Thank you for considering Professional Learning Board. Please contact us with your ideas including new courses, services, resources and ways to improve your professional development. We are constantly seeking connections with and feedback from fellow educators and learners.
COURSES
When does my class start? Virtually all classes are available immediately after payment is completed.
Sign up today. Begin learning now.
Is there a time limit? Self-study courses have no time limit. All instructor facilitated courses are available for four to eight weeks. See individual course descriptions for course access time limits.
Is it a course that I download? All Professional Learning Board courses are accessible via the Internet and can be accessed from any Internet computer. Courses do not require downloading. Many courses offer optional downloadable resources.
Who can take Professional Learning Board courses? Teachers and other education professionals use Teacher Learning Board classes to meet local and state licensing, relicensing and professional development requirements.
What types of courses do you offer? Professional Learning Board courses are available in the following formats:
- Self-study – These courses are seminar replacement courses in which you study the course content and complete a quiz in order to earn a certificate of completion. There is no interaction with a course instructor. Most self-study courses are 5 clock hours. Self-study courses include lifetime enrollment.
- Facilitated – Instructor led courses in which you interact with both the course content and an instructor to gain a deeper understanding and application of the subject in your teaching practice. These courses require additional time and completion of assignments. Facilitated courses are typically completed over 4-5 weeks.
- Professional Development Credit Courses – Self-paced Professional Development Credit classes incorporate online content, quizzes, interactivities and a Course Action Plan you can put to use in your work environment. Receive 1 Professional Development Credit through a regionally accredited university. See individual course descriptions. Learning takes place asynchronously, at your convenience, and may be completed over a period of 4 weeks. Note, teachers looking for graduate credits, please check with your issuing authority about whether it will accept these online teacher courses for graduate credit.
We also offer course packages that allow you to enroll in multiple courses and save money, team courses (both online and in person) and custom development services.
What kind of computer is needed to access courses? Access Professional Learning Board courses using Mac, Windows or Linux-based personal computers and an Internet connection. Our courses are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox, Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Acrobat Reader. Unsure if your computer has these programs, you will be prompted to install them if needed during the courses.Other web browsers do work as well.
What can be expected in a Professional Learning Board course? All Professional Learning Board online professional development courses are research-based, interactive courses designed to model best practices in both classroom and online learning pedagogy. Furthermore, we work with recognized content area experts to ensure you are getting rich content that will help you improve your practice and increase student performance. Most PLB courses include:
* Printable and verifiable Certificate of Completion
* Clock Hours
* LIFETIME access to self-study courses including FREE updates
* Downloadable resources
* Free Teacher Talk newsletter
* Research-based
* Model best practices
* Accessible 24 hrs/day
Which courses meet the MN relicensure requirement? As part of the 125 clock hour requirement, the Minnesota Legislature, by statute, requires all teachers to evidence these five areas to renew a teaching license: 1) Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies, 2) Accommodation, Modification, and Adaptation of Curriculum, Materials and Instruction, 3) Key Warning Signs for Early-Onset Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents, 4) Reading Preparation and 5) Technology. Courses that help Minnesota teachers meet these requirements are included in course packages or individually.
How many times may a course be accessed? Each paid course registration enables one teacher LIFETIME access to self-study courses including FREE updates. Instructor facilitated courses can be accessed as often as desired during a four to eight week period.
When are classes scheduled? Complete Professional Learning Board classes online and at your convenience, whether early in the morning, during a prep or late at night. You decide. Instructor facilitated courses are available as rolling enrollments. While you do not have to access the course at a specified date and time, we strongly recommend educators enrolled in courses complete work in a timely manner in order to complete the courses within the access time period.
Where are classes held? Access Professional Learning Board courses from wherever you have access to an internet-connected computer, handheld or tablet; school, classroom, computer lab, home, libraries and even coffee shops.
When are classes scheduled? Complete Professional Learning Board classes online and at your convenience, whether early in the morning, during a prep or late at night. You decide. Instructor facilitated courses are available as rolling enrollments. While you do not have to access the course at a specified date and time, we strongly recommend educators enrolled in facilitated and graduate courses complete work in a timely manner in order to complete the courses within the access time period.
Can I come back and finish a course later? In other words, if I purchase the course at my work, can I bring it up and continue from my home computer? Yes, you can access the course from any connection to the internet.
How long does it take to complete a course? The course clock hours are determined by the equivalent classroom-based clock hours. Completion time varies by individual. You can access the course at your convenience for as much or little as your schedule permits, e.g. start the course for 15 minutes and next time you log in you spend an hour. You can access the course material endless times (and at any time of day).
What does research-based mean? Research-based means that recommended strategies have been tried and practiced, successfully put-to-the-test if you will, by fellow education professionals. This narrows issues from “Will this work?” to “How will this work with my students?”
It doesn’t look like you have the course I need. What can I do? Please contact us as it may be under development and responding to your needs is what keeps us continuously learning and improving.
What will I receive from participating in a Professional Learning Board course? Professional Learning Board courses include resources, opportunities for collaboration, instructor feedback, interactivities, samples, strategies, tactics, and more — all put-to-the-test by fellow education professionals. You will receive a printable certificate, or where applicable an official transcript, upon successful completion of the course requirements.
CERTIFICATES & TRANSCRIPTS
My certificate is not listed in my transcript, where is it?
Double-check in the online classroom space that you’ve completed all of the course work and received feedback where needed.
Yes, I finished the course. How do I get my certificate?
In most courses, the certificate is available immediately upon successful course completion.
Do all courses offer audio narration? Yes, except the Spanish for Educators class (but give it a try anyway because teachers love this course!)
I just paid. How do I get to my course? Click here or log-in at the top of the home page.
CLOCK HOURS & CREDITS
What institution issues the semester credits? Professional Learning Board is an academic partner with regionally accredited institutions.
What is the value of credits? Professional Learning Board courses earn 1 semester credit. One semester credit is generally equivalent to: 1.5 quarter credit – 15 contact hours – 24 clock hours. Contact your school or local education authority to determine how these are valued in your situation.
Are your courses accepted at my school? Can I receive CEUs (Continuing Education Credits) or clock hours? Teachers and other education professionals across the country and in several countries use Professional Learning Board classes to meet local and state licensing, relicensing and professional development requirements. All course descriptions (see course catalog page) list CEUs (continuing education units), clock hours, etc. Please review your local policies for the specific credit request process and relicensure policy. Continuing education graduate credit/CEU/CPDU/PLU/CLE/CLU/CPE/PDU clock hour valuation is the final decision of your school district, continuing education committee or other relevant authority. Professional Learning Board does not guarantee acceptance by your school, district or licensing authority.
Can I receive Lane Change or Salary Advancement credit? Many teachers are able to receive credit toward lane changes through successful completion of courses. Please contact your school or local continuing education authority to determine lane change policy.
Are there any prerequisites for enrolling in graduate credit courses? Yes. You must hold a baccalaureate degree.Are graduate credit courses eligible for financial aid? Graduate continuing education credit courses are not part of a degree program and therefore, students enrolling in these graduate courses are not eligible for financial aid or V.A. benefits.Do courses qualify for tax purposes? The payment receipt you receive during enrollment at Professional Learning Board or through registration with an academic partner may be used for tax purposes. For more information, please refer to IRS Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education.” and consult your tax preparer.