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
Spring Offerings: March 2022 through May 2022
The BEESS Portal to Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) is a partnership between the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Student education (BEESS) 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 Education and Student Services (BEESS). Courses are coordinated by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Administration Project and the eighteen FDLRS Network Associate Centers, a FLDOE/BEESS 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 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 Zoom "face-to-face" meetings. 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).
Introduction to Assistive Technology
- Course Dates: March 23 through May 11, 2022
- Inservice Points: 20 SWD Points
- Instructor: Lisa Shin
- Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about assistive technology devices and services and the process of helping students with disabilities select, obtain, and use assistive technology. Content includes information about the impact of identified areas of disability including vision, auditory, physical, communication, intellectual, and cognitive processing and how assistive technology devices and services provide support.
- Meetings: There will be two required virtual meetings: March 23 and April 13, 2022.
- Deadline to Register: March 21, 2022
- Registration is Closed
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
Registration is Closed for this school year's Gifted Courses. Please watch for our Gifted Endorsement Schedule to begin in late summer 2022.
Additional PD
Spring Offerings: March 2022 through May 2022
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: Specific Learning Disabilities and Anxiety Online Trainings
- Course Dates: April 25 through May 16, 2022
- Flyer: SLD-Anxiety Online Training Spring 2022
- Inservice Points: 4 inservice points per course completed
- Instructor: Honora Wall
- Description: Strengthen your knowledge of instructional strategies that can assist students who have Specific Learning Disabilities and/or Anxiety in this webinar series. This online training consists of 4 courses that participants can choose from, with a follow-up activity and survey for each course. We will be using the EduCalc Thinkific portal to view the modules.
- Courses Available:
- Introduction to Dyscalculia: This course describes the math learning disability, dyscalculia. Participants in this course will learn research-proven methods to increase math mastery and support students with dyscalculia. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to recognize key differences between a math learning disability and low numeracy. The strategies in this course also support students with low numeracy or a weak math foundation.
- Introduction to Dyslexia: This course shows participants what reading feels like for students with dyslexia. The strategies for reading support shown in the course can be used with all curriculums and textbooks. After completing this course, participants will know dyslexia-specific IEP language, instructional strategies, and accommodations to support their students.
- Introduction to Dysgraphia: Dysgraphia is a Specific Learning Disability that impacts more than just handwriting. After completing this course, participants will understand why students with dysgraphia have trouble writing letters, writing essays, and organizing their thoughts. Participants will know dysgraphia-specific IEP language, instructional strategies, and accommodations to support their students.
- Introduction to Anxiety: Severe anxiety can be emotionally crippling. It also blocks learning, retention, and recall. In this course, participants learn the best ways to support students without increasing shame or embarrassment so they can succeed in class. The physical and chemical basis of anxiety, along with instructional strategies and 504 language, are covered as well.
- Follow-Up: The follow-up activity will be a required writing assignment with questions related to the coursework.
- Deadline to Register: April 22, 2022 (Highlands employees MUST register in their PLM Portal)