Professional Development

K-12 Teacher Professional Development Resources

The Professional Development Portal is designed to provide a one stop shop for K-12 teachers looking for professional development. Expect to:

Distinguish yourself in the education industry with a superior credential from an institution with global recognition and impact.
Learn tools & highly relevant techniques for successfully implementing into industry standards.
Advance and network with an experienced and motivated peer group for mutual support, team exercises, and enhanced learning.

Included in this site are:

Online courses: Upon successful completion PGP points and certificate of completion are awarded for online courses available for individual or group registration at a low cost.
Free Access to Articles: Free Access to Purdue faculty published articles. Purdue University is a tier-one research University. Learn what faculty are researching and how the research affects education. Publications may have fees associated with access.
Academic Programs: We recognize that graduate school is an investment of both time and money. Therefore, we work to stay value-priced as a university helping students get the most out of their dollar, and are consistently ranked among the “best value” colleges, providing a notable return on investment (ROI) for graduates. The College of Education offers a variety of online and hybrid courses, graduate certificates, masters, PhD, and licensure programs.
Workshops: K-12 Teacher workshops provide a lively environment mixing skill-building, creativity, and safety for future.

Online CoursesArticlesAcademic ProgramsWorkshops

Professional Development Online Courses

For those successfully completing the online courses, a certificate of completion notating PGP points will be awarded. Courses are developed and/or endorsed by Purdue faculty. The courses can be completed 100% online and at your own pace.

Group registrations are encouraged for teachers in the same school wanting to collaborate and complete the course. Each participant will be awarded individual certificates if all requirements are met.

Developing Students Strengths
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: $500
Students who complete the course successfully receive 10 PGP points. The Developing Student Strengths and Talents: Professional Development by GERI online course contains ten total units:
- Unit 1: Nature and Needs of Gifted, Creative, and Talented Children and Youth
- Unit 2: Developing Talents in Underserved Populations
- Unit 3: Curriculum Compacting
- Unit 4: Schoolwide Enrichment Model-Reading
- Unit 5: Inquiry and Reflective Practice
- Unit 6: Differentiation in Language Arts and Mathematics
- Unit 7: Student Focused Differentiation
- Unit 8: Total School Cluster Grouping (TSCG)
- Unit 9: Making Sense of Gifted Kids, and Helping Them Make Sense of Themselves
- Unit 10: Assuring Challenge for All through Response to Intervention
Teaching ELL’s
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: $75 – Individual — $150 – Group

The four modules in this short course provide a basic introduction to the foundations of teaching English language learners for pre-service and in-service teachers, including mainstream PK-12 teachers, English as a second language (ESL), English as a foreign language (EFL), English as a new language (ENL), English as an Additional Language (EAL), and bilingual education teachers. Teachers of world languages will also find the content applicable. These modules cover what teachers need to know about language, developing communicative competence, second language acquisition theories, teaching methods and approaches, oral language and literacy development, and assessment. Students who complete the course successfully receive 7 PGP points.
Understanding Grief of Children and Adolescents
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: $75 – Individual — $150 – Group
5 PGP’s available
Grief and bereavement is such a unique experience and is unique to each individual. This course is designed to help those that work with children and parents help youth understand death and the morning process.

The objectives of the course are:
- Objective #1: Identify ways to discuss death with children.
- Objective #2: Differentiate between Bereavement, Grief, and Mourning
- Objective #3: Compare Mourning Theories
Youth in Crisis: Suicide Prevention
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: $50 for non-Purdue students and staff

As of July 1, 2013, all individuals applying for an initial teaching license (includes instructional, student services and administrative licenses) are required to show evidence of successfully completing education and training on the prevention of child suicide and the recognition of signs that a student may be considering suicide. A certificate of completion is available upon completion of the course.
Best Practices for E-learning Days
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: $75 – Individual — $150 – Group
10 PGP’s available
This online course will aid teachers in designing an e-learning day management plan identifying best practices and creating e-learning days expectations and procedures.

The exercises will help you design a template for use in different content areas and give students an introduction to online tools that can aid in successful implementation of e-learning days.
- Introduction video- The video will highlight innovative tools that educators have found to be useful for facilitating eLearning
- Case study- Participants will be asked to read a case study outlining a specific e-learning day. They will be asked to consider how specific tools could be useful to facilitate the planned content.
- Digital job aid- Participants will create a document that includes specific classes of tools and how they might be used to plan, facilitate, and evaluate e-learning days.
K-12 Co-Curricular Career Education
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: $75 – Individual — $150 – Group
15 PGP’s available

Through this online professional learning opportunity, you will explore three learning modules related to career navigation. Learn about career clusters in agriculture and consumer and family sciences. Completion of this online course will address the Professional Growth Points (PGP) requirements of HEA 1002. Teachers will also walk away with sample lessons plans practical for using in the classroom.
PoRTAL: Purdue Repository for online Teaching and Learning
Details (show/hide)

