Curriculum

What is the PDA?
Contact the PDA
Pathwise
ESP Certificate Program
Online Learning Series
Substitute teacher training classes
Classroom Management Course
Inservices and workshops

The following is a list or the curricular activities with examples of learning experiences/topics that might apply. The examples are not intended to be all inclusive, but rather samples.

ESP core curriculum categories

Communication (Minimum of 5 hours)
Learning experiences designed to improve a person's ability to understand and be understood in the work environment. Content might be:

  • Work-related writing
  • Problem solving
  • Team building
  • Sign language
  • Foreign language
  • Nonverbal behavior (including culturally specific)
  • Speaking/listening
  • Decision making
  • Public relations
  • Telephone skills
  • Interpersonal communications

Legal/Ethical (Minimum 5 hours)
Federal and state laws that afford protection, extend privileges, and describe rights and responsibilities of educational institutions and the people in them. Content might include:

  • Statutes (118, 94-142)
  • Employment
  • Administrative rules
  • EEN
  • Workplace ethics
  • DWD
  • Student/Employee rights, responsibilities
  • Disability laws
  • Confidentiality
  • Child Abuse
  • ADA
  • Juvenile code
  • Indoor air quality

Behavior Management (Minimum of 5 hours)
Prevention/intervention strategies for effectively managing student behavior and difficult situations. Content might include:

  • Conflict resolution
  • Crisis intervention/response
  • Discipline strategies
  • Students with special needs/disabilities
  • Peer mediation
  • Protective behaviors

Growth and Development (Minimum of 5 hours)
Understanding the basic human growth and development - both normal and abnormal - to help school personnel understand and interact with a variety of people/students in the school setting. Content might include:

  • Age appropriate behavior and expectations (early childhood, elementary, adolescent, adult)
  • Behavior motivation theory
  • Families/contemporary society
  • Alcohol and Other Drug Addiction (AODA)
  • Learning styles
  • Human relations
  • Special needs students
  • Abnormal psychology
  • Societal: culture, class, gender
  • Basic human growth/development

ESP elective curriculum categories

(Minimum of 10 hours in learning activities directly applicable to daily job responsibilities.) Content might include:

  • Cultural diversity/equity
  • Medical/health
  • Nutrition
  • Hazardous materials
  • Instructional issues
  • Technology
  • Special needs students
  • Safety
  • Work environment/school organization
  • Transitional services/school-to-work

Total required hours for certificate: 40

Note: Credit is not given to programs that are primarily related to union activities. This might include topics such as recruitment and organizing, contract negotiations or maintenance, member rights and responsibilities, or public relations geared toward union promotion. Credit is also not given for classes focused on personal topics such as retirement or financial planning and job search strategies.

© 2003 WEA Professional Development Academy, Inc.