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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do the courses cost?
Each one-unit course is only $139. Each three-unit course is only $198. There are no additional books or materials to buy. Please note that University credit fees (if you need them) are in addition to these registration fees, at a cost of $70 per unit.
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I need university credit. How much does it cost?
SUMMER CREDIT SPECIAL: You can earn from one to three semester units of graduate-level credit for each online course you take. Credit fees are $70 per unit. The credit is from Chapman University. It is a fully accredited University. Credit can be used for salary advancement and credential renewals. You will receive a letter grade and can get an official University transcript for the courses. We do not build the credit fee into the price of the course because not all participants need the University credit. Your district may accept a letter of completion from PDI in lieu of University credit. Check with your human resources department for specific requirements. Ballard & Tighe/PDI courses are also accepted by the Department of Defense, with University credit and a University transcript. DOD teachers can use the credit for re-certification.
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How do you assure the quality of the courses?
First, we make sure that we have high quality instructors. All online faculty are experienced teachers and subject matter experts. Second, we have designed and tested the course material to ensure that it is rich in content, is relevant to today’s classrooms, and includes creative activities to foster learning. Third, classes are group oriented, allowing for collaboration and discussion, with the added benefit of online instructors who review students’ work regularly, providing feedback and suggestions.
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I’m a mainstream classroom teacher, but I have many English learners in my classroom. Do you have professional development materials that can help me teach these students more effectively?
Yes. Ballard & Tighe’s fully accredited online professional development courses emphasize strategies and techniques for teaching English language learners. Click on courses to read course titles and descriptions.
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What is “SDAIE”?
SDAIE is an acronym that stands for “Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English.” Sometimes it is referred to as sheltered instruction. It is an approach to teaching mainstream content to second language learners who have intermediate levels of proficiency in English and some literacy skills.
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Where are Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses available?
All courses are available via the Internet. You can attend class anytime (24/7) and anywhere that you have Internet access. No special software is required.
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How do Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses work?
Students log onto the course via the Internet. There are lectures you can read on screen and/or print out. There are assignments that require students to post their responses. Course instructors encourage collaboration among all course participants and provide valuable comments and responses.
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How long are Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses?
One-unit courses require a total of 15 hours of work and three-unit courses require a total of 45 hours of work.
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Who teaches Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses?
Qualified instructors who have teaching experience, advanced academic degrees, and appropriate teaching certifications teach these courses.
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Are Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses accredited?
Yes. All courses are fully accredited through Chapman University, California. The courses were developed by experienced K-12 educators and are taught by qualified instructors. Course participants can earn university credit by taking these online courses.
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When do I have to finish the course?
Courses are self-paced. You can begin as soon as you register. In order to receive credit for the course, you have to complete all online course assignments by the coursework completion date. For the current semester’s coursework completion date, see the ‘overview’ page of this website. Please note that if you complete your course prior to the completion date, we will immediately process your paperwork so that you meet any district or state deadlines.
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Do I need special software or technology on my computer to participate?
No special software is required. All you need is a computer and access to the Internet. All you need is a browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer, AOL, etc.) and e-mail. There is nothing to download or install. Even teachers new to technology find the courses easy to navigate.
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Will I receive any personal attention in Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses?
All course participants receive personal attention and immediate results. Our instructors regularly review course participants’ work and provide valuable feedback that can be applied immediately.
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How do class participants communicate with the instructor and other class members?
Ballard & Tighe’s online courses rely on a variety of communication methods — via email and by posting messages on an online bulletin board, which is moderated by an instructor.
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What is the refund policy?
The following policy applies to refunds for our online courses:
- Within 48 hours of registration with no access or participation in course = Full refund
- After 48 hours of registration with no participation in course = Full refund minus $35 processing fee
- Participation in a one-unit course = Full refund minus $40
- Participation in a three-unit course = Full refund minus $100
- NO REFUNDS will be issued in the last three weeks of any course regardless of participation.
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How can I convince administrators in my district that Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses are a good investment?
If you need district approval, you won’t find it hard to get support from district administrators for Ballard & Tighe’s online professional development courses. Administrators love our program for a number of reasons:
- there is no need for off-site training or substitute teacher expenses
- our courses provide many more hours of training for each dollar spent than traditional seminars or conferences
- the online format encourages collaboration among district colleagues
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