Program Overview
Welcome to the Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) online professional development modules! Congratulations on choosing this high quality course that is designed to deepen understanding and enhance skills for responding to the needs of all students. Content in the modules is regularly refined and updated. Participants can be assured that they are accessing the most current information.
This online program, available to Florida educators since 2003, began with a partnership between the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services and the Bureau of Educator Certification. The modules, free to Florida educators, are available statewide and are facilitated through the nineteen Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) centers.
Module characteristics include:
- Online content and a variety of learning activities for self-paced study
- Current resources
- Ongoing communication with a expert local facilitator
- Group meetings with colleagues
- Classroom-related assessment tasks
- Consistent, user-friendly format and organization for all modules
- Technology support.
Overview of Modules
Seven of the fourteen PDA modules are aligned with Florida's Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Certification Competencies and are designed to support educators in increasing their knowledge and skills for teaching students with identified disabilities, as well as other students who are experiencing challenges with behavior and/or academics. These modules may also assist educators with successful completion of the ESE K-12 certification exam. In addition, some of these modules may be used to satisfy out-of-field credit for teachers who have not yet passed the ESE K-12 certification exam but are working in exceptional education teaching positions.
The Differentiating Reading Instruction for Students: Making It Explicit module is designed for teachers who want to enhance their skills in teaching students who are experiencing reading difficulties, especially those with significant and persistent difficulties. This module is worth 60 inservice points and is approved by the Just Read, Florida! Office to satisfy the requirements for Competency 4 of the Florida Reading Endorsement. The PDA program includes additional modules which are designed to assist educators in becoming more proficient in responding to the needs of individual learners. These modules vary in topic and length.
| Module Title | Content Based on: | Inservice Points |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Exceptional Education | ESE K-12 certification competencies | 60 Also available as independent study, no inservice credit |
| Assessment and Evaluation in Exceptional Education | ESE K-12 certification competencies | 60 |
| Instructional Practices | ESE K-12 certification competencies | 60 |
| Positive Behavior Support | ESE K-12 certification competencies | 60 |
| Transition | ESE K-12 certification competencies | 60 |
| Language Development and Communication Skills | ESE K-12 certification competencies | 60 6.7 CEUs for Speech Language Pathologists |
| Interpersonal Interactions | ESE K-12 certification competencies | 30 |
| Differentiating Reading Instruction for Students: Making It Explicit | Florida reading endorsement | 60 Satisfies Competency 4 Florida Reading Endorsement |
| Differentiating Science Instruction | Florida initiatives on differentiation, Florida and national standards for Science | 30 |
| Differentiating Mathematics Instruction | Florida initiatives on differentiation, Florida and national standards for Math | 30 |
| An Introduction to Differentiating Instruction: Responding to All Learners | Florida initiatives on differentiation | 15 |
| Formative Assessment Process for Differentiating Instruction | Florida initiatives on differentiation | 15 |
| Technology for Student Success: An Introduction |
Florida initiatives | 15 |
| Technology for Student Success: Assistive Technology |
Florida initiatives | 15 |
This PDF (2.2Mb) provides an overview of Professional Development Alternatives (PDA). It is also designed for use by PDA staff for local or regional presentations. You will need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to be able to open the file. Click on the following link to explore answers to some of the most Frequently Asked PDA Questions.
Collaborating Partners
The PDA Project was originally funded through a U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant under Title II of the Higher Education Act. This project was designed through a collaborative effort of the Division of Professional Educators, Bureau of Educator Certification, and the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). BEESS continues to provide support funding for local delivery of the PDA modules. PDA is currently coordinated by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Human Resources Development (HRD) Administration Project, a discretionary project of the Florida Department of Education, which is administered through the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC). Project partnerships include the Florida Department of Education, Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System Associate Centers, and the Florida Center for Interactive Media at Florida State University.
Pursuant to the copyright revision act of 1976, the content of the Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) project, including modules and website, and any revisions/amendments made thereto, shall be owned solely and exclusively by the Florida Department of Education.