IRIS Professional Development Modules

Self-guided and self-paced, IRIS PD Modules cover numerous relevant topics in a way that is in-depth but approachable. These online resources can be used to improve educator’s knowledge of:

-Evidence-based instructional and behavioral practices
-IEPs
-Accommodations
-Teaching English language learners
-Instructional supports for students with disabilities
-And more

OPI Renewal Unit Provider

N2X STEM Pathways

Through our interactive audio you can listen anywhere, at anytime to the content and conversations within STEM education which include “STEM Education”, “STEM Project Based Learning”, “STEM Applications”, and “STEM Pathways”. This technology was developed to fit into the margins of your busy life. Listen while you drive, talk a walk, or work in your garden. The interactive features will ask questions, record your reflections on our servers for verification of completion, and link you to additional resources. When you have completed your desired clock hours we update your Montana Renewal Units professional development account. Then you are done! All without ever having to attend a weekend conference or Zoom meeting, it really is that easy and will change how you think and interact in your educational practice!
In the N2X STEM Pathways course we explore where STEM can take a student. The sky’s the limit with STEM! Our interactive audio host, Dave Gamon, interviews some rock star women of STEM in diverse fields of practice, covering the many diverse options for STEM careers, how the future of STEM education might look, computer science in the classroom and how to assist students to be successful in STEM.

OPI Renewal Unit Provider

N2X STEM Empathy and Equity in Education

Explore with N2X what a STEM Education can look like. What are the 5 W’s of STEM, how can we have better empathy for our students that leads to an empowered student who is ready to investigate and engage in the scientific process. What are some of the ways educators can reach their minority students and have a more equitable approach to all student’s education? Lastly, what does STEM look like in the K5 classroom and how can teachers be training their students at the elementary level to approach their education utilizing the methods embraced in STEM education.

OPI Renewal Unit Provider

N2X STEM Empathy and Equity in Education

OPI Renewal Unit Provider

Executive Functioning Series: FIRST-Letter Mnemonic Strategy (A Two-Part Session)

The FIRST-Letter Mnemonic Strategy is a strategy for independently studying large bodies of information that need to be mastered. Specifically, students identify lists of information that are important to learn, generate an appropriate title or label for each set of information, select a mnemonic device for each set of information, create study cards, and use the study cards to learn the information.

In studies, students who learned the FIRST-Letter Mnemonic Strategy increased their scores of test questions related to list information from an average of 51 percent before instruction to 85 percent after instruction.

Participants will receive : SIM Virtual Professional Learning, The FIRST-Letter Mnemonic Strategy Guidebook, access to digital teacher resources, and a one-hour small group coaching session.

OPI Renewal Unit Provider

https://sim.ku.edu/sim-event-2022-executive-functioning-series [sim.ku.edu]

OPI Teacher Learning Hub 2022-2023 Course Catalog

View the full OPI Teacher Learning Hub 2022-2023 Catalog by clicking this link.

Understanding and Overcoming Bias for Educators

We all have biases whether we are aware of them or not. While these biases may seem innocent, they can cause problems to arise. In this course, titled Understanding and Overcoming Bias for Educators, you will learn how bias impacts people’s interactions with each other in the educators’ community. The course begins with a discussion on what bias is, how it manifests, and its different types. The course then moves into relevant discussions on the intersection between bias and mental health in the educators’ space. You will learn practical tips for overcoming bias and taking action in your workplace. The Understanding and Overcoming Bias for Educators course will take approximately 60-80 minutes of continuous learning time. The course provides engaging learning based on current research and relevant articles while utilizing the most recent techniques in online learning. We hope that the information in this course will cause a ripple effect in not only your life but in the lives of those at your school. NOTE: We recommend completing Mental Health Competency 1 for Educators before taking any other Mental Health Ally Series courses.

Safety Planning for Educators

The Safety Planning for Educators course is part of the Mental Health Competency for Educators Series and covers the topic of safety planning, for instances of intimate partner violence and suicidal ideation. Although Safety Planning for Educators is a standalone course, it is best taken after Suicidal Behavior Competency for Educators course as it both furthers its content and offers practical ways to help others at work who are at risk for suicide. Completing Safety Planning for Educators will take approximately 60-80 minutes of continuous learning time. This course was created for those who want to help someone in their educators’ community who is in an abusive relationship, or who is experiencing suicidal ideation. Based on up-to-date statistics from governing bodies and relevant scholarly articles, this course is full of learner focused activities, live-filmed videos and attractive animations. NOTE: We recommend completing Mental Health Competency 1 for Educators before beginning this course and any other Mental Health Ally Series courses.

Suicidal Behavior Competency for Educators

The Suicidal Behavior Competency for Educators course is in the Mental Health Competency for Educators Series. The main topics covered in this course include a discussion on the nature of suicide and its prevelence rates as well as an overview of the risks and protective factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Completing Suicidal Behavior Competency for Educators will take approximately 60-80 minutes of continuous learning time. The course was created using up-to-date statistics from governing bodies and relevant scholarly articles on the topic of suicide. The instructional design is learner-focused and approachable, including reflection activities, live-filmed videos of lived experiences, and engaging animations. Learners will discover the warning signs of those in the educators’ community who may be at risk for suicide, as well as ways to connect them to services that can help. NOTE: We recommend completing Mental Health Competency 1 for Educators before beginning this course and any other Mental Health Ally Series courses.

Helping in a Mental Health Crisis for Educators

Because mental health crises are so common, Psych Hub decided to create a course that will help anyone to accurately describe signs of a mental health crisis and identify practical skills that may be used to support someone who needs help. This approximately 1 hour course is full of live-filmed and animated videos, as well as learner focused activities and up-to-date statistics from governing bodies and relevant scholarly articles. After finishing this course, we believe you will be able to notice signs of a mental health crisis, substance overdose or withdrawal, or suicide risk. You should also be able to list community resources for crisis support and link individuals with the help they need. NOTE: We recommend completing Mental Health Competency 1 for Educators before beginning this course and any other Mental Health Ally Series courses.