- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Virtual Learning Consortium
Professional Development Courses
Keys to Literacy: Keys to Beginning Reading
Audience: ![](<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://education.alaska.gov/Media/Default/ADLC/Keys%20to%20Literacy%20Logo.jpg" width="112" height="115" alt="" /></p>)
K-5th Educators
CEU: Yes
Why take this course? Add the K-3 AK Reads Act Reading Endorsement to your teaching certificate on your own time at your own pace.
Course Description:
Approved by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development to meet the requirements outlined in the Alaska Reads Act and tailored specifically for Alaska educators, Keys to Beginning Reading is a comprehensive 45-hour course developed by Joan Sedita, founder of Keys to Literacy. This practical course equips educators with essential background knowledge necessary for teaching all components of beginning reading instruction. The instructional practices are designed for seamless integration into classroom lessons and adaptable to complement any existing reading curriculum or published reading program. To add the K-3 AK Reads Act Reading Endorsement, participants must submit their course completion certificate to AK Teacher Certification.
Audience: K-5th Educators
CEU: No
Why take this course? Ensure you are well-prepared and confident in administering the assessment.
Course Description:
This course calibrates scoring of the mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition assessment to ensure accuracy and reliability of test administration. Learners will review the teacher-administered measures and complete a scoring mastery check for each measure, then review the whole-class online assessment measures. The course includes eight self-paced modules and will take approximately 1–3 hours to complete, depending on learner needs. To successfully pass the course, learners must achieve a minimum score of 80% on the mastery checks. Learners have an unlimited number of attempts to complete each mastery check.
Audience: K-5th Educators
CEU: Yes
Why take this course? Strengthen your literacy instruction with proven strategies.
Course Description:
This course offers a thorough exploration of the University of Florida Literacy Institute’s program called UFLI. It aims to provide educators with practical insights and resources to enhance literacy instruction. Participants will learn how to teach UFLI lessons, use tools and resources, administer progress monitoring, and differentiate instruction in the classroom. This evidence-based program is aligned with the science of reading and is included on DEED's approved list of interventions and supplemental programs.
Audience:
- Preschool/Pre-K Educators
- K-5th Educators
CEU: Yes
Why take this course? Deepen your understanding of phonological awareness instructional strategies.
Course Description:
This course supports educators in delivering effective lessons in phonological awareness using Heggerty curriculum. It covers the Early Pre-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Primary Heggerty manuals as well as the Bridge the Gap program for older students. This evidence-based program is aligned with the science of reading and is included on DEED’s approved list of interventions and supplemental programs.
Audience:
- Instructional Coaches
- Administrators
- Department Chairs
- School Leadership Teams
- Educators Facilitating Professional Learning
CEU: Yes
Why take this course? Enhance your coaching skills and positively impact student learning.
Course Description:
Student-Focused Coaching is a flexible coaching model focused on meeting the needs of students to improve academic outcomes. The model can be used with any grade and subject. This course is designed for any educator aiming to lead professional learning and leadership in educational settings. In this course, participants will explore components of the Student-Focused Coaching model such as the Collaborative Problem Solving Process, Data-Driven Dialogues, and how to use a Partnership Approach when working with colleagues.
Virtual Learning
Consortium
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to make virtual education and professional development resources available to students and teachers in Alaska.
More Courses Launching Soon!
Science of Reading for Administrators
Audience:
- Principals
- School Leaders
- District Staff
CEU: No
Why take this course? Expand your knowledge as a leader to support literacy instruction in your school or district.
Course Description:
This comprehensive 20-hour course equips school leaders and administrators with a profound understanding of the science of reading and the essential components necessary for leading teachers in fostering proficient reading and writing in students. Participants will delve into critical areas of literacy instruction including phonology, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The course also addresses the specific challenges faced by English Learners and emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making, classroom observations, and leadership strategies for effective implementation of literacy initiatives.
Phonics for Reading
Audience: 3rd-12th Educators
CEU: Yes
Why take this course? Empower your teaching with effective phonics strategies to support older students who struggle to decode.
Course Description:
This course is an introductory training for the new, 2024, Phonics for Reading Intervention Program, by Dr. Anita Archer. Phonics for Reading is an engaging and comprehensive intervention designed to help students develop foundational reading skills through systematic phonics instruction. This course emphasizes the importance of phonemic awareness, decoding, and the application of phonics rules to enhance reading fluency and comprehension. This intervention is suitable for students in grades 3 and above and is listed on DEED's approved Intervention and Supplemental Program List.
Effective Online Teaching
Audience: Online Teachers
CEU: No
Why take this course? Elevate your ability to deliver engaging and effective instruction in virtual settings.
Course Description:
This course provides explanation and training in effective methods of delivering instruction online. Educators delivering coursework in the Virtual Learning Consortium can choose to complete this course to receive adequate training in delivering online instruction. This course aims to equip teachers with the skills to effectively understand the differences between in-person classroom instruction and providing instruction in online environments. The course adheres to the National Standards for Quality Online Courses and Teachers, addressing key differences and strategies for successful online teaching.