Course Descriptions

Advanced Classroom Management: Children as Change Agents©
This course is geared primarily for professionals (e.g., regular or special educators, instructional assistants, school psychologist, counselors) serving children and youths presenting behavior problems in the school or community.  This course focuses on cognitive and cognitive-behavioral interventions (often lumped together under the rubric "social skills") with an emphasis on teaching students how to change and manage their own behavior.  Since previous knowledge and understanding of traditional behavioral (operant) concepts and strategies is required, it is strongly recommended that you take an introductory behavior management course to learn the basic terms and concepts of behavior management prior to taking this "advanced" course.

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Attention Deficit Disorder: Information & Interventions for Effective Teaching©
This course will help you achieve a better understanding of ADD and intervention strategies to facilitate positive student change. Taught by Mick R. Jackson MS/ED, this course covers the history of the disorder, accepted methods of assessing and identifying students with the disorder, and various methods, medications, and strategies that currently are used to treat the disorder. And for situations in which a student needs services beyond what you can provide in the classroom, you will learn about the referral process for getting help for the student. Reference materials include a list of resources for both teachers and parents who would like more help or information about ADD or ADHD.

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Autism & Asperger's Disorder: Information & Effective Intervention Strategies©
This course describes autism and Asperger's Disorder, including characteristics of these disorders, associated learning styles, communication weaknesses, and various intervention strategies. The course helps you make sense out of why individuals with autism spectrum disorders act the way they do, and what you can do to enhance more appropriate behavior. This course also lists resources for educators, related service personnel, and parents who want more help or information on autism and Asperger's Disorder.

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Behavior Is Language: Strategies for Managing Disruptive Behavior©
This course is designed to give you a new perspective on student behavior and effective tools to facilitate positive student change. Taught by Mick R. Jackson MS/ED, this course provides a developmental framework to help you understand what students are trying to tell you through the "language" of their behavior. You will learn behavioral techniques and intervention strategies that remediate disruptive behaviors, reduce power struggles while increasing classroom control, reduce your workload, and help prevent burnout. After successfully completing this course, you (and your students) will be better equipped to find and implement creative, effective solutions to behavioral problems.

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Drugs & Alcohol in School: Understanding Substance Use & Abuse©
Take this course to gain a more comprehensive understanding of alcohol, drugs, and their influences in your classroom. This course provides a contextual framework for understanding what students may be experiencing through either their own substance use or the substance use of persons close to them. Taught by Casey Jackson, this course provides a basic historical perspective on substance use, along with the biological, psychological, and social factors that comprise the disease of addiction. Upon course completion, you will better understand the complex dynamics that contribute to this biological and social phenomenon.

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Learning Disabilities: Practical Information for Classroom Teachers©
This course describes diverse theoretical approaches to handling learning disabilities in the classroom. Taught by Dr. Bob Pillay, this course lays the foundation for sensitive, appropriate assessment and evaluation of students. In addition, this course covers program planning and implementation, stresses the importance of a close, positive partnership with parents or alternative caregivers, and explores methods for ensuring that the home/school axis is effective and meaningful. You will also learn about major trends and unresolved issues in the field of learning disabilities.

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Reading Fundamentals #1: An introduction to Scientifically-Based Research©
An Introduction to Scientifically-Based Research, the first in a three-course series on effective reading instruction, was designed to give background on Reading First as it applies to the No Child Left Behind federal legislation. The course discusses the research that supports scientifically-based research as it applies to phonetically-based instruction, assessment, and evaluation. The course explores myths and misconceptions concerning reading instruction and remediation. It also presents an evaluation checklist designed to assess the effectiveness of your current reading program. The goal of the course is to present you with research, trustworthy evidence, and background information that support the need for a reading program that is based on scientific research and proven methods.This computer-based instruction course is a self-supporting program that provides instruction, structured practice, and evaluation, all on your home or school computer. Information on installation and technical support can be found, and will be covered in detail, in the User Guide section of your computer software.

