This document discusses offering professional development opportunities for teachers through online courses. It notes that 121 teachers participated in online professional development in the fall of 2013. It recommends allowing teachers to take free massive open online courses (MOOCs) from top universities on various education topics to help improve their skills. It also suggests offering badges or certificates for teachers who complete MOOCs and are able to teach the material to other staff, in order to identify experts in the district.

1. 
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

2. 
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT & Curriculum
and Instruction

3. 
In the Fall of 2013
121/yes 86/no
to professional development
online

4. 
When we start the school year, we offer teachers the
opportunity to get a Maize Credit by focusing on
something that will better themselves in the classroom.
Projects
Curriculum
Assessments
When we start the
school year…

5. 
 It would be great if we could offer this type of
differentiated professional development in other
ways!
 It would be great if teachers could choose from the
latest and greatest topics in education and have a
GOOD understanding by the end of the year-or even
by the end of a couple of months!
 It would be GREAT if this were free!
It would be great

6. 
 MOOCS are Massive Open Online Courses created
by the most reputable universities in the world.
 They are current, engaging, and highly relevant.
WHAT ARE MOOCS?

7. 
New Courses in Coursera

8. 

9. 
Coursera Samples

10. 

11. 
 Sidenote: Wouldn’t it also be great to offer these
certificates with badges of accomplishment for our
district? This would help us to know who the “go-
to’s” in our district are in regards to different experts
in instruction!
 Example: Completing a MOOC on Blended
Learning, implementing it and taking it to level 3:
presenting what you’ve learned to peers could earn
you a badge!
Badges of
Accomplishment

12. 
http://www.edtechreview.com/users/profile/244#