Self-Directed Online Courses

Self-Directed Online Courses

These online courses are available at all times. Most courses take 10 to 15 hours. There is no facilitator and users work at their own pace. Register yourself for any of these courses and complete them on a timeline that works for you.

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Learner Persistence (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description :

This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. This course provides each individual with a blog as a learning journal. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about. What’s all the excitement surrounding the topic of learner persistence, how does it differ from student retention and motivation, and how do I encourage my students to persist in their learning? Based on research on factors that promote learner persistence, this self-directed professional development course examines implications for changing practice in the four areas of intake, orientation, instruction, and program activities (estimated course completion time: up to 15 hours).

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Goals :
Based on research on factors that promote learner persistence, this self-directed professional development course examines implications for changing practice in the four areas of intake, orientation, instruction, and program activities.

Registration Information :
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information :
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

ADVANCE Integrated Education and Training (IET): IET Fundamentals (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description:
The ADVANCE Integrated Education and Training (IET): IET Fundamentals course introduces the foundational concepts, requirements, and core elements of IET design and implementation. This is a self-paced course that is designed to take approximately two hours to complete. 

To receive a certificate of completion, participants must score a minimum of 80 percent on a 10-question knowledge check at the end of the course. 

The primary audience for this course is adult education administrators, adult education and workforce training instructors, and career navigators who are unfamiliar with the definition and core design features of IET and the resources available to plan and implement an IET program. The course can also serve as an orientation for new adult education and partner agency staff joining an existing IET team. 

A secondary audience is prospective partners from workforce development, occupational training, and industry who are unfamiliar with IET concepts.

Course Objectives:
After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Explain the rationale for, and benefits of, IET from the perspective of adult learners, employers, and adult education program providers.
  • Describe the core design features of an IET program.
  • Use program profiles to identify and evaluate core design features implemented in diverse program contexts
  • Identify the roles and expertise that each team member (internal adult education team and external partners) contributes to implementing an effective IET. 
  • Locate available resources for in-depth planning and development of an IET.
February 09, 2025

Orientation for New ABE Teachers (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description :

This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. This course provides each individual with a blog as a learning journal. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about. The task of teaching basic literacy skills can seem overwhelming to the new Adult Basic Education (ABE) teacher. This self-directed, self-paced online course orients new teachers to the most immediate and important aspects of teaching ABE learners in California (estimated course completion time: up to 15 hours).

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Goals :
In some cases, individual agencies have procedures and practices that address these questions; in other cases, the California Department of Education (CDE) has specific requirements and provides documents to guide you. Based on The ABE New Teacher Resource Guide [PDF], available on the CALPRO Web site, this course offers numerous supplemental application activities and delivers content in a variety of formats.

Registration Information :
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information :
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

Advising the Adult Learner: The Teacher's Role (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description:

It is often the teacher to whom the adult learner first turns for advice on issues ranging from educational and vocational options to employment, family, health, emotional, and legal issues. Do you know when to provide guidance and advice and when to refer learners to professional counselors and other available community services? In this course, you will explore the advantages and limitations of the teacher’s role as an adviser, learn about community resources, and identify strategies for listening and responding to student needs (estimated course completion time: up to 15 hours).

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Goals:
The goal of this course is to help adult education teachers understand the nature of student advisement and enhance their knowledge and skills to be effective student advisers.

Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information:
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

Learner Goal Setting in Adult Education Programs (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description :

This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. This course provides each individual with a blog as a learning journal. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months, there is no official start or end date to worry about. Did you know that one of the major factors contributing to learner persistence is goal setting with the learner? Did you know that learners most often cite as a reason for dropping out that their classes didn't meet their needs and expectations? Learn how to set realistic goals with each learner and then revisit and revise goals throughout the semester so that students feel comfortable that your class is meeting their needs (estimated course completion time: up to 15 hours)

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Registration Information :
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information :
Please contact calprohelp@air.org or call 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

Adult Learning and Development (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description :

This self-paced course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants (estimated course completion time: up to 15 hours). This course provides each individual with a blog as a learning journal. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about. This course examines how adults learn and the implications for adult literacy programs. It explores the unique characteristics of adult learners as well as adult motivation, needs, and self-concept and their effect on learning. The course also explores adult development and the implications for effective teaching.

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Registration Information :
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information :
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

Effective Strategies for Writing Instruction (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description :

This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. This course provides each individual the opportunity to learn through a variety of videos, readings, and activities. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about. This course examines the vital role writing plays in ABE, ASE, and ESL instruction, especially in helping learners become college- and career-ready. Participants begin by identifying possible challenges in teaching writing and strategies for overcoming them. Through interactive, multimedia presentations, participants identify the key components of the writing process and discover research-based instructional strategies for supporting their students' writing development. Finally, participants learn how to apply a rubric to evaluate student work and prepare a lesson plan with instruction designed to address students' areas of need (estimated course completion time is 4 hours).

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information:
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

Teaching Adult English Learners: Principles and Practices (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description:

This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. This course provides each individual the opportunity to learn through a variety of videos, readings, and activities. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about.

This new course is designed to support teachers new to working with adult English learners, or ELs. After completing the course, participants will be able to identify and apply appropriate instructional strategies for teaching adult ELs. They will also have strengthened their skills as an instructor and be able to implement classroom management practices to optimize learning in both in-person and virtual learning environments. The estimated course completion time is 4 hours.

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information :
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

Orientation for New ESL Teachers (Self-Directed Online)

Workshop Description :

This self-paced course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants (estimated course completion time: up to 15 hours). This course provides each individual with a blog as a learning journal. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about. To a new English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in an adult education program, the task of teaching English can seem overwhelming. A teacher new to ESL often asks such questions as, "Who will my new students be?" "What is their English proficiency?" "What materials should I use?" and "How do I assess my students and document their progress?"

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Goals :
Many local agencies have procedures and practices that address these issues and will provide guidance to new teachers. The California Department of Education (CDE) has specific requirements and also provides certain documents to guide you. This self-directed, self-paced online course orients new teachers to the most immediate and important aspects of teaching adult ESL in California. Based on The ESL New Teacher Resource Guide [PDF], available on the CALPRO Web site, this course offers numerous supplemental application activities and delivers content in a variety of formats.

Registration Information :
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information :
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025

Teaching Critical Thinking Skills (Self-Directed Online)

Course Description :

This three-part online course is entirely self-directed and self-paced. Individuals work through the course on their own, or if they wish, team up with colleagues to work together. Participants may complete as many units as they wish (estimated course completion time: up to 15 hours), logging in whenever convenient. This course explores the nature of critical thinking and metacognition as well as the relationships among critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. It considers the process, results, and various levels of critical thinking. It presents the concept of metacognition as a key attribute of critical thinking. It also distinguishes between simple and complex problems. Participants are encouraged to think about how these concepts can be taught in their classrooms. This course features excerpts of recordings from CALPRO’s online workshops on Teaching Critical Thinking Skills.

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Goals :
Upon successful completion of the course, the participant will be able to: - Define critical thinking and metacognition; - Identify levels of critical thinking; - Distinguish between didactic teaching and teaching for critical thinking; - Plan classroom activities that require critical thinking; - Plan activities to assist students in developing metacognitive skills. - Distinguish between simple and complex problems; - Explain the relationship between critical thinking and problem solving; - Plan classroom instruction that reflects the most adequate decision making processes, based on research.

Registration Information :
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information :
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

February 09, 2025