Assignment of Professional Development for Non-licensed Personnel
ArkansasIDEAS accounts are assigned according to the individual's designation in the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS). There are two types of designations in AELS, Non-Licensed and Certified Teacher.
- Certified teachers have access to all courses available from ArkansasIDEAS.
- Non-Licensed accounts have a limited number of courses available.
Before assigning ArkansasIDEAS professional development courses to non-licensed personnel, please check the list below. If the course is not listed, it is unavailable to non-licensed account holders. As more courses are made available, this list is updated, so be sure to check back periodically.
Attention: Individual courses cannot be added to non-licensed accounts, nor can non-licensed accounts be upgraded to certified teacher or given access to the Certified Teacher Audience courses. This is based on intellectual property rights and copyrighted materials provided by subject matter experts at the time the course was created.
Coding Block: Exploring the Basics
What is computational thinking? What are algorithms and programs? What tools are out there that can help me teach these concepts? These are questions you may be asking yourself if you are new to teaching computer science. Exploring the Basics is the first course in a three-part series intended to provide teachers of the seventh and eighth grade coding block with essential information regarding relevant computer science standards and programming skills. In this course, you will join Zack Spink, Computer Science Specialist for the state of Arkansas, in exploring the fundamental basics of computer programming.
In Coding Block: Exploring the Basics, Mr. Spink defines several content-specific terms and discusses things to consider when choosing the tools students will use in class. He also provides a brief tutorial for using JavaScript within Pencil Code, a free, browser-based programming environment. This course is intended for teachers who are new to the concepts of computer programming.
Section 504 vs. IDEA: Understanding the Fundamentals
Though Section 504 and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) both exist to serve students with disabilities and have similar requirements, they have some fundamental differences as well. In this course, Jose Martín, a lawyer with years of experience working with schools, explains these differences and what schools need to do in order to be compliant with both. He discusses big picture concepts and minute details such as specific eligibility criteria. Mr. Martín also includes a discussion about challenging situations that may arise in determining a student's eligibility under Section 504 or Special Education.
This course was recorded on September 20, 2016 at AETN studios in Conway, AR.
Discipline and the Section 504 Student
Navigating behavior and discipline issues regarding students with disabilities can be challenging and adding federal regulations to the mix can make it feel even more difficult. In this course Jose Martín, a lawyer with years of experience in disability law, explains the provisions and guidelines for Section 504 and IDEA in terms of behavior and discipline. Mr. Martín begins with a brief discussion of the fundamental rules for short- and long-term disciplinary removals, then moves on to a variety of other topics related to discipline and the Section 504 student.
This course was recorded on September 20, 2016 at AETN studios in Conway, AR.
OCR's Resource Guide on ADHD
In July of 2016 the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a resource guide in the form of a letter. This letter addresses various modern Section 504 legal compliance issues with a focus on ADHD. In this course, Jose Martín, a lawyer with years of experience in disability law, discusses the broad guidance included in the letter. He briefly outlines the guide's basic reviews of Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and then delves more deeply into other topics included in the guide.
This course was recorded on September 20, 2016 at AETN studios in Conway, AR.
Section 504 Services Plans: A Sample Form
In this course, Jose Martín, a lawyer with years of experience in disability law, discusses the model 504 plan form his firm has created. He goes through each section of the form, explaining why each element is included and/or constructed a certain way. He also shares specific examples and suggestions in order to make each area as clear as possible.
This course was recorded on September 20, 2016 at AETN studios in Conway, AR.
All In: Everyone's Unique, Everyone Belongs - Special Education Inclusive Practices
In this course, Jessica Saum, the 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, will lead discussions about one of her passions - inclusive education. These discussions will focus specifically on changes in classrooms throughout Arkansas and how to meet the needs of all students. Panelists will present evidence on the benefits of inclusion, discuss what an inclusive classroom setting looks like, and review laws concerning the provision of special education services. The goal is to offer background information, techniques, teaching strategies, and tips to help families and teachers as they navigate through the many transitions of their students' educational journeys.
Autism: An Overview
This online professional development course, directed and produced by Connect with Kids Network (CWKN), was designed as an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Its purpose is to increase the knowledge base of licensed educators and administrators and to facilitate learning for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Stacey DeWitt, founder and president of CWKN, states: "In this four-part professional development program, you will get to know the Nelsons and many others who are living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Through their stories, interviews with experts, and research-based information, we hope you will gain a better understanding of how to identify and support social communication and behavioral challenges associated with ASD."
Function-Based Intervention
This course is the fourth module of the Basic Functional Behavioral Assessment to Behavior Intervention Planning series. This course takes a look at function-based interventions and strategies that must be included in a Behavior Intervention Plan, or BIP. The presenter provides details on prevention, teaching, and consequence strategies that are effective in supporting behavior interventions.
This course, presented by behavior support specialist Loretta Wallace, was recorded on May 19, 2015 at the Arkansas Educational Television Network in Conway, Arkansas.
Foundations in Special Education: Major Components of IDEA
This course is the first module in a series of three. The purpose of the series is to introduce and clarify various topics related to the foundations of special education.
In this course, Dr. Dia Jackson of American Institutes for Research describes different aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) in detail. She begins with a review of several key special education terms and a brief history of special education. She goes on to discuss the major components of IDEA 2004.
This course was recorded on December 14, 2016 at AETN studios in Conway, AR.
Foundations in Special Education: Legal and Ethical Issues
This course is the second module in a series of three. The purpose of the series is to introduce and clarify various topics related to the foundations of special education.
In this course, Dr. Dia Jackson of American Institutes for Research focuses on legal and ethical considerations in special education. Dr. Jackson clarifies how several laws and court cases impacted students with disabilities and helped shape special education as we know it today. She also discusses ethical behavior in education and the responsibilities of mandated reporters.
This course was recorded on December 14, 2016 at AETN studios in Conway, Arkansas.