Frequently Asked Questions
How are your online workshops different from traditional workshops?
In a very different model from the typical graduate workshop experience, participants in our online workshops interact several times a week over a continuous four to eight week period within a research-based professional learning community. Each workshop community is between 20-30 educators. Guided by an experienced workshop facilitator, educators complete bite-sized tasks structured to encourage collaboration. Our workshops are designed to provide a hands-on experience in 21st teaching and learning AND a focus on Common Core aligned content.
Are there scheduled meeting times for your online workshops?
No, there are no scheduled meeting times. We don't require you be online on any particular day, or time of day. This workshop is asynchronous, which means that participants never have to coordinate being online at the same time. Work from home or office, whichever is best, but it is essential that you complete the weekly to-do list for each week.
How long does it take to complete an online workshop?
Each workshop takes place over period of four to eight consecutive weeks, requiring a total of 12.5 hours of work for each graduate credit hour you are enrolled in. This means a 3 credit hour course will require participants to complete 37.5 hours of online course work.
Can I receive a Certificate of Participation, CEUs or Graduate Credit for an online workshop?
While each workshop will vary in contact hours, participation is organized as a continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. Upon completion of a workshop, each participant is issued a certificate of participation from The University of Akron College of Education Office of Outreach.
The University of Akron, through the College of Education Office of Outreach, provides graduate credit for Center for Literacy Online Workshops for an additional fee of $150 per credit hour. Participants may earn one (1) semester hour of graduate credit for each workshop in which they complete 12.5 hours.
For more information, contact Lori Vargo:
Email: lvargo@uakron.edu
Phone: 330-972-7708
The early years are a critical time for children’s development and learning. Early literacy plays a key role in enabling the kind of learning experiences that are the foundation for academic, social and life skills valued in school and in life. In this six-week online workshop we will explore oral language skills, beginning phonological awareness and phonics instruction children need to be reading ready. You’ll hear from experts and engage in activities that will help you better understand what teachers need to know about language and literacy development.
COURSE DATES: June 3 – July 12, 2013
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 20, 2013*
REGISTRATION FEE: $180
CREDIT: Three (3) graduate workshop credits
GRADUATE CREDIT FEE: $450
READING ENDORSEMENT: Six (6) hours of graduate workshop credit can be used towards UA Reading Endorsement
*Minimum enrollment number required for course. You will be notified if course does not meet the quota.
Everyday, teachers struggle to understand and meet the needs of a diverse array of learners in their classrooms. Neuroscience tells us that the human brain processes information differently from individual to individual. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a conceptual framework and one method for differentiating instruction. In this six-week online workshop we will introduce and explore the ways in which students differ in their learning and provide support for your developing understanding of how to differentiate instruction.
COURSE DATES: July 8 – August 16, 2013
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 17, 2013*
REGISTRATION FEE: $180
CREDIT: Three (3) graduate workshop credits
GRADUATE CREDIT FEE: $450
READING ENDORSEMENT: Six (6) hours of graduate workshop credit can be used towards UA Reading Endorsement
*Minimum enrollment number required for course. You will be notified if course does not meet the quota.
In the course of instruction, all educators need to select literary and informational texts for core instruction that constantly challenge students so they can continue be grow as readers. Text complexity is about all the ways you determine what texts to put in from of your students. In this two-week online workshop, we will develop a broad overview of text complexity, its components and steps toward determining text complexity of the texts you use in your classroom. You will begin to develop a lens through which you can validate the texts you ask students to read are of appropriate grade-level complexity to address the new standards.
COURSE DATES: August 5 – August 16, 2013
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 15, 2013*
REGISTRATION FEE: $60
CREDIT: One (1) graduate workshop credit
GRADUATE CREDIT FEE: $150
READING ENDORSEMENT: Six (6) hours of graduate workshop credit can be used towards UA Reading Endorsement
*Minimum enrollment number required for course. You will be notified if course does not meet the quota.
