Fall Semester: Classroom Strategies for Student-Centered Instruction - CEU-X707

Course Description

Credit Validation for Your Classroom Academy Participants Only

This course introduces K–12 educators to 20 research-based instructional strategies designed to shift the cognitive work of learning from the teacher to the student. Participants explore how small, consistent changes in lesson structure can transform who is doing the thinking in the classroom and build a practical toolkit they can apply immediately across content areas in grades 2–12.

Strategies are released in pairs during Months 1 through 5 of the fall semester and intentionally build on one another, moving from establishing community and inquiry to active engagement routines, deeper collaboration, and ultimately full student ownership of classroom learning. Grounded in research on cognitive load theory and Chi and Wylie’s ICAP framework (Chi & Wylie, 2014), each strategy includes implementation guidance, troubleshooting support, and structured reflection tools.

Coursework is completed within Roster, an online professional learning community for teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators. In addition to strategy content, participants have access to live monthly learning sessions, one-on-one instructional coaching, and an active discussion community of educators implementing the same strategies in their own classrooms. Participants engage in structured self-reflection after each implementation, connect with colleagues through discussion forums, and receive individualized coaching support as they refine their practice.

Fall Course Summary

The Fall course focuses on building student-centered instruction through 10 research-based strategies across five key areas: community, inquiry, reading, collaboration, and vocabulary. Teachers learn, plan, and implement each strategy in their classroom, reflect on student responses, participate in weekly discussions, and receive ongoing support through monthly live coaching sessions.

Fall strategies include: Name Tents, Dice Breakers, Notice & Wonder, Think-Ink-Pair-Share, Gist Read, Read-Mark-Explain, 4 Corners, Jigsaw, 1 Word/2 Words, and the Frayer Model.

Learner Outcomes

• Implement research-based instructional strategies that shift cognitive load from teacher to student across a variety of content areas and grade levels
• Analyze classroom practice using structured reflection tools, identifying what worked, what to adjust, and how individual students responded
• Evaluate student engagement and understanding using formative evidence gathered during and after strategy implementation
• Adapt instructional strategies to meet the needs of specific students, content areas, and classroom contexts
• Collaborate with a professional community of educators to troubleshoot implementation challenges and share effective practices

Course Details

Number of CEUs: 2.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Continuing Education Hours: 25 hours

Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for Your Classroom Academy Participants.

Please Note: If you would like to purchase fewer CEUs than the amount listed or purchase CEUs in 0.5-unit increments, please contact pce-cv@sandiego.edu for assistance.

PLEASE READ ALL COURSE DETAILS

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST ENROLL WITH THE PARTNERED ORGANIZATION AND PAY ALL REQUIRED FEES BEFORE PURCHASING CEUs THROUGH USD.

University of San Diego – Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

The University of San Diego partners with this program to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through the Credit Validation Program. To earn CEUs, participants must register for and successfully complete the coursework through the external program provider.

CEUs provide documentation of completed professional development and may be used to meet continuing education, professional development, credential, certification, or workplace requirements. Participants are responsible for confirming that CEUs meet the requirements of their employer, school district, credentialing organization, or other institution before enrolling.

Directions to Enroll for CEUs

Step 1: Register with the Partner Organization 

Complete your registration directly with the partner organization. Follow their instructions to begin the course and pay any required enrollment fees. Some courses, specifically DoDEA courses, may require participants to purchase units before the course ends; please check the enrollment window for details.

• Homepage: Your Classroom Academy Roster
• Enroll: Roster Membership
• Info: Erica Levich - erica@yourclassroomacademy.com

Please Note: USD does not provide course materials, manage instruction, or assign grades. All coursework is evaluated by the program’s instructor or coordinator.

Step 2: Complete the Course

Participate fully in the course through the partner organization and complete all required assignments, activities, and assessments.

Step 3: Register for CEUs

After confirming your registration with the partner organization and completing your program, return to the USD website.

• Locate the same course on our listings page.
• Click Add to Cart.
• Click Check Out.
• You will be prompted to either log into your USD Student Account or create one, and then pay for your CEUs.

If this course displays Request Information, it means the course is either not yet open for enrollment or enrollment has already closed. Please check the enrollment dates or contact the organization directly to ask about late enrollment or future course offerings.

Step 4: Submit your Certificate of Completion
After completing this course, you are required to submit your certificate of completion, which will be provided by your program. Please be sure to purchase your credits first, then email your certificate to pce-cv@sandiego.edu, including the course number in your message.

Step 5: Receive Your CEU Confirmation of Completion Letter

Once your certificate has been reviewed and your CEU completion has been processed, your Confirmation of Completion Letter will be available through your USD Student Account.

This letter documents the CEU hours you earned and can be downloaded, printed, and provided to your school district, employer/HR department, credentialing organization, or other institution as proof of completion.

For instructions on accessing your letter, please see How to Access Your CEU Confirmation of Completion.

Need Help?

For detailed information about the University of San Diego Credit Validation Program, please consult our USD Credit Validation Program Participant Guide.

Interested in university credit instead?

If you would like to purchase USD Graduate-Level Extension Credit (GLEC) instead of CEUs, which provides university credit and an official University of San Diego transcript, click here to view the GLEC option.