Current Professional Learning Opportunities
This page lists upcoming graduate courses and seminars that are open for registration or have wait list spaces available. Additional offerings will be posted as they become available. For information about the DEI Anti-Racism Certificate program, click here.
Download a flyer (PDF) with an overview of the current course offerings. Updated August 22, 2024.
Graduate Level Courses
(2) Credits, (30) Hour Courses
IDEAS 1: Anti-Racist School Practices to Support the Success of All Students
This course is designed to introduce educators to the complex issues raised by race and racism and their impact on student engagement and achievement. This course will provide educators with an understanding of racial identity and the importance of building authentic student teacher relationships. This course will also help educators increase their skills of cultural proficiency.
| Section E: | Section F: |
| Course Dates & Times: Saturdays September 28th, 8:30am – 2:45pm October 26th, 8:30am – 2:45pm November 23rd, 8:30am – 2:45pm December 14th, 8:30am – 2:45pm | Course Dates & Times: Tuesdays October 1st, 8th & 22nd; 3:30pm – 6:45pm November 5th, 12th & 19th; 3:30pm – 6:45pm December 3rd & 10th; 3:30pm – 6:45pm |
| Instructor(s): Jennifer Dirga & Kerryn Hinds | Instructor(s): Dr. Claudia Fox Tree & Rebecca Smoler |
| Section G: | Section H: |
| Course Dates & Times: Tuesdays October 22nd & 29th; 3:30pm – 7:45pm November 5th, 12th & 22nd; 3:30pm – 7:45pm December 3rd; 3:30pm – 7:45pm | Course Dates & Times: Saturdays November 2nd & 16th; 8:30am – 2:45pm December 7th; 8:30am – 2:45pm January 4th; 8:30am – 2:45pm |
| Instructor(s): Edward Byrne & Lateefah Franck | Instructor(s): Jennifer Dirga & Dawn Shearer-Coren |
Locations:
All sections will meet live via Zoom.
Cost: $650 IDEAS members /$780 non-members
Graduate Credit: Participants may choose to apply for 2 graduate credits for an additional fee of $150, payable to Framingham State University.
Registration: To register, please complete and submit this IDEAS1 registration form. Please ensure that you have approval from your district before registering. Please email any questions to Dana Mullaley – dmullaley@massupt.org.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notice must be received 2 weeks prior to the start of the course to be eligible for a refund.
IDEAS 2: Enacting Systemic Change in Educational Institutions
This course is designed to build upon the foundational theories and complex issues studied in IDEAS 1: Anti-Racist School Practices to Support the Success of All Students. Participants will study systemic change models and develop, enact, and evaluate a project to effect change in their educational setting, whether that setting is working with a small group of students, a classroom, a grade level, a school, or an entire district. Successful completion of IDEAS 1 is a prerequisite for the course.
Dates & Times: Thursdays, October 3rd, November 7th, December 12th, January 9th, February 6th & March 20th; 4:00pm – 7:15pm
Saturday, May 3rd; 9:00am – 3:00pm
Instructors: Lateefah Franck & Rebecca Smoler
Location: All sessions will meet live via Zoom, except the final session which will meet in person, location TBD.
Cost: $325 IDEAS members /$390 non-members
Graduate Credit: Participants may choose to apply for 2 graduate credits for an additional fee of $150, payable to Framingham State University.
Registration: To register, please complete and submit this registration form . Please ensure that you have approval from your district before registering. Please email any questions to Dana Mullaley – dmullaley@massupt.org.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notice must be received 2 weeks prior to the start of the course to be eligible for a refund.
(1) Credit, (15) Hour Courses
Understanding Self-Efficacy: Helping Students Do Their Best Work
This course provides participants with an opportunity to explore concepts of self-efficacy, effective praise, and attribution theory. Research by Carol Dweck, Claude Steele, and others is highlighted through experiential activities. Participants will examine how a student’s perception of him/herself as a learner influences their academic engagement and performance. Participants will learn how to use a “strengths approach,” create a growth mindset environment, emphasize mistakes as part of the learning process, and give constructive feedback to promote student success in the school setting.
Dates & Time: Tuesday, September 24th, Monday, September 30th & Thursdays, October 10th & 17th; 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Instructors: Dr. Claudia Fox Tree & JoAnne Kazis
Location: Live via Zoom
Cost: $325 IDEAS members /$390 non-members
Graduate Credit: Participants may choose to apply for 1 graduate credit for an additional fee of $75, payable to Framingham State University.
Registration: To register, please complete and submit this registration form . Please ensure that you have approval from your district before registering. Please email any questions to Dana Mullaley – dmullaley@massupt.org.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notice must be received 2 weeks prior to the start of the course to be eligible for a refund.
Difficult Conversations: Talking about Race & Racism with Students, Colleagues & Parents/Guardians
This course is designed to help educators develop a better understanding of ways to address and respond to issues of race and racism on a personal and professional level. Participants will consider the experiences of students and families from ethnically or racially diverse backgrounds in predominantly white schools, and will examine both the barriers to/challenges of talking about race/racism/ethnicity and strategies for engaging in productive discussions.
Dates & Time: Wednesdays, October 30th, November 6th, 13th & 20th; 4:00pm – 7:10pm
Instructors: Edward Byrne & Dr. Paula Martin
Location: Live via Zoom
Cost: $325 IDEAS members /$390 non-members
Graduate Credit: Participants may choose to apply for 1 graduate credit for an additional fee of $75, payable to Framingham State University.
Registration: To register, please complete and submit this registration form. Please ensure that you have approval from your district before registering. Please email any questions to Dana Mullaley – dmullaley@massupt.org.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notice must be received 2 weeks prior to the start of the course to be eligible for a refund.
Race and Gender in an Election Year: What to Do When Students Bring up Race, Gender and Elections in the School and Classrooms
During an election year, students often will have questions and share comments about what they see and hear about the election in their schools and classrooms. The 2024 presidential election, in particular, has thrust race and gender into our collective awareness and conversations because of the identities of the candidates and their rhetoric. How should educators handle comments or questions about race and/or gender in the election? This interactive workshop looks at some of the common questions and comments children have about race and gender, offers strategies on how to handle these comments/questions in schools and classrooms, and provides individual and small group practice time so educators leave feeling more prepared to respond when race and gender come up in the classroom.
Dates & Time: Wednesday, October 2nd; 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Instructors: Edward Byrne & Dr. Paula Martin
Location: Live via Zoom
Cost: $60
Registration: To register, please complete and submit this registration form. Please ensure that you have approval from your district before registering. Please email any questions to Dana Mullaley – dmullaley@massupt.org.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notice must be received 2 weeks prior to the start of the course to be eligible for a refund.
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