The Professional Development Center (PDC) is the outreach agent of the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) of the University of Southern Maine. Our mission is to provide innovative and sustained professional development that enables PK-12 educators and school communities to serve the needs of their students.
Course Registration
To start the registration process for any of our Fall 2022 courses, please complete the form at the following link:
PDC Fall 2022 Course Registration form (Google form)
Note:
Some PDC courses are now being offered for undergraduate credit. Most educational professionals (including teachers) will likely still choose to take courses for graduate credit for recertification and development purposes through their school district. Undergraduate credit is offered as an option for non-professionals or anyone else for whom graduate credit is not as important.
Course Descriptions
PDS 513 / SBS 420 Integrating Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction & Social Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom
This course provides training in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction for teachers, counselors, and psychologists in school settings. Students learn Mindfulness techniques for themselves and for their students as well as for their relationships with colleagues. Through Mindfulness exercises and practice, group and dyad discussions, presentations, readings, and talks by the instructor, students will develop Mindfulness skills to integrate into the school setting for themselves as teachers and for students. The emphasis is on integrating Mindfulness into the classroom through modeling and seamlessly bringing Mindfulness to help students develop emotional and social skills. These skills help children thrive and as well give them a solid foundation for their academic studies.
Dates: September 12 – October 24, 2022
Class meetings (via Zoom): Mondays 4:30-8:30 pm (9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24) plus Sunday, 10/16 from 8 am – 1 pm
Location/Format: Online synchronous
Instructor: Nancy Hathaway
Credit: 3 graduate credits (PDS 513) or 3 undergraduate credits (SBS 420)
Prerequisites: none
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services (SFS) page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: Practicing educators, all levels (including non-teaching personnel like educational technicians)
PDS 515 / 415 Mindfulness and Social-Emotional Skills in Early Childhood Settings
This course provides training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Social-Emotional skills especially focused on early childhood educators. Through exercises, practice, group and dyad discussions, presentations, readings, and talks by the instructor, students will develop Mindfulness and Social-Emotional skills to integrate into early childhood settings for themselves, as educators, and for their students. The emphasis is on integrating these skills through modeling to help children develop emotional and social skills. These skills are seen as an investment in human development and life skills helping children thrive, and giving them a solid foundation for their academic studies.
Dates: September 13 – October 25, 2022
Class meetings (via Zoom): Tuesdays 4:30-8:30 pm (9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25) plus Sunday, 10/23 from 8 am – 1 pm
Location/Format: Online synchronous
Instructor: Nancy Hathaway
Credit: 3 graduate credits (PDS 515) or 3 undergraduate credits (PDS 415)
Prerequisites: none
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services (SFS) page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: Practicing educators, all levels (including non-teaching personnel like educational technicians)
PDS 560 Equity Literacy for Educators
This course prepares participants in the core dimensions of equity literacy: (1) understanding how equity and inequity operate in schools and society, and (2) developing awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to identify inequities, eliminate inequities, and actively cultivate equity. More than cultural competence or diversity awareness, equity literacy prepares us to recognize even the subtlest forms of bias, inequity, and oppression related to race, social class, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, language, religion, immigration status, and other dimensions of difference. Developing equity literacy prepares us to understand and respond to the ways in which some students experience bias, inequity, and discrimination, which impacts their access to equitable educational opportunities and resources, and thus leads to so-called “gaps” in educational achievement and outcomes. Participants will engage in a variety of learning activities, including individual reading and reflection, group discussion, and critical analysis. A central focus of the course will entail the consideration of equity literacy case studies. Each participant will complete a final project focusing on cultivating equity in their respective professional settings.
Dates: October 3 – November 18, 2022
Class meetings (via Zoom): Tuesdays 4:00-5:30 pm
Location/Format: Online synchronous [NOTE: Students will also participate in asynchronous class activities (discussions, etc.) throughout the week]
Instructor: Mark Tappan
Credit: 3 graduate credits
Prerequisites: none
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services (SFS) page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: Practicing educators and administrators, all levels
PDS 660 Curriculum and Methods for Teaching Students who are Gifted
This course is for individuals responsible for a) developing or modifying learning experiences for gifted/talented students at the elementary or secondary school level, b) implementing differentiated learning experiences within the regular classroom or through a special grouping arrangement, and/or c) creating/selecting instructional materials to support the implementation of differentiated learning experiences.
Dates: August 29 – December 9, 2022
Format / Meeting date: Online, primarily asynchronous. There will be one Zoom meeting held August 30th from 4:00-6:30 pm.
Instructor: Patti Drapeau
Credit: 3 graduate credits
Prerequisites: none
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services (SFS) page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: Practicing educators who work with gifted/talented students, all levels
Questions?
Contact the PDC at pdc@maine.edu.