August 25, 2023
The Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) Department at Drake University is almost ready for fall. Whenever I think of fall, I think about the opportunity to grow. We plant all these tiny seeds and with the right care and time, they bloom into something amazing in the spring. Teaching can also mimic this cycle as well as our own professional development. Here are some housekeeping reminders and a few opportunities to grow in the next semester:
CEPD Course Visits
This fall, the CEPD will reignite course visits in-person and electronically. These will not be evaluation visits. Our purpose is to observe the class and support the course's facilitator. We will contact you when we want to visit a class developed by your agency.
Reminder: Drake CEPD Discontinues Complimentary Transcript Service
The CEPD will stop sending complimentary, official transcripts to students on August 28, 2023. We will continue to send complimentary transcripts for courses associated with the summer 2023 semester and semesters prior until all grades have been entered.
We have updated our website regarding the transcript transition. We are involved with different departments across campus to make sure all communications reflect this process change.
If you have someone reach out to you with transcript questions, then please keep this link in your records to share. Transcripts can be ordered via USPS or electronically as a PDF.
https://www.drake.edu/registrar/transcripts/
We would appreciate you placing the below statement in an appropriate place on your website:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Drake University Transcripts
Drake University Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) students will no longer receive complimentary transcripts starting with the courses associated with the fall of 2023 semester. We will continue to send complimentary transcripts for courses associated with the summer 2023 semester and semesters prior until all grades have been entered.
You will find information about ordering official transcripts, including the cost and how to access your unofficial transcript, using the link below.
https://www.drake.edu/registrar/transcripts/
_____________________________________________________________________________
Iowa Safe Schools, New Partnership
We are excited to offer a roster of courses from CEPD’s new partner, Iowa Safe Schools Academy, starting this fall. Iowa Safe Schools hosts courses that provide innovative continuing learning opportunities that educators can’t find elsewhere. From supporting students from diverse family structures to establishing safe and supportive team environments, Safe Schools Academy helps to cultivate a nurturing learning environment for all students no matter who they are, who they love or who loves them. Here’s a link to the Iowa Safe Schools Academy: http://www.safeschoolsacademy.org/
Computer Science Professional Learning Opportunities from CEPD and Drake University
Creative Coding for Elementary Teachers – A New, online, self-paced, three-credit hour graduate course
Computer science is all around us and can be used to elevate learning across multiple disciplines. This self-paced online course will help students build a prototyping mindset as it introduces ways to integrate programming into various content areas, which include but are not limited to: math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Educators will design lessons and complete activities using a block-based visual coding language that can be intertwined into all learning experiences within the elementary classroom.
Artificial Intelligence, The Metaverse and Chatbots in Education – A New, online, self-paced, three-credit hour course
Artificial Intelligence, chatbots, and the metaverse have been hot topics in the news, politics, and education. Unfortunately, fear of the unknown has prevented many educators from learning about these tools. This course is a step toward understanding how these technologies work, how they are already integrated into our daily life, and how we, as educators, can harness their power to advance teaching and learning. Participants will explore A.I. and metaverse tools, strategies, and policies. Participants will collaborate via online communities to discuss and share lessons and strategies.
Free Virtual Seminars for Secondary Computer Science Teachers
We are excited to tell you about a free Virtual Seminar for Secondary Computer Science Teachers sponsored by the Iowa Colloquium on Information, Complexity, and Logic. The theory of computation (ToC) has provided various insights into how we reason about computers and their ability to solve problems. While ToC is the oldest subfield of computer science, it is not commonly taught in high schools. In this two-part professional development seminar, attendees will learn about the history and cultural significance of ToC and gain experience building their own "theoretical computers" called finite-state automata. Attendees can expect to gain additional knowledge of various concepts found within the Iowa Computer Science Standards, including computing systems, algorithms, and the impacts of computing. Ideas for developing course materials and in-class activities will also be discussed.
This event will be in two parts via Zoom. Below are the topics, dates, and times.
Fall CEPD Online Course Offerings
Drake University CEPD offers online courses for PreK-12 educators seeking graduate credit for license renewal, salary advancement, or elective credit. All offerings are interactive and include practical information. See the link above to register!
The last day for summer registrations is Friday, September 15. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need clarifications. Have a growth-filled academic year!
May, 2023
We hope you have survived the spring showers and are enjoying the May flowers! Spring is always a time of renewal and reconsideration around the Continuing Education and Professional Development Department (CEPD). Think of it as spring cleaning for course offerings! We are constantly trying to renew our courses, overall processes and align them with what skills practitioners need to apply in their classrooms.
