Why take an online professional development course from PDI?

PDI offers a very flexible course format that allows teachers to complete their professional development course in as few as three weeks, or take up to a year from the date of enrollment to complete.

PDI works with just one university to make professional development course completion documentation easy for teachers.

Every PDI online course for teachers follows the same six-unit format. We make it simple so you can take multiple courses and know exactly what to expect.

All course materials are available immediately in your professional development course. There are no textbooks required. So, you can begin your online course right away.

Social, Emotional, and Physical Wellness for Students and Teachers

As most teachers are acutely aware, being a teacher is an awesome privilege, which is why it is one of the most rewarding and satisfying professions; however, it also has the potential to be one of the most stressful. This course is designed to assist PreK-12 teachers as they search for ways to make wellness, mindfulness, and mental health a priority, not just for their students, but for themselves as well.

Trauma-Informed Teaching Strategies for All Learners

Do you wish you had strategies to offset the effects of trauma in the lives of your students? This course is designed for teachers in grades PreK-6 who are looking to dig deeper into the principles of trauma-informed teaching and how effective strategies such as restorative practices, strengthening student-teacher relationships, designing a safe classroom, and encouraging pro-social behaviors can make a difference.

Instilling a Growth Mindset in Students

Are you finding that no matter how hard you try, it seems that some of your students cannot break out of the “I’m no good at this” cycle, and therefore they stop trying? According to recent research, there are two types of mindsets with which students come to school — growth and fixed — and each of them empowers its owner, for better or worse. This online course is designed for K-12 teachers who wish to explore the concept of growth mindset in detail.

Technology Tools to Amplify Learning

Are you looking for ways to integrate technology into your classroom so that students are better engaged and more excited to participate? This online course is designed to help K-12 teachers increase student engagement in the classroom by utilizing popular educational technology tools. Teachers will be introduced to the basics of fifteen effective and engaging educational technology tools and learn how each of them can be used to amplify learning.

Focused Interventions to Improve Executive Function Skills

Have you ever worked with a student who just can’t seem to grasp a certain concept, no matter how hard either of you tries? Executive functioning involves the neurological processes used by students to consciously control their thoughts, emotions, and actions so that goals can be set and achieved. This course begins by explaining what executive functioning is and how critical it is to the learning process.

Responding to Students’ Mental Health Challenges with SEL

Many of our students face numerous challenges that can contribute to poor mental health outcomes, including disabilities; adverse childhood experiences; social, racial, and ethnic justice; and risky behaviors. This course is specifically designed for teachers in grades 6-12 who are looking to dig deeper into how these challenges impact mental health and how effective social-emotional strategies can make a difference.

The Science of Reading

The science of reading is reading instruction that is based on what has been scientifically proven to work. This course provides K-5 teachers with the perfect tools to approach reading instruction using best practices, with readers specifically putting five areas of focus together (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension) in order to become successful readers.

Educating the Whole Student: Mindfulness and Social-Emotional Learning

Are you in need of ways to help integrate social-emotional learning practices into your daily teaching? This course is designed for K-12 teachers who want to focus on the whole student by supporting social-emotional learning skills. By the end of this course, teachers will understand the importance of SEL as a process for teaching students essential life skills.

Embracing Diversity and Equity through Culturally Responsive Teaching

Are you curious as to what culturally responsive teaching is and how exactly it relates to the classroom? This course is designed for K-12 teachers who are looking to dig deeper into their own teaching practices and explore strategies and initiatives for incorporating students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences so that the focus is on the whole child/student.