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Reading Fundamentals #2: Laying the Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction©
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 mandates the use of scientifically based research in programs receiving federal funding that deal with remedial readers. The concept of scientifically-validated methods is so prevalent in the legislation that it appears 110 times when referring to Reading First. This three-course series will help improve your knowledge of science and the scientific process. This knowledge will make you a more informed consumer and an even better advocate for students. The purpose of this second course in this three-course series is to lay the foundation for effective reading instruction. As part of this course, you will learn about the elements of effective instruction. It is important that all teachers have a firm understanding of effective instructional procedures. Teachers benefit, and more importantly, students benefit, both in terms of their behavior and their academic performance. Further, you will learn about the importance of reading instruction and read some sobering statistics on reading performance in this country and what happens when individuals are not proficient in reading.

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Reading Fundamentals #3: The Elements of Effective Reading©
This course will focus on learning to read, reading to learn, and an introduction to reading assessment. As part of these two key areas of reading instruction, the five elements of effective reading instruction will be highlighted, including definitions, implications for instruction, and future directions. These five elements include instruction in: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension. Further, we discuss information on teacher preparation in learning about comprehension strategy instruction and reading instruction, as well as how to integrate computer technology into the classroom. Additionally, the course will provide information on important assessment terms and definitions and will explore how reading assessment fits within the Reading First Program. This analysis includes specific recommendations on 29 reading assessments. Finally, the course describes how teachers can conduct pivotal curriculum-based measurement procedures in their classrooms.

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Talented & Gifted: Working with High Achievers©
Talented and Gifted provides information on the exceptional student in relation to history, education, current law, and accepted methods for referral, assessment, and identification. The course also covers major program models and methods of differentiating instruction to meet the rate and level of learning of those students identified. The course gives you an understanding of ways to meet the affective needs of the gifted and talented student in the regular classroom. This course also lists resources for teachers and parents who would like more information about the talented and gifted.

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Traumatized Child: The Effects of Stress, Trauma and Violence on Student Learning©
This course is designed to help classroom teachers, school counselors, and other educational personnel gain strategies to reach and teach students who have been affected by stress, trauma, and/or violence.  Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of stress and trauma.  Participants will explore how stress, violence, and trauma affect a student's learning, cognitive brain development, and social-emotional development.  The short and long term consequences of being exposed to stress, trauma, or violence, as well as the social and family causes, will be reviewed.  Participants will learn the dynamics of domestic violence and community violence.  The educator's role in the intervention and prevention of violence will be discussed.

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Understanding Aggression: Coping with Aggressive Behavior in the Classroom©
Understanding Aggression includes topics on violence, aggression in the classroom, youth gangs, aggression in sports and on television, how drugs and alcohol play a role in aggression and violence, and "hot spots" that tend to breed aggression and violence. The course helps school personnel become more aware of the causes of aggression and ways to evaluate aggression and intervene before the aggression turns to violence in the schools. The course also speaks about aggression in our communities in the realms of driving, dating, sports, television, and music, and how these issues are dealt with in modern society.

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Violence in Schools: Identification, Prevention, and Intervention Strategies©
This course is designed to give you a better understanding of school violence and increase your intervention strategies. Taught by Dr. Michael Sedler, this course provides an overview of violence and the motivational purposes behind aggression. The correlation and impact of the media, community, and family upon violence is investigated. You will learn identification and intervention approaches to working with out-of-control behaviors. In addition, you will receive information about the national resources available for both parents and teachers. Upon successful completion of this course, you will have a better understanding of violence and the motivations behind the use of violence, as well as specific strategies for minimizing the occurrence of violence in a school and community.

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System Requirements for all of VESi's computer-based instruction courses

These computer-based software courses are designed to be run from the compact disc (CD)
and only save user data on the hard drive of their Macintosh or Windows computer.