Strategic Learning Solutions

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Strategic Learning Solutions

01
Continuing Education Solution

My organization sought to explore how specific components of staff development trainings, or segments of their proprietary model of care, could be repurposed as stand-alone courses eligible for Professional Learning Units (PLUs) or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) across various professions. To support this initiative, I conducted in-depth research to identify the training needs and certification requirements for key professional groups, including K-12 educators, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, licensed professional counselors, and licensed clinical social workers. My research examined several critical components to ensure that the proposed course(s) would align with professional standards and best practices in learning and meet accreditation criteria for CEUs. The resulting Reactive Attachment Disorder course is outlined below, followed by the process I followed and an example of a media component of the training.

CEU Solution Process

Research

My research into continuing education options focused on identifying pathways for expanding course offerings across multiple professions, with a particular emphasis on meeting accreditation standards. This comprehensive analysis considered the requirements and trends in continuing education for educators, occupational therapists, counselors, and other professionals. I explored how the course content could align with evidence-based practices to meet the standards for CEUs.

Specifically, my research delved into opportunities for strategic partnerships, like those with professional bodies such as the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), ensuring that the course content could be integrated into these organizations' accredited continuing education frameworks.

Market Analysis

I concluded that focusing on a niche area like Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) for Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Clinical Social Workers would be a strategic move. RAD is an area of growing interest within the counseling field, particularly due to the increasing need for specialized knowledge in attachment-related disorders. Market analysis revealed moderate competition for RAD courses, but it also highlighted gaps in the content provided by current providers, particularly in addressing foster care strategies and targeted therapeutic approaches. Additionally, the accreditation process through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) was not only straightforward but also cost-effective.

Course Creation

To develop the Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) course for Licensed Professional Counselors and Clinical Social Workers, I transformed a loosely structured professional development lecture into a cohesive and engaging online learning experience using the Canvas LMS. This process involved not only organizing the material into five distinct learning modules but also developing new content to enhance and support the existing lecture. I identified gaps in the original presentation and created additional resources, readings, and activities to ensure that the course provided a comprehensive learning experience. Each module was designed to build progressively on the previous one, ensuring a logical flow and deeper understanding as learners advanced through the material. A summative assessment was produced using Backward Design.

I scripted, narrated, and scored with original music, the video provided to the right. This media is featured in the RAD course introduction to set the stage for the material.

Custom Multimedia Integration

02
Professional Development Solution

The Student Achievement Model (SAM) was designed to provide targeted behavior modification interventions for Georgia's most challenging students, many of whom were referred to separate day programs or residential services. Although highly effective when implemented with fidelity, the intensity of the Model and its associated five-day training proved difficult for most teachers and paraprofessionals to sustain.

To address this, I led a comprehensive revision of the Model, making it more accessible while preserving its essential elements. A needs analysis, informed by insights from both veteran and new teaching staff, guided the creation of focused learning objectives and dynamic course content. The training was restructured from five days to two, emphasizing hands-on components through active learning and performance-based summative assessments.

Following a pilot with select participants, I implemented a consultation process to support mastery of the Model’s six components, and ongoing revisions were made based on post-training feedback. Today, the revised SAMM is being implemented by a school district for use in select classrooms, expanding its impact beyond the original separate day and residential settings.

Optimizing Tools for Effective Implementation of the SAMM

To visually represent the six components of the Student Achievement Model (SAMM), I designed an engaging and streamlined graphic that captures the essence of each component. I focused on clarity and accessibility, ensuring that both veteran educators and new staff could easily understand the Model at a glance. The graphic simplifies complex behavioral strategies into a user-friendly, visually cohesive format that has become a key tool for training and ongoing support.

Alongside this, I overhauled the accompanying SAMM handbook, reducing it from over 200 pages to a concise and focused 30 pages. This involved an in-depth review of content, removing redundancies, and restructuring key information to improve usability without sacrificing the depth and rigor of the original material. My goal was to create a practical, accessible resource that aligned with the new two-day training, allowing teachers and paraprofessionals to quickly reference critical information and apply the Model in real-time. By focusing on streamlined, purposeful content, the revised handbook became a go-to guide for successful implementation, ensuring that staff had everything they needed to deliver results in the classroom.

The combination of the simplified graphic and the revamped handbook was pivotal in making the SAMM not only more accessible but also more effective, empowering educators to confidently implement the Model with fidelity.

Click to Review SAMM Handbook

Applying Instructional Best Practices

Recognizing the need for a more efficient and accessible approach, I restructured the original five-day training into a concise two-day format, reducing the accompanying handbook from over 200 pages to a focused 30. These adjustments were made to better support the mission of local schools by ensuring that the training could be implemented with ease and precision, without sacrificing quality.

The new format incorporates best practices in pedagogy, including multimedia for diverse learning styles, strategic grouping to foster collaboration, hands-on activities to reinforce practical application, and performance-based assessments to ensure competency. By aligning the course more closely with the real-world needs of schools, this streamlined program allows educators to seamlessly integrate the content into their daily practice.

I recently developed an interactive eLearning version of the training using Adobe Captivate so that separate day programs outside of my district and state can benefit from this effective behavior modification model. Click the image below for a demo of the training. This demo/training can be accessed through your mobile device, but it works best on a tablet or PC.