This course describes Autism and Asperger's Disorder, including characteristics of these disorders, associated learning styles, communication weaknesses, and various intervention strategies. The course helps the learner understand why individuals with Autism spectrum disorders behave the way they do, and what you can do to enhance more appropriate behavior. This course also lists resources for educators, related service personnel, and parents who want more help or information on Autism and Asperger's Disorder.

This course is designed to give the learner a new perspective on student behavior and effective tools to facilitate positive student change. Taught by Mick R. Jackson MS/ED, this course provides a developmental framework to help the learner understand what students are trying to communicate through the "language" of their behavior. Topics covered include behavioral techniques and intervention strategies that mediate disruptive behaviors, reduce power struggles while increasing classroom control, reduce educator workload, and help prevent burnout. After successfully completing this course, the educator and his/her students will be better equipped to find and implement creative, effective solutions to behavioral problems.

This course is designed to give you a new perspective on serving the needs of young children and their families. In this course you will learn what is meant by family-centered services as it applies to diverse systems of care, gain an understanding of family diversity, and explore the major stress factors facing families today. We will discuss the theoretical basis for family-centered services, as well as reflect on current research and best practice. Family-Centered Services will also examine the role of early childhood educators and explore ways to build partnerships with parents and create communities of care: for the benefit of our children, and ultimately society as a whole.

Evaluation & Assessment of ESL Students was written to help teachers understand concepts and terms related to evaluating and assessing students whose first language is not English. This course discusses what is a high-quality assessment and the scope of assessments including initial placement, annual assessments, and exit assessments. This course ends with a discussion of classroom assessments including accommodations for those who need language assistance.

This course is designed to help special and general educators gain a better understanding of inclusion, one of the current educational reform movements that advocates educating students with disabilities in the general education classrooms. Upon course completion, the learner will be able to define key concepts and terms, identify and describe federal legislature and court cases, and list and describe the federal definition of students entitled to special services. This course will also discuss the roles and responsibilities of educators in providing special services to students educated in inclusive classrooms.

This course describes diverse theoretical approaches to handling learning disabilities in the classroom. Taught by Dr. Bob Pillay, it lays the foundation for sensitive, appropriate assessment and evaluation of students. In addition, this course covers program planning and implementation, stresses the importance of a close, positive partnership with parents or alternative caregivers, and explores methods for ensuring that the home-school axis is effective and meaningful. Major trends and unresolved issues in the field of learning disabilities are also discussed.

This course is designed to expand your methodology for teaching Mathematics. The course will explore an innovative teaching model that incorporates strategies for teaching concepts constructively and contextually. The goal is for you to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying concepts of various math topics and to explore the principles of teaching those concepts to learners. This course will focus on the topics of number sense, basic operations, and fractions.

This course is designed to explain and connect the major concepts, procedures, and reasoning processes of mathematics. Current standards and practices in math education will be discussed to outline a teaching methodology that is conceptual, contextual, and constructive. Activities are presented to explain underlying concepts, and illustrate constructive teaching. The course has been divided into four chapters covering four math topics, i.e. integers, fractions, factoring, and functions. Emphasis is on exploring how to develop mathematical understanding in learners.

This course, Understanding & Implementing Common Core Standards, has been divided into four chapters. The organization of the course covers the rationale for and design of the Common Core State Standards, the "Common Core Mindset" practitioners need for successful implementation, and what specific actions can be taken for deeper implementation across settings.