Traditional:

Traditional course participants attend required class meetings, engage in learning connected to key concepts of the course, and incorporate research and practical applications to deepen their knowledge about student learning and effective teaching. Throughout the course, participants design teaching strategies and an implementation plan by connecting key concepts from the course to their classroom and/or school community. Teachers are encouraged to attend these courses with colleagues and develop an implementation plan collaboratively.

Inquiry-Based:

Inquiry-based course participants attend required class meetings, engage in learning connected to the key concepts of the course, and then identify a concept they would like to explore more fully. This inquiry can be done individually and/or collaboratively. The course instructors deliver the course content and serve as instructional coaches for the course participants. Participants follow an action-research learning model and are required to submit a written review of the literature, create a plan to implement their inquiry in their classroom or school setting, and communicate the process for collecting data from both students and through their own reflection and analysis. Note: while all GPDE courses require an implementation plan as part of the course assessments, inquiry-based learning courses require participants to develop an extensive action research plan that incorporates the elements of required implementation plans and the components of action research learning.
Inquiry Sample (Elementary)
Inquiry Sample (Secondary)

Blended Learning:

Blended Learning format courses support educators' teaching and learning while meeting the demanding schedules of today's teachers. This course format combines class meetings (face-to-face learning) with a collaborative online component, using Blackboard, in which the course instructor delivers the course content and serves as an instructional coach. Course participants engage in responsive learning connected to key concepts of the course. Following an action research model, participants determine a concept they would like to explore more fully and create a plan to implement in their classroom and/or school setting.
Format Sample

Flexible Credit Option:

The flexible credit option (FCO) courses allow learners to enroll in either our traditional face-to-face one-credit course or our traditional face-to-face course followed by an additional two semester credit guided classroom inquiry course. The students participate in and complete the requirements for the one-credit course and then identify, in collaboration with the instructor, an area of inquiry based on the course concepts that they want to explore for an additional two semester credits—if they elect to participate in the course for 3 semester credits.