E-Learning Opportunities at FCSS

Online Learning Offers Anytime, Anywhere Learning

Curriculum-Based Online Courses

Coaching to Improve Teaching and Learning

This course details a process of collaboration and communication among teachers that promotes quality outcomes in terms of student learning. By establishing a mutual purpose, mutual respect, individual commitment and using a variety of effective coaching communication skills, staff members can maximize the expertise, skill, and talent of coaching partners. The online format allows for reflection, practice, observation, analysis and application of skills. Participants must provide their own computer and Internet Service Provider to work on this course at home.

Conducting the Parent Conference

This course provides teachers and administrators with a persuasive and effective strategy for conferencing with uncooperative or difficult parents. This 7-step interview will move parents from being part of the problem to being committed participants in the solution. Participants must have their own computer and internet service provider to work on the course at home.

Exemplary Assessment an Online Course

One-shot, fill-in-the-blank testing is no longer an adequate measure of performance in the 21st century. Paper-and-pencil assessments are not entirely obsolete. They can provide information about a student's performance, but their ability to do so is necessarily limited. In this 6 lesson course, participants have the opportunity to reflect upon current assessment practices and investigate the key ingredients to any effective assessment, including why assessment reform is necessary, reform challenges, effective assessment measures, and ways to move your school toward using more effective assessment. Participants must have their own computer and internet service provider to work on the course at home.

Classroom Management

Stopping Disruptive Behavior

Stop disruptive behavior with three carefully worded questions! Teachers and Administrators will enjoy this effective strategy for dealing with problem behavior from K-12 students. Lead students through a process that promotes a solution they create and will accept. This is an instructor led online course. Participants must have their own computer and internet service provider to work on the course at home.

Connected University Training

Become a member of Connected University and take as many courses as you would like. Participants must commit to taking at least 2 courses throughout the school year. Participants may select from a wide variety of topics. To learn more about the available courses log onto http://www.classroom.com . Click on the Connected University link, and then read about the dozens of guide-led and self-paced courses you will be able to choose from, if you are confirmed for training.

Differentiating Instruction Online

This online course Developed by ASCD is designed to enhance participants' understanding of how to better meet the needs of the many different learners. Participants will examine the characteristics of a differentiated classroom and explore how to differentiate on the basis of students' readiness, interest, and learning profile. Participants will also reflect on their beliefs and practices relative to differentiation, read and analyze examples of differentiated learning activities, and design a differentiated activity. Teachers must provide their own computer, and internet service provider to work on this class at home.

Data Utilization

This course meets for one face-to-face orientation. The remaining time is spent online. The focus for this course is data management in the classroom. Participants will hear what national experts say about data utilization and see actual classroom practitioners use data effectively. Course participants will learn how to interpret data, make sense of it, and be able to use it. Course participants must provide their own computer and internet service provider to work on this class at home.

Giving Directives Students Will Follow

This on-line course teaches instructors how to end power struggles and gain cooperation from resistive students. Participants will develop meaningful plans for maintaining a safe and orderly classroom that maximizes learning time, as well as a four-step verbal skill that will help take responsible control of K-12 students. Participants must have their own computer and internet service provider to work on the course at home.

Good To Great

Online Book Discussion - Can good companies take the leap into greatness? Read Good To Great, and find out what Jim Collins and his team of researchers discovered. The findings may surprise you! As you read this compelling book share your thoughts about the book's key concepts with your colleagues in a self-paced online discussion forum. Course participants provide their own book, computer, and internet service provider to work on the course at home

Mentor Training - Modules 1-5

Supervising Paraeducators in Your Classroom an Online Course

Recent No Child Left Behind legislation provides specific requirements as to the role paraeducators will have in the classroom. In this five-lesson online course, teachers will have a chance to reflect upon their ideas about supervision, and examine the contributions paraeducators and other adults can make to our children's educations. Those taking this course will also have an opportunity to create a plan for training and working effectively with the paraeducators in the classroom. Participants must have their own computer and internet service provider to work on the course at home.

Understanding by Design

This 7 lesson course introduces teachers in all grades and subjects to ASCD's Understanding by Design program for curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This course investigates the research, learning theory, and design elements of Uof D, and applies these principles showing how educators can improve student achievement by teaching for understanding. Participants will investigate curriculum design, assessment tasks, and instructional strategies that promote student understanding in the context of standards and high-stakes tests. Participants must have their own computer and internet service provider to work on the course at home.

