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 Summer 2024 courses, please complete the form at the following link:
PDC Summer 2024 Course Registration form (Google form)
Course Descriptions
PDS 513 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 teacher 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: June 24 – July 5, 2024
Location/Format: Online synchronous / asynchronous
Class meetings (via Zoom): Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28 8:00 am – 12:00 pm with solo mindfulness work expected in the afternoons; plus 1 additional week of asynchronous work
Instructor: Nancy Hathaway
Credit: 3 graduate credits
Prerequisites: None
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services Tuition and Fees page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: Practicing educators, all levels (including non-teaching personnel like educational technicians)
PDS 521 Effective Writing Instruction
This course will introduce teachers to practical strategies, activities, and ideas to help motivate their students to become more experienced and proficient writers. Topics to be studied and discussed include daily writing, purpose and audience, choice, teacher modeling, mentor texts, assessment and grading of writing, and using technology to enhance writing instruction. Assignments will be differentiated for teachers depending on their interest and grade level.
Dates: June 3 – July 19, 2024
Location/Format: Online asynchronous
Class meetings: No scheduled class meetings. There will be individual Zoom checkins scheduled at the convenience of the student and instructor partway through the course.
Instructor: Paula Boyce
Credit: 3 graduate credits
Prerequisites: None
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services Tuition and Fees page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: K-12 teachers
PDS 545 Trauma-Responsive Schooling
In this course participants: 1) consider recent theory and research on childhood adversity, stress, and trauma, including how to promote resilience and healing; and 2) develop knowledge and skills to translate theory and research into practice and systems change to create trauma-responsive classrooms, schools, and districts. The course will also focus on the central role that relationships, equity, and student voice play in trauma-responsive schooling. Students will engage in a variety of learning activities, including individual reading and reflection, group discussion, critical analysis, and action research. Each student will complete a final project focusing on developing trauma-responsive practices in their respective professional settings.
Dates: June 3 – August 2, 2024 (Note: there will be no class activity the week of July 1-July 7)
Location/Format: Online asynchronous (with 2 Zoom meetings to be scheduled, see below)
Class meetings (via Zoom): Two Zoom sessions (one in the last 2 weeks of June, one in the last 2 weeks of July) will be scheduled at the convenience of the instructor and students
Instructor: Mark Tappan
Credit: 3 graduate credits
Prerequisites: None
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services Tuition and Fees page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: Practicing educators, all levels*
* This course is primarily for a cohort of educators from Gorham and Scarborough, but there are some spots available for others to join
Questions?
Contact the PDC at pdc@maine.edu or call 207-780-5400.