FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

about our Online Courses

What self-paced courses are available on January 16, 2023?

English Learner Portal has many courses that start on January 16, 2023, but this FAQ will cover the courses that exist through a partnership with Immigrant Connections and are taught by Laura Gardner. Tap on the title of each class for more details and to register.

How much do the courses cost?

Each course is $75. If you purchase a full pathway of 3 courses, it's $215.

What does ‘self-paced’ mean?

Self-paced means you can take the course anytime, from anywhere and at your own speed! It’s the same thing as “asynchronous.”

What are “pathways?”

Our partners at English Learner Portal have created a number of “pathways” that cover various topics, such as family engagement or cultural proficiency. Each pathway includes 3 five-hour courses. Educators may complete a full pathway of learning to deepen their expertise on a particular topic. One graduate credit is available for each completed pathway for a fee of $75 paid to UMass Global. Alternatively, educators may select courses to take “a la carte” but graduate credit is not available with this option. Either way, educators will receive digital credentials (certificate and badge) for each five-hour course completed.

Which pathways are the courses taught by Laura Gardner / Immigrant Connections in?

The Family Engagement Pathway includes:

Immigrant Family & Community Engagement in Schools (Part 1)
Immigrant Family & Community Engagement in Schools (Part 2)
Cultivating Leadership Skills Among Immigrant & English Learner Parents

The Cultural Proficiency and Equity Pathway includes:

Understanding the Background of Refugee Students & Families
Supporting Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth in U.S. Schools
Trauma Informed Teaching & Social Emotional Learning (taught by another instructor)

The Online Learning Pathway includes:

Engaging Immigrant and EL Families in a Virtual World
Online Language and Literacy Development for English Learners (taught by another instructor)
Delving Deeper (taught by another instructor)

Are there any prerequisites for these courses?

No! Register for any of the courses that you’d like. Our only suggestion is that you take Part 1 of “Immigrant Family and Community Engagement in Schools” before you take Part 2. If you have any questions about what course(s) would be best for you and your situation, please email Laura at laura@immigrantsrefugeesandschools.org.

I’m unsure which course will help me the most. Will you help me decide?

If you have any questions about what course(s) would be best for you and your situation, please email Laura at laura@immigrantsrefugeesandschools.org.

What do the courses include? How is the content taught?

The content in each of the courses is divided up into various lessons. Each lesson includes a short video lecture, a group of resources (articles, videos, websites, etc.) with instructions on how many to review (usually 1-2), and an optional forum for comments and discussion. Course participants also need to complete a “Participant Reflection Guide” for each course, which involves responding to various prompts and questions as well as applying the information to one’s instructional setting.

How long will I have access to the course?

You will receive access a couple of days before your course begins (January 16, 2023). You will receive an email about how to log on. You will have access to the course content until April 30, 2023.

How long will the course take me to complete?

Each course will take about 5 hours to complete. You can see the anticipated time breakdown in each course’s syllabus, which is provided at the beginning of each course. (If you would like to see a syllabus before purchasing a course, just let us know.) Some educators prefer to devour the course over a weekend while others prefer to absorb bits and pieces each day. The choice is yours!

How do you know if I’ve successfully completed the course?

You will have successfully completed the course once you have watched all of the video lectures and submitted your Participant Reflection Guide.

Will I receive a Certificate of Completion?

Yes, participants will receive digital credentials (certificate and badge) for each five-hour course completed. After Laura Gardner or colleague reviews your Participant Reflection Guide (please give us a week to review it), she responds to your email with feedback and loops in English Learner Portal to issue your digital credentials.

What is English Learner Portal?

English Learner Portal is an organization that provides professional development to educators around working with English Learners and their families. This includes face-to-face workshops, synchronous online workshops, and asynchronous (self-paced) online courses. English Learner Portal partners with UMass Global to award graduate credits for its training.

These FAQs were wonderful, but I have more questions...

We’re here to help! If you have questions about the content of the courses, please email Laura at laura@immigrantsrefugeesandschools.org. If you have questions about registration, payment, or any of those types of logistics, please email info@englishlearnerportal.com.

Can I pay for these courses with a Purchase Order?

Of course! Email info@englishlearnerportal.com with the request.

Is it possible to customize the start and end dates for each course?

You bet! Email info@englishlearnerportal.com to make that arrangement.