Professional Learning

Professional Learning

Online Learning Modules for K-12 Educators

Teenaged students and bearded male teacher in group discussion in classroom

Teaching Difficult Issues

  • Sections: 5
  • Self-paced
  • 6.00 Hours Est. Time
  • Act 48 Eligible

Designed to assist educators with the multilayered challenges of teaching difficult issues.
teen students in collared shirts seated in chairs arranged in a classroom discussion circle with laptops

Trauma-Informed Practices

  • Sections: 7
  • Self-paced
  • 6.00 Hours Est. Time
  • Act 48 Eligible

Developed to assist educators with the multilayered challenges of supporting K‑12 students, teachers, and other school community members who have experienced trauma.
Teacher seated at desk with open laptop surrounded by older elementary students looking at her screen enthusiastically.

Using Media to Facilitate Difficult Discussions

  • Sections: 5
  • Self-paced
  • 6.00 Hours Est. Time
  • Act 48 Eligible

Designed to assist educators with the challenges of integrating media into the classroom.

Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative

As part of the Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative, the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State enables K-12 educators to effectively teach difficult topics such as racism and trauma. The University-wide Initiative offers sustained and customized professional learning programs, online modules and instructional materials. Through a trauma-informed lens, the Initiative guides teachers in helping students develop insight into the human condition and life skills such as empathy, active listening, critical thinking, civic discourse and agency by applying inquiry approaches to the instruction of difficult topics. Over time, these methods become transformative, contributing to equitable education for all children.

Learn more about the initiative.