Besides renewing courses, we have done a lot of reflecting on CEPD’s transcript service. Until 2023 CEPD has offered a complimentary official transcript to every individual who completes a CEPD course. Unfortunately, sending these transcripts requires a lot of time from the Registrar’s office when so many transcripts are now offered electronically. Please read more about this big transition and other happenings in the CEPD Department:
Drake CEPD Discontinues Complimentary Transcript Service
The CEPD will no longer automatically send complimentary, official transcripts to students after the summer term ends on August 28, 2023. We will continue to send complimentary transcripts for courses associated with the summer 2023 semester and semesters prior until all grades have been entered.
We have updated our website regarding the transcript transition. We are involved with different departments across campus to make sure all communications reflect this process change.
If you have someone reach out to you with transcript questions, then please keep this link in your records to share. Transcripts can be ordered via USPS or electronically as a PDF.
https://www.drake.edu/registrar/transcripts/
We would appreciate you placing the below statement in an appropriate place on your website:
Drake University Transcripts
Drake University Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) students will no longer receive complimentary transcripts starting with the courses associated with the fall of 2023 semester. We will continue to send complimentary transcripts for courses associated with the summer 2023 semester and semesters prior until all grades have been entered.
You will find information about ordering official transcripts, including the cost and how to access your unofficial transcript, using the link below.
https://www.drake.edu/registrar/transcripts/
Iowa Safe Schools, New Partnership
We are excited to offer a roster of courses from the CEPD’s new partner, Iowa Safe Schools Academy, starting in August. Iowa Safe Schools host courses that provide innovating continuing learning opportunities that educators can’t find elsewhere. From supporting students from diverse family structures to establishing safe and supportive team environments, Safe Schools Academy helps to cultivate a nurturing learning environment for all students no matter who they are, who they love or who loves them. We will include the full course list in the fall newsletter.
Finally, the spring registration cutoff will be Friday, June 16. I know this newsletter had a lot of information to process. Please reach out to me if you need any clarifications. As always, we appreciate your partnership. Enjoy your summer!
December 15, 2022
Holiday greetings from the Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) Department at Drake University! CEPD likes to think of our live bulldog mascot as symbolic of what our department represents: loyalty, dignity, and tenacity.
How do we accomplish these attributes? By providing excellent customer service to all educators, continued system improvements, and forward-thinking courses, all while collaborating with our amazing partners! As we close out 2022, we look forward to another great year in 2023 of applying our knowledge to practical educational courses. See a few online opportunities below:
Cultural Awareness: Seeing Past the Stereotypes
Spring 2023 Course Dates: February 20 – April 16, 2023
Graduate Credit-3 semester hours
This course initiates the process of seeing past stereotypes by raising each student’s awareness of the culture in which they live. Once students are tuned into the elements of their own culture, they will be exposed to their own implicit bias and guided down a path of exploring and implementing the best strategies for connecting with and appreciating those from other cultures. Students will be provided with opportunities to hear the voices of those from other cultures and, through their work in this course, they will develop tools to assist them in successfully applying the important concepts of cultural awareness in their work environment, whether educational, counseling, administrative or other.
Differentiation and Literacy
Spring 2023 Course Dates: March 13 – May 7, 2023
Graduate Credit-3 semester hours
In this course, you will learn to differentiate your instruction to reach children of varying literacy readiness levels, both elementary and secondary. You will learn ways to improve your instruction by adopting a growth mindset and will practice strategies such as flexible grouping to enrich your literacy instruction. You will review the English Language Arts Common Core Standards and will explore methods to create differentiated literacy lesson plans to address those standards. You will discuss methods to develop a positive classroom culture. You will review effective methods of both self-assessment and other forms of assessment to guide your differentiation.
The Domino Effect
Spring 2023 Course Dates: March 27 – April 23, 2023
Graduate Credit - 1 semester hour
The Domino Effect online course provides intervention strategies and understanding to those who work with at-risk youth. Course participants will hear first-hand accounts from a mental health expert about supporting students with mental and emotional health concerns. Course participants will also listen to previously incarcerated men and women who speak about their experiences in school and what led them to prison.
Power of Play: Learning, Communicating and Engaging LearnersSpring 2023 Course Dates: March 20 - April 16, 2023
Graduate Credit-1 semester hour
The purpose of this one-credit online experiential course is to explore the importance of play in learning. To the observer, students look like they are "just playing", but together we will unravel the big picture to find the underlying learning taking place through play. Participants will acquire tools on how to observe play, while learning techniques to interact and respond to play themes. Attendees will understand concurrently about the rationale behind the importance of play in child development and in education settings, how students use play as part of their social-emotional language and how to effectively observe and respond to messages in play.
