Prepare for the next school year ahead of time, This dynamic course empowers educators to design impactful, learner-centered curricula. Participants will have the ability to bridges the gap between educational theory and classroom application. Whether you're a new teacher, instructional designer, or seasoned educator seeking to refresh your approach, you'll finally have the time to explore different models and frameworks of curriculum development to transform them into actionable strategies tailored to your teaching context. By refining your approach, you'll gain the skills to build engaging, standard-aligned curricula that meet the diverse needs of today’s learners.
Participants will work closely with an instructor in order to promote effective teaching for the current or upcoming school year. Participants will use the feedback provided to them by the instructor in order to create goals for the course and ultimately an implementation plan for their new curriculum. Educators have the option to refresh existing lessons and curriculum or they can use this course to build brand new content. You have the option to incorporate resources into your plan that will help to coordinate your curriculum plans for your classroom. Participants first assignment will be to This course does not limit participants to a specific subject matter – students are free to choose the area of curriculum that they feel would benefit from a redesign. Participants can focus on the need for new resources, textbooks, lesson plans or modify their curriculum in order to align to new standards.
Final submission for all sections is due on or before April 19, 2026. Transcripts will be mailed out 7 days after this date for all participants.
Number or Units: 3.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours
Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for TK-14 educators interested in planning customized curriculum and/or lesson plans.
Course Format: Online Self-Paced, within given dates*. The course starts Monday, January 26, 2026 and should be completed on or before Sunday, April 19, 2026
*Online Self-Paced within given dates courses are a perfect blend of accessibility, convenience and flexibility for you to control your learning pace. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your submissions and final project. Grades are based on assignments and completed projects within the given dates of the course. Course opens for student participation on Monday January 26, 2026, you have until Sunday, April 19, 2026 or sooner to complete the course. Please pace yourself to allow for instructor responses before moving on to the next module. Course completion date will reflect April 19, 2026 on the transcript for all participants that successfully meet the completed course work and due date. Transcripts will be mailed out 7 days after April 19, 2026 for all participants.
Technical Requirements
Instructors: Choice of two experienced and qualified TK-12 educators. See individual course sections
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Courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that allows you to structure your education to suit your schedule while keeping you on pace toward achieving your educational goals.
Online fixed-date courses are delivered virtually but follow a predetermined schedule, requiring students to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and take assessments by specific deadlines—much like a traditional classroom. The key difference is that while traditional courses are conducted in person at set times and locations, online fixed-date courses allow students to engage remotely, offering more flexibility in where they learn while preserving structure and accountability through fixed timelines. (Note: Any scheduled Zoom sessions will be outlined on the class schedule.) These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Instructor feedback is shared along with the graded assignments.
How is the learning structured? Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.
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