Alaska Staff Development Network

Working Together To Make Schools Better

New Courses

Featured Distance Education

New Courses – STEM Across the Curriculum and Teaching Climate Change

3 Credits – Graded 
500-Professional Development Level Credit through Alaska Pacific University
Meets State of Alaska upper division requirements for teacher recertification.

  • Registration opens January 13. Last day to register January 27.
  • Course runs January 27 – April 20, 2020.
  • Coursework will take place on the Alaska Professional Learning Network (AkPLN) 

STEM Across the Curriculum

This course is for K-12 teachers of all subjects who are curious about integrating STEM concepts into their current curriculum. Absolutely no math or science background is needed. 

Learn simple and engaging strategies for incorporating STEM into what you already do in the classroom. Explore STEM concepts and resources, design and implement a STEM lesson, and reflect on your practice.  

Participants will engage in collegial conversations with educators within and outside of their school regarding STEM integration. Simple and complex integrations will be explored and participants will construct short and long-term plans for future STEM concept instruction within the context of their own classroom.

Teaching Climate Change

This course is for K-12 teachers of all subjects who want to address climate change but are not sure where to start. Teaching climate change can be challenging, especially in the politically charged era in which we now live. Learn strategies for teaching students about climate change in an unbiased way that is hopeful and inspiring, rather than doom and gloom. Explore climate change concepts and resources, design and implement climate change lessons, and reflect on your practice.  

Participants will engage in collegial conversations with educators within and outside of their school regarding teaching climate change. Simple and complex integrations will be explored and participants will construct and short and long-term plans for future climate change instruction within the context of their classroom.

Distance Education

Featured Course

Strengthen your overall ability to write legally defensible and meaningful IEPs, particularly for preschoolers and early elementary-aged students. Expand your skills in writing meaningful IEPs, engaging in data-driven decision-making, and delivering specially designed instruction.

This class includes four modules with 12 individual lessons. You can work at your own pace, alongside your team members, or with colleagues from across the state. Content for each lesson is delivered in brief videos you can watch, audio files you can listen to, and/or transcripts you can read. Each lesson includes practical strategies to strengthen your ability to do things like write better PLAAFPs, prioritize IEP outcomes, and help children who are struggling to have the skills needed to thrive in life and in school.

Target Audience

  • Child find and evaluation team members, including speech pathologists, school psychologists, occupational therapists, mental health consultants, and teachers.
  • ECSE providers and educators responsible for writing initial and ongoing IEPs for preschoolers and/or those transitioning from early intervention or to school age.
  • Early elementary educators who serve children with moderate to severe disabilities from Kindergarten through fifth grade.

Interested in finding out more?  Watch this short video.

More information and online registration>>