DC Offering six Professional Enrichment and Renewal Courses (PERC) 

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College will hold six Professional Enrichment and Renewal Courses (PERC) during the 2011 spring semester. The PERC program is the leading way for busy educators to earn continuing education hours, master’s credit, or licensure/certificate renewal credits. The workshop series complies with the guidelines of the No Child Left Behind requirements for quality professional development and are one credit hour graduate courses. The two-day workshops are offered on Friday from 5 – 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The 2011 spring workshops include the following.

“Popular Media and the Classroom” will be offered Feb. 4-5. This workshop discusses how popular media may have an effect on students. Participants will develop strategies to use popular culture as a teaching tool to address issues of race, gender and violence.

“Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders” will be offered Feb. 18-19. This course will help participants understand characteristics, thoughts, and behaviors of people with autism. Participants will also research topics of interest with relation to autism.

“Building Positive Family/School Relationships” will be offered March 18-19. The participants will come to understand the change that America’s families are going through by reading related articles and discussing system theory. Participants will also research a topic of interest related to family/school relationships.

“They have too much energy, what do I do? Strategies for the Middle School Classroom” will be offered April 1-2. Through the examination of multiple resources, participants will develop a series of strategies to manage the most awkward moments that can arise in a middle school classroom and inspire you to teach through the most unusual circumstances.

“Little Lifesavers: Technology tools you need to know about” will be offered April 1-2. This session will introduce several 2.0 technologies guaranteed to help you stay organized and save time both personally and professionally. All technologies used will be free-of-cost and include blogs, wikis, media creation, RSS and feed readers, website creation tools and more.

“Using Microsoft Excel to Record Classroom Assessment Data and Track Student progress” will be offered April 29-30. This hands-on class will explore the ins and outs of Microsoft Excel and its value as a resource for recording and analyzing classroom assessment data. This class intended for teachers with no or very limited experience working with Microsoft Excel.

Group discount rates are available for person’s interested in enrolling with colleagues. Enroll together with five or more colleagues and each individual will save $75.

For more information or to register, contract Michelle Call, Center for Adult and Graduate Programs office coordinator, at 1-800-520-GODC (4632) or 419-783-2351 or by email mcall@defiance.edu

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

January 31, 2011