Online Course Offerings
Customizable Professional Development
Customizable Professional Development
Looking for flexible and relevant online courses? Check out the offerings from Boise State’s Partner, Customizable Professional Development. Courses are completely online and you can start at any time and take them at your own pace!
Explore Customizable Professional Development Courses
State Required Courses
Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment
Need to take the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment? Boise State’s Literacy, Language and Culture offers testing for those who need to take the assessments but are not Boise State students.
Information on how to take the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment.
Teaching Mathematical Thinking
TMT is a 3-credit professional development course on student-centered teaching of mathematics. The course meets the MTI/TMT requirement for State of Idaho teaching (re)certification.
Explore Explore TMT courses offered by the Regional Math Center
Administrator Supervision, Data Literacy and Evaluation using the Idaho Framework
Boise State University
Dates: January 1, 2025 – April 25, 2025
Days/Time: Asynchronous
Location: Online
Professional Development Credit: 3
Cost: $180 Credit Fee
Term/Transcript: Spring 2025
Course Description: This asynchronous, 16 week course will focus on the critical role of effective instructional supervision and evaluation in Idaho. Uses a variety of interactive exercises to assist in the development of practical skills for supervision and evaluation, as well as examine current issues and best practices. Participants will recalibrate their competency in Idaho’s Framework for Teacher Evaluations, Charlotte Danielson 2nd Edition. The classroom observation practice will ensure you understand how the components are intertwined and observable in the classroom. Supervision and evaluation strategies, skills, and techniques, as well as requirements under Idaho laws, rules, and policies will be explored. Course meets recertification requirements under Idaho Code IDAPA 08.02.02.120. and is approved by the Office of the Idaho State Board of Education.
Professional Practices
Enroll in Administrator Supervision, Data Literacy and Evaluation using the Idaho Framework
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Teaching Mathematical Thinking
TMT is a 3-credit professional development course on student-centered teaching of mathematics. The course meets the MTI/TMT requirement for State of Idaho teaching (re)certification.
Explore Explore TMT courses offered by the Regional Math Center
Professional Practices
Growth Voyage 1 Credit
Transform Your World
Dates: January 13, 2025 – April 25, 2025
Days/Time: Asynchronous
Location: Online
Professional Development Credit: 1
Cost: $125 ($65 Course Fee and $60 Credit Fee. Paid Separately.)
Term/Transcript: Fall 2024
Course Description:
Do you like the idea of a professional learning experience tailored to your very own professional growth goals? If so, join us chart your own course! Based on principles set forth by Future Ready Schools, this course provides a structure to design your own professional learning and a space to share that learning with your peers. In this course, you’ll focus on what YOU need to be the best educator you can be. You’ll begin by selecting a theme – in what area(s) do you want to grow? Next, you’ll curate academic articles, instructional videos, and podcast episodes that relate to your theme. You’ll then summarize, connect to, and apply each piece to your teaching practice. Through this process, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with others in the course as you share and give feedback on one another’s learning. The primary focus of this workshop is You: your learning, your growth, and your development as a valued educator.
Classroom Management, Educational Technology
Growth Voyage 3 Credit
Transform Your World
Dates: January 13, 2025 – April 25, 2025
Days/Time: Asynchronous
Location: Online
Professional Development Credit: 3
Cost: $355 ($175 Course Fee and $180 Credit Fee. Paid Separately)
Term/Transcript: Spring 2025
Course Description:
Do you like the idea of a professional learning experience tailored to your very own professional growth goals? If so, join us to chart your own course! In this course, you’ll focus on what YOU need to be the best educator you can be. You’ll begin by selecting a theme – in what areas do you want to grow? Next, you’ll curate academic articles, instructional videos, and podcast episodes that relate to your theme. You’ll then summarize, connect to, and apply each piece to your teaching practice. Through this process, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with others in the course as you share and give feedback on one another’s learning. The primary focus of this workshop is You: your learning, your growth, and your development as a valued educator.
Classroom Management, Educational Technology
The Best-Kept Secret in Education: Teaching in Prisons
Taught by Dr. Mary Ellen Nourse, former Idaho Department of Correction Education Program Manager and Instructor.
Dates: February 24, 2025 – August 8, 2025
Days/Time: Asynchronous
Location: Online
Professional Development Credit: 1
Cost: $60 Credit Fee
Term/Transcript: Summer 2025
Course Description:
Teaching in a prison is one of the best-kept secrets in education. This professional development course, taught by Dr. Mary Ellen Nourse, former Idaho Department of Correction Education Program Manager and Instructor, offers valuable insights for current in-service educators or educators new to corrections, by exploring the unique world of correctional education.
This course will help you:
- Identify the similarities and differences between teaching in a traditional classroom, an alternative school, and a prison classroom.
- Understand the specific challenges and rewards of working with incarcerated students, including insights applicable to alternative school environments.
- Learn strategies for navigating complex student dynamics, including recognizing potential warning signs and safety concerns relevant to both alternative and correctional settings.
- Discover effective classroom management techniques that can be adapted for diverse and challenging student populations.
- Gain practical “take-aways” that you can apply immediately to your current classroom, whether it’s in an alternative school or another setting.
This course is ideal for those in alternative schools, who want to expand their understanding of reaching and teaching all students, regardless of background or circumstance.
Classroom Management
Enroll in The Best-Kept Secret in Education: Teaching in Prisons
Science
Idaho Ecosystems with WILD, WET, & PLT
Idaho Project Learning Tree
Dates: February 18, 2025 – April 8, 2025
Days/Time: February 18, 7-8:30 pm MT; March 18, 7-8:30pm MT; April 8, 7-8:30pm MT
Location: Online
Professional Development Credit: 1
Cost: $105 ($45 Course Fee and $60 Credit Fee. Paid Separately.)
Term/Transcript: Spring 2025
Course Description:
In this interactive virtual class, receive training and award-winning materials from Project WILD, Project WET and Project Learning Tree, with which you will engage upper elementary students in learning about Idaho ecosystems. The class includes three synchronous Zoom sessions (up to 4.5 hours), with most course work done asynchronously. For part of the class you will choose one of the curricula (WILD, WET or PLT) to explore in more depth, and will receive that program’s comprehensive activity guide(s). You will leave the course with plans to use materials from the course with students, whether teaching in the classroom or remotely both indoors and out.
Professional Practices
PLT Explorations: Environmental Education & Outdoor Teaching
Idaho Project Learning Tree
Dates: January 11, 2025 – April 25, 2025
Days/Time: Asynchronous
Location: Online
Professional Development Credit: 1
Cost: $95 ($35 Course Fee and $60 Credit Fee. Paid Separately.)
Term/Transcript: Spring 2025
Course Description:
Unlock the power of nature in your classroom with this dynamic, hands-on professional development course designed specifically for Idaho teachers and nonformal educators. This introductory course will immerse you in Project Learning Tree (PLT), an award-winning environmental education program that empowers educators to teach students about the world around them. Through engaging, real-world activities and lesson plans, you’ll explore how to integrate environmental literacy, sustainability, and outdoor learning into your teaching practice.
Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to teaching, this course will equip you with the tools to bring outdoor learning to life, enhance student engagement, and foster a deeper connection to nature. Join us and transform your teaching approach, bringing the world beyond the classroom into your students’ everyday experiences.
This course is ideal for K-12 teachers and nonformal educators in Idaho who are looking to enhance their teaching toolkit with effective, environmental education strategies. No previous experience with outdoor education is required—just a passion for learning and inspiring the next generation of leaders!
Professional Practices
Enroll in PLT Explorations: Environmental Education & Outdoor Teaching