What Great Teachers Do Differently

Book Study - This is an online book study based on a Todd Whitaker book of the same title. It frames the landscape of school from the perspective of great teachers. What do they see when they view their classrooms and the students in them? Where do they focus their attention? What guides their decisions, and how can we gain the same advantages? Participants will read the book and contribute relevant thoughts and reflections through an online discussion board. Participants must provide their own book.

All Means All

Combine the research of Eleanor Rodriguez with the energy of Carolyn Chapman as you explore key strategies that boost students' learning and understandings such as why is exposure not enough? You'll view classrooms where mediated learning nurtures 'real' learning, and discover a variety of strategies to reach all students

Differentiating Instruction in Today's Learning Community

Participants in this online course will observe classrooms with a primary focus on knowing the learner, and be given the opportunity to explore the positive effects of school based learning communities.

What's Worth Fighting for in Education?

Participants in this online course will broaden their understanding of the school change process and learn how great Principals build a foundation with a constant focus on student and teacher learning.

What Great Teachers Do Differently

Webinar - Find out what specific qualities and practices elevate great teachers above the rest? This series of webinars reveals what the most effective teachers do differently than their colleagues. Learn what great educators do differently, why they make them more effective, and how to immediately implement each of these practices into your own classrooms and schools.

Managing the Differentiated Classroom

Through research-based theory, poignant stories, and hilarious characterizations, Dr. Debbie Silver talks about differentiation. Topics covered include informal assessment strategies, managing learning profiles, building a positive classroom community, project-based learning, and how, we as teachers, can structure our classrooms to meet the goals of differentiation.

Mathematics, Yes

This self-paced online course is comprised of five individual units including: Patterns and Functions, Integers and Order of Operations, Fractions, Decimals, and percentages, Solving Equations and Inequalities, and Geometry and Measurement of plane Figures. Units address NCTM strands including Algebra, Number and Operations, and Measurement and Geometry.

Technology-Based Online Courses

Teachers Guide to the Internet

This online course is designed to introduce teachers to the primary tools of the Internet: email, telnet, FTP, the World Wide Web, mailing lists, web boards and chat rooms. Learn how to do a web search as well as how to evaluate what you find. Teachers will discover a rich source of educational websites for lesson planning as well as lessons that align with Georgia standards. Basic windows operating system and computer skills are necessary.

Teachers Discovering and Integrating MS Office

This is an online class for PC users who are comfortable working on the internet, have basic computer skills, and work independently. In this Shelley Cashman series course, participants will learn how to use the components of Microsoft Office 2002xp (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access) by developing classroom related projects they can use immediately.

Teachers Discovering and Integrating MS Word

This is an online course for participants who have basic computer skills and are comfortable using a computer independently. This Shelley Cashman series course instructs teachers in the knowledge and skills required to use MS Word 2002xp competently and effectively.

Teachers Discovering and Integrating PowerPoint

This is an online course for participants who have basic computer skills and are comfortable using a computer independently. This Shelley Cashman series course instructs teachers in the knowledge and skills required to use PowerPoint 2002xp competently and effectively.

Teachers Discovering and Integrating Excel

This is an online course for participants who have basic computer skills and are comfortable using a computer independently. This Shelley Cashman series course instructs teachers in the knowledge and skills required to use Excel 2002xp competently and effectively.

Intro to Dreamweaver - Web Design

Using email, the participants in this online course will work with a trained facilitator to develop a website using Dreamweaver software. Participants must provide their own copy of Dreamweaver MX. This is a beginner's guide to Dreamweaver, but participants are expected to already know basic computer concepts such as how to create and save files.

State Tech: Teachers Discovering Computers

This online course requires one face-to-face meeting at the conclusion of the course. Successful completion satisfies the special GA technology requirement. Participants work directly with an online facilitator to develop an understanding of which technology tools may be appropriate for specific teaching and learning situations, and how to develop, evaluate, and present educational projects using a variety of software programs and the World Wide Web. Participants must supply their own computer and internet service provider to access this class from home. Required face-to-face Project Share session will held at north and south Fulton locations with credit issued after the last scheduled Project Share session is held.