AASL offers new learning in the New Year with four online courses

CHICAGO – Registration is now open for four American Association of School Librarians (AASL) eAcademy online courses. These four-week, self-paced courses cover the topics of project-based learning, research and the Common Core State Standards, implementing an e-book collection and personalized professional development. Courses begin Feb. 16, 2015, and AASL members save $50 on registration. Registration and additional course information are available at www.ala.org/aasl/eacademy.

Course offerings include:

AASL Planning Guide: Empowering Infinite Options for Personalized Professional Growth

In a course designed for school library supervisors, instructor Mary Keeling will provide an overview of A Planning Guide for Empowering Learners with School Library Assessment Rubric. Participants will learn strategies for designing professional development, identify coaching questions to support professional reflection and begin to plan a year of professional development modules. A one-year subscription to the online module will be included with registration.

Common Core and New Standards: The Basics and Beyond

This two part course facilitated by Paige Jaeger will explain the basics of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) pedagogy shifts and the imperative importance of inquiry-based learning for research. During part one, participants will learn how to "repackage research" projects for the CCSS as well as higher level thought. In part two, participants will learn how to make classroom connections in the CCSS and how close reading activities should naturally lead to research.

From 0 to 60: Implement eBooks in Your Library Program in 4 Weeks

Facilitated by Richard Hasenyager, this course focuses on implementing a campus or school district e-book collection which meet the needs of students and staff. Participants will learn how to incorporate e-book resources into lessons and units of study and create an implementation plan for their own campus/school district including advocating for funds, marketing and training.

From Basics to Beyond: Using, Promoting, & Teaching Project-Based Learning

In this new online course, participants will learn about the basics of project-based learning, including relevant terminology, best practices, curriculum integration, tools and techniques and assessment. Instructor Rhonda Huisman will demonstrate how school librarians can partner in with teachers in cross/multi-disciplinary units or even drive the curriculum development at their school.

AASL e-Academy courses are designed to give participants 12 hours of self-paced learning led by experts in the school library field. Courses are presented in Moodle, a Web-based online learning system that attendees access from their browser. Detailed descriptions of available courses and registration rates are available at www.ala.org/aasl/eacademy.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.