3 semester credits

Effective professional development is foundational in improving a school system's ability to raise student achievement. Education professionals in this course examine the history and research that supports the need for ongoing professional learning for teachers, principals, and all adults who interact with students in P–12 schools. They use case studies of schools and districts that have achieved results to learn the standards of exemplary professional-development programs and analyze the attributes necessary for success. Education professionals also have the opportunity to explore the roles and responsibilities of professional developers inside and outside the classroom as well as career paths for developing leadership skills in the area of adult and student learning.