The Purdue Repository for online Teaching and Learning (PoRTAL) digital repository is the go-to resource for anyone interested in online teaching and learning. Are you thinking about moving your courses to an online format? Are you already teaching online and looking for additional ways to engage your students? PoRTAL can help you improve your knowledge and skills as you seek to develop your online courses. Topics include: instructor strategies, course enhancement, pedagogy, active learning, sample tools, and policies to help make your job easier as an online instructor and your courses more engaging for your students.
K-8 Professional Development for Teachers – Indiana Science Initiative
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: Free
12 PGP’s available
Anyone who is new to the Indiana Science Initiative, including teachers, administrators, curriculum support personnel and volunteers. The no-cost, online modules provide an overview of the curriculum, how the kits are managed, and where to find resources. These modules will help you use the curriculum properly and understand how the rotation works. For questions, contact Jennifer or look at the Indiana Science Initiative website
C-Past Student Teacher Supervisor Training
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: Free

This 90 minute training should be completed in one sitting. The CPAST is a rubric that is designed to be used during the student teaching practicum. It serves as a formative and summative assessment of the student teaching experience. All supervisors must complete this before they are assigned to supervise any student teaching experience.
Strategies for Promoting Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom
Course Details (show/hide)
Cost: $200

Mandy Rispoli, PhD, BCBA-D
Professor of Special Education
Co-Director Purdue Autism Research Center
Co-Editor Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions

Date: May 10
Time: 9am to 3pm with breaks throughout the day
Participants will learn to design and implement multi-tiered class wide, small group, and individualized systems of support to promote social emotional learning for learners from Pre-K to 6th grade students. Intended audience: elementary special education teachers, general education teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals

Articles and research of interest

Few universities can match the depth and breadth of Purdue’s research capabilities and talent. As you explore our world-changing research, you’ll quickly see why Purdue College of Education is a national and global leader in discovery and innovation. This section links to leading published educational research articles from dedicated faculty.
**Publications may have fees associated with access to articles

Preschool teachers’ transition practices and parents’ perceptions as predictors of involvement and children’s school readiness.
Children and Youth Services Review, 109. Puccioni, J., Froiland, J. M., & Moeyaert, M. (2020).
ABSTRACT: (show/hide)

Instructional Scaffolds in Mathematics Instruction for English Learners With Learning Disabilities: An Exploratory Case Study.
Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal, 18(1) Lei, Q., Xin, Y. P., Morita-Mullaney, T., & Tzur, R. (2020).
ABSTRACT: (show/hide)

Gauging Uncertainty I Test-to-Curriculum Alignment Indices,
Applied Measurement in Education, Traynor Anne, Tingxuan Li, and Shuqi Zhou, 2020.
ABSTRACT: (show/hide)

Building a scalable STEM career development program for elementary school-aged children,
The Journal of STEM Outreach, Sandra Miguel-Lindley McDavid-Loran Parker-Micha Simons -– December 11, 2019
ABSTRACT: (show/hide)

College of Education Online Program Offerings

Online students have access to many of the same opportunities that students do at any Purdue campus. While the online classes are similar to traditional classroom learning in most aspects, online learning requires even more commitment and discipline from students. Online courses are as rigorous as on-campus courses; indeed, the emphasis on educational quality is one reason you choose Purdue University.

What can you expect:

Courses are taught by highly respected Purdue Faculty and Industry Leaders.
You will have a fully supported online learning environment.
The graduate program is designed for working professionals to provide the needed flexibility without interfering with your career.

Graduate Certificates

Licensure Programs

Building Level Licensure (Hybrid)
English Language Learning
High Ability Licensure
*All licensure programs require a transcript evaluation.
Transition to Teaching

Professional Development Credit Program

Leadership Development Program (Hybrid)
English Literacy – Teacher of Record

College of Education Workshops

Teacher workshops provide a lively environment mixing skill-building, creativity, and tools to help you reach your full potential as a K-12 teacher. Taught in a face to face or online format, these workshops are designed to minimize the cost for teachers seeking certification or recertification.

Indiana GEAR UP

6 workshops across the state with themes of collaboration, integration, and practice. Teachers GET PAID to attend our workshops! Questions can be directed to gearuppd@purdue.edu.

Indiana STEM Education Conference

You can register for the Indiana STEM Education Conference at: http://www.purdue.edu/conferences/STEM2021.

The theme for the conference is, “STEM Education Meets a Global Challenge.” The conference will be on January 14th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EST). The cost for registration is $50. Keynote speaker Dr. Jennifer Richardson will present strategies for online teaching and learning for K-12 classrooms.

There will be up to 60 presentations on STEM curriculum, STEM instruction, and STEM careers. Selected presentations include:

Hybrid, Online, and Hands-On Technologies – Teaching STEM in the Time of COVID-19
Helping Students Connect to Opportunities in a Digital Age
“I can be that!”: Building Regionally-Relevant Career Awareness Through STEM Curriculum
Simple, Fun, and Engaging STEM Lessons
STEAM Focused PBL in an Online and In-Person Learning Environment
Incorporating Computer Science Into a Maker Space

Attendees can visit with exhibitors during designated times. Exhibitors include:

Aidex Corporation
AP-TIP IN – University of Notre Dame
Carolina Biological Supply Co.
CATALYST
Comcast
Discovery Education
STEM Teach Indiana
Purdue Agricultural Science Education and Communication

A web page with resources from the presenters, vendors, and researchers will be available.All presentations will be recorded. Participants will be able to view any presentation following the conference.Teachers will receive a Professional Growth Points certificate for participating in the conference.