May 2014 AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online Blog Updates

The May blog updates for AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online are now available. For real time updates, follow AEA PD Online on Twitter @aeapdonline or on your mobile device by accessing our app at myapp.is/aeapdonline.

 
 

•    AEA PD Online Launches Self-Paced Courses in June
•    Upcoming Course: June 15-July 31, 2014
•    External Partners



 
  
•    Everfi: Free E-curriculum for Iowa Teachers
•    Infuse Learning: Learner Response System

Fall 2014 Section 504 Training for Public School Staff

Heartland AEA will offer Section 504 trainings to districts. Sites will include Ames, Ankeny and Indianola. Trainings are open to all schools within Heartland AEA's service area and the primary standard taught will be free and appropriate public education. Districts are encouraged to send teams consisting of counselors, administrators and school nurses and should bring their district 504 manual (plan).  The courses are offered at no charge to districts.

Topics to be covered include:

• Changes to the interpretation of Section 504 since the ADAA 2008
• How to review and update your district-wide Section 504 Plan
• The interaction of a Section 504 plan and an Individual Health Plan
• Review of obligations under the Child Find and evaluation mandates
• Evaluation requirements
• Eligibility determination and eligible but not in need of a plan
• Section 504 vs. IDEA 2004, understanding the distinction
• Resources available to assist districts including, access to a newly developed Section 504 Google Site

Location and Dates:
Ames AEA Office
511 S. 17th Street, Ames, Iowa 50010, Conference Rooms A, B & C
September 16, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Activity Number: DL014592111501

Indianola AEA Office
Conference Room, 115 West Salem, Indianola, Iowa 50125 
September 23, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Activity Number: DL014592111502

Ankeny Southview Middle School
1020 SW Cherry St., Ankeny, IA 50023, Classroom # 1208/1210
September 30, 2014 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Activity Number: DL014502611501

The instructor for the course is MaryAnn Strawhacker, MPH, RN, Section 504 Consultant and Special Education Nurse Consultant for Heartland AEA. Space is limited so register soon.

Save the Date: AIW Mid-Year Conference

Host: Boone Community School District
Date: February 16, 2015
Location: Boone Middle School Campus
Focus:  “Authentic Intellectual Work that supports using formative assessment to develop meaningful, timely, and targeted instruction to meet the needs of students.”

Watch for more details this fall!

Help AEA PD Online Prioritize YOUR Needs!

In order to best serve you, AEA PD Online needs your feedback! Please take 10 minutes to complete their prioritization survey, which asks you to prioritize a list of online training topics. You will be asked to choose 5 topics you feel are the most important to finish in the upcoming year and then rate the other topics on a strong-moderate-weak priority rating.

By the fall of 2014, AEA PD Online will offer 50 online trainings on their training system. Your feedback will allow them to continue to expand their offerings in a way that is meaningful to you and your staff. You may also add suggestions about other trainings you would like to see developed. Please feel free to pass the survey on to other staff members who may have an interest in providing input on this topic.

Thanks for your feedback -- we look forward to hearing from you!

Iowa's AYP Alternate Assessments for 2014-2015

Please go to the Department's webpage for a series of short webcasts providing introductory information on Iowa’s AYP Alternate Assessment Policy, Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Assessment System, Iowa Alternate Assessment Science (IAAS) System and processes for the 2014-2015 school year.  

Additional information includes assessment training requirements, roles and responsibilities of district personnel including tech support and a comparison crosswalk document between IAAS and DLM ELA & Math assessment processes.

Participants are encouraged to make comments and submit questions through the survey link identified for each webcast.  A frequently asked question document will be constructed from the surveys and posted on the webpage.

Fine Arts Summer PD Courses

Please pass on the following information to fine arts staff. These professional development opportunities are hosted by the Iowa Department of Education.  

Fine Arts in Iowa Core
June 13, 2014
North Iowa Area Community College
This day is designed for educators who have not had a fine arts/Iowa Core alignment introduction and experience with lessons and assessments focused in their area of discipline.  The disciplines offered are instrumental music, vocal music, general music, visual art and drama/theatre.

Register at https://www.educateiowa.gov/event/fine-arts-iowa-core-research-practice-discovery-0

Fine Arts: Revisited, National Standards: Revised
June 18, 2014
Ramada Tropics Resort and Conference Center
This day is designed to introduce the Fine Arts National Revised Standards, navigate the interactive website, and provide experience combining the guidance in the Fine Arts Companion documents and revised Fine Arts National Standards in lessons, classroom expectations and assessments. The keynote speaker is Lynn Tuttle, Arizona Department of Education, and lead writer of the Fine Arts National Standards Revision.

Register at https://www.educateiowa.gov/event/fine-arts-connections-iowarefined-nationalrevised-part-2

The days are offered at no cost to participants. Course credit is optional as an on-line forum and at participant's cost. 

Learning Forward Launches Free Online Principal PD Resources

Learning Forward has launched a collection of free online professional development resources for principals and aspiring K-12 school leaders. The Principal Story Learning Guide, based on the PBS documentary The Principal Story, features web-based lessons and activities "and incorporates knowledge from 13 years of work with school districts and from research on education leadership funded by The Wallace Foundation," according to a news release. 

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.