a strong, cumulative, and logical foundation of phonology, sound-symbol associations, syllables, morphology, semantics, and syntax.
- Meetings: There will be three required virtual meetings during the course, with the first meeting on September 7, 2021.
- Deadline to Register: August 31, 2021
Matrix of Services
- Course Dates: September 8 through September 22, 2021
- Inservice Points: 5 SWD Points
- Instructor: Sonja Bennett
- Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about the Matrix of Services. Content and activities examine the requirements for matrix completion and provide the opportunity to accurately complete a matrix for students with disabilities. The course identifies how student educational needs and services impact the matrix funding document.
- Meetings: There will be two required virtual meetings during the course, with the first meeting on September 8, 2021.
- Deadline to Register: September 1, 2021
Differentiating Mathematics Instruction
- Course Dates: September 22 through December 8, 2021
- Inservice Points: 30 SWD Points
- Instructor: Lisa Shin
- Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about how to apply the guidelines of differentiated instruction to mathematics instruction. Emphasis is on evidence-based practices structured by a responsive decision-making framework for all students to achieve at the highest possible level. Content includes how to use pre-assessment, continuous assessment, and summative assessments to design and deliver effective lessons for initial instruction in mathematics and how to effectively use flexible small group instruction to respond to individual learner needs.
- Meetings: There will be three required virtual meetings during the course, with the first meeting on September 22, 2021.
- Deadline to Register: September 15, 2021
Exploring Structured Literacy
- Course Dates: September 28 through December 10, 2021
- Inservice Points: 40 SWD Points. This course also meets the 40 inservice hours for the reading instruction certification requirement established in Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., Renewal and Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate.
- Instructor: Sasha Tack
- Description: This course will allow K-6 educators to develop, increase, and demonstrate knowledge of explicit, systematic, sequential, and multi-sensory approaches to reading instruction as outlined in the 40-hour in-service requirement identified in Florida Statute s. 1012.585(3) F.S. In order for educators to effectively meet the needs of students with persistent reading difficulties and disabilities, including dyslexia, emphasis of this professional learning opportunity is focused on reading instruction that builds a strong, cumulative, and logical foundation of phonology, sound-symbol associations, syllables, morphology, semantics, and syntax.
- Meetings: There will be three required virtual meetings during the course, with the first meeting on September 28, 2021.
- Deadline to Register: September 28, 2021
Introduction to Differentiated Instruction
- Course Dates: October 12 through December 14, 2021
- Inservice Points: 20 SWD Points
- Instructors: Sonja Bennett and Lisa Shin
- Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about proactively providing a universally designed and differentiated environment in order to maximize student achievement for all students. Emphasis is on the importance of having clarity about the learning targets and proactively adjusting instruction utilizing a data-based decision-making process that considers students’ readiness for the content, interests, and learning preferences. Content and activities emphasize how to proactively provide important, engaging, and appropriately challenging work via flexible grouping methods and utilizing a variety of instructional strategies and supports.
- Meetings: There will be three required virtual meetings during the course, with the first meeting on October 12, 2021.
- Deadline to Register: October 5, 2021
Matrix of Services
- Course Dates: November 2 through December 10, 2021
- Inservice Points: 5 SWD Points
- Instructor: Sonja Bennett
- Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about the Matrix of Services. Content and activities examine the requirements for matrix completion and provide the opportunity to accurately complete a matrix for students with disabilities. The course identifies how student educational needs and services impact the matrix funding document.
- Meetings: There will be two required and three additional recommended virtual meetings during the course, with the first required meeting on November 2, 2021.
- Deadline to Register: October 29, 2021
Gifted Endorsement Courses
Gifted Endorsement Offerings: 2021-2022 School Year
The Gifted Endorsement is designed to increase the level of knowledge, expertise, and understanding of educators working with students who are gifted. The endorsement is intended to raise the awareness of the unique characteristics, emotional/social needs, and other challenges and issues associated with the students who are gifted. It is designed to foster an understanding of historical, state, and national trends, policies and guidelines to ensure implementation of appropriate academic curriculum, differentiation strategies, educational intervention, and support for this diverse population.
Participants will access the course and materials through the Moodle online learning portal, in addition to attending mandatory virtual "face-to-face" meetings on either Zoom or Adobe Connect.
The Gifted Endorsement Add-On Program consists of five components (300 hours). The three Gifted courses below will be offered through FDLRS Heartland during the 2021-2022 School Year.
DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration button under each course.
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course (some registrations may not be available yet).
Curriculum Development for the Gifted
- Course Dates: September 6 through November 16, 2021 (10 weeks)
- Inservice Points: 60 Hours
- Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
- Description: Curriculum Development for the Gifted provides an analysis of curriculum modifications for gifted learners based on the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Standards for Graduate Programs in Gifted Education. Participants will be able to demonstrate adaptations in the content, process, product, affect, and learning environment of the classroom and curricula as they relate to gifted learners. Ultimately, course participants will design units of instruction that are powerful, aligned, engaging, authentic, and challenging.
- Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be September 6, 2021. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
- Deadline to Register: August 30, 2021
Special Populations of Gifted Students
- Course Dates: January 11 through March 22, 2022 (10 weeks)
- Inservice Points: 60 Hours
- Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
- Description: Education of Special Populations of Gifted Students provides an overview of the challenges and issues that face diverse populations of gifted students as they struggle to gain acceptance, recognition, and access to appropriate gifted education to meet their individual needs. It incorporates central issues in multicultural education that examine questions of equity and excellence; prejudice and stereotyping of special populations; and lack of awareness, understanding, and recognition manifested in discriminatory practices on the national, state, and local levels. It examines policies and procedures to screen, identify, and provide appropriate modifications to curriculum for these diverse gifted students. The module provides an overview of the types of diverse perspectives and their impact on the development of gifted abilities, such as ethnic heritage and culture, minority status, language, diverse physical and mental abilities, gender and age, socioeconomic status and poverty, and diverse family structures.
- Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be January 11, 2022. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
- Deadline to Register: January 4, 2022
Nature and Needs of Students Who Are Gifted
- Course Dates: April 5 through June 14, 2022 (10 weeks)
- Inservice Points: 60 Hours
- Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
- Description: Nature and Needs of Students Who Are Gifted provides an overview of the evolution of gifted education on the national, state, and local level. Major events affecting gifted education are described as well as major policies and procedures governing the delivery of gifted education. Cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics common to individuals who are gifted are identified along with strategies that can be used to meet the academic needs of different categories of students who are gifted.
- Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be April 5, 2022. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
- Deadline to Register: March 29, 2022
Additional PD
Fall Offerings: August 2021 through December 2021
We also offer various webinars, book studies, and other online, blended, or face-to-face professional learning. Please see the listings below, or see our calendar for information.
Depending on the type of training, participants may receive links to either the YouFactors portal for our Webinar Wednesdays, the EduCalc portal for our Secondary Math or Dyscalculia/Dysgraphia trainings, Google Classroom access, or Moodle access. Please read the descriptions of each of the courses/trainings to see the requirements and expectations of the class.
DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration button under each course.
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course (some registrations may not be available yet).
Webinar Wednesdays
- Inservice Points: 3 inservice points per webinar completed, with some eligible as SWD points towards recertification.
- Description: These short webinars are on a variety of topics for educators, ranging from behavior issues, classroom management, instructional strategies, trauma response, and school culture. Participants will use the YouFactors online portal to view the webinar, and are required to submit a brief follow-up questionnaire and evaluation survey in order to receive their inservice points. Instructions on how to access the portal, as well as directions for the follow-up portions will be emailed to participants in the week before their webinar begins.
- Registration: Either see the flyer below for registration links, or go to our Learning Events page for separate listings. Highlands employees MUST register in their PLM Portal.
- Deadline to Register: Participants will need to register by the Friday prior to the week of the Webinar, please see dates on the flyer for more details.
EduCalc: Secondary Math Trainings
- Course Dates: TBA - October 2021
- Flyer: EduCalc Secondary Math Trainings
- Inservice Points: 4 inservice points per track completed
- Instructor: Honora Wall
- Description: Strengthen your knowledge of instructional strategies that can assist students who have difficulties in mathematics, including building rich math environments and creating multi-modal learning for students. This online training will consist of 2 modules for each track selected, with a follow-up activity and survey. We will be using the EduCalc Thinkific portal to view the modules.
- Tracks Available:
- Basic Principles: This track will help you build your classroom into a rich math environment and give you scaffolding and metacognition exercises that will build student mastery in Algebra.
- Intermediate Principles: This track will show you instructional strategies for boosting understanding of geometric concepts, and you will learn research-proven methods to increase comprehension and retention of concepts in calculus, statistics, and trigonometry.
- Follow-Up: The follow-up activity will be a choice of those available in the FDLRS Impact Database (information and directions will be sent to participants along with the login instructions for the course).
- Deadline to Register: TBA (Highlands employees MUST register in their PLM Portal)
Book Study: Hacking School Culture
- Course Dates: September 27 through December 6, 2021
- Flyer: Hacking School Culture Book Study
- Inservice Points: 20 inservice points upon completion of all required components with an average of 80% or above
- Facilitator: Luci Johnston
- Description: If you could teach all kids empathy, tolerance, and compassion, wouldn't teaching all things be easier? Bullying prevention and character-building programs are deepening our awareness of how today's kids struggle and how we might help, but many agree: they aren't enough to create school cultures where students and staff flourish. This book is packed with protocols that inspire strengths-focused teaching and learning, tools for starting hard conversations, coaching critical questioning, and sustaining respectful communication.
- Materials: Books will be delivered to participants at their school/setting the week before the course starts. We will be using Google Classroom to facilitate the videos and participant discussions throughout the course.
- Deadline to Register: September 13, 2021 (Highlands employees MUST register in their PLM Portal)