Implicit Bias Training
CEPD also offers two-hour implicit bias workshops that guides participants in tuning into the elements of their own culture, after which they will be exposed to their own implicit bias and guided down a path of recognizing the implications of those biases. As part of this training, participants develop an action plan to mitigate the implicit biases that we all have. Don't hesitate to contact Chuck Sengstock (chuck.sengstock@drake.edu) if you are interested in more information or would like to schedule this training for your agency.
Please Visit Our Website for more information about our other programs and offerings
In closing, the Drake campus, including the CEPD office, will observe winter break from Thursday, December 22 through Monday, January 2. Please let us know if we can assist you before or after these dates. Additionally, we plan to take fall semester registrations until Friday, January 13. Please know, we wish you the very best in 2023!
September 1,2022
The transition from summer to fall is always a dramatic one for children, parents, educators, administrators, college students, or anyone who follows or works within the academic calendar. There are so many feelings to unpack as one begins to embark on a new school year, but the one that always resonates for me is: anticipation. At Drake’s Continuing Education and Professional Development Department (CEPD), we are anticipating a great 2022/2023 academic year! Why? Because we have so many amazing partnerships with exciting, relevant, thoughtful, and timely courses. Please see a few highlights from a few of our partners:
ED Technology Specialists Partnership
The aptly named ED Technology Specialists has a roster of exciting courses geared toward educators who need digital age skills and pedagogical strategies to be relevant in their classrooms for students to be future-ready. Look at all twenty-nine tech-forward course offerings as there’s something for both the tech-savvy and the non-tech-savvy alike. All ED Technology Specialists’ courses are offered online for three hours of graduate credit ($379).
PLS 3rd Learning Online Courses
In PLS Classes, participants engage in interactive instruction and discussion with personal assistance from experienced master facilitators. Learn research-based strategies to apply to your classroom immediately. Discover how to motivate and engage learners to improve student achievement. Elevate your professional expertise and become a master instructor by enrolling in online classes offered through Drake University.
School Mental Health Online Courses
Many of our school mental health (SMH) online courses have been developed by Please Pass the Love. This metro-based non-profit is committed to increasing SMH supports to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities for children, families, and educators. These unique courses are self-paced, and students may take these courses for graduate credit and Iowa license renewal credit. We also offer an audit option. Registration is rolling. Thus, register at any time throughout the year.
LETRS Course Transfers into Drake’s Reading Endorsement Program
Have you taken a LETRS graduate course with Drake through your local AEA? If so, you could potentially transfer the graduate credit into Drake’s Reading Endorsement program. Dr. Jill Johnson and Dr. Lindsay Woodward would be happy to chat with you to discuss the program’s details. Open the attachment to view an informational flyer for more information, and feel free to disseminate it as appropriate.
With a sense of anticipation, we wish you the best 2022/2023 academic year with all your endeavors. Just a reminder, Friday, September 16, will be the last day to submit summer registrations. Please contact us with any questions or concerns, as we always look forward to supporting all our partners.
March 10, 2022
Our award-winning online courses are specific to PreK-12 teachers, counselors, administrators, and athletic coaches. All offerings are interactive and include practical information. Click on any of the below course titles for additional information, including offering dates.
Additional Courses and Programs of Interest
Click on the below text links for more information about our other courses and programs.
ED Technology Specialists
Never before in history has technology played such an essential role in education. When students are acquiring and mastering the skills that they will need to become productive members of society, the classrooms and learning communities in which they engage are becoming more and more infused with technology. These online graduate courses will support teachers in their quest to investigate new edtech tools and employ best practices in an ever-increasing digital world.
It’s Not Too Late to Enroll for a Spring Course Through PLS Classes
There’s still time to enroll in a Spring course through PLS Classes and earn graduate credit through Drake. PLS offers a variety of remote, online, and self-paced courses throughout the semester. Each course is fully facilitated and designed to meet your continuing education needs.
Online School Mental Health Courses Developed by Please Pass the Love
Many of our school mental health (SMH) online courses were developed by PLEASE PASS THE LOVE. PLEASE PASS THE LOVE is committed to increasing SMH supports to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities for children, families, and educators. These unique courses are self-paced, and students may take these courses for graduate credit and Iowa License Renewal Credit. We also offer an audit option. Registration is rolling. Thus, register at any time throughout the year.
Does your school have an effective strategy for character education and social-emotional learning (SEL)?
We invite you to learn more about CHARACTER COUNTS! (CC!), housed at Drake University. CC! has been positively impacting schools and youth-serving organizations through the Six Pillars of Character for over 30 years. We offer a variety of outstanding professional development workshops to bring character education to life in your school. To learn more about CC! professional development offerings click here. Contact Jason Lamping at Jason.Lamping@drake.edu with questions.
Visit our website for more information regarding all of our offerings: www.drake.edu/cepd