What technology is required?

thinkific.com: course website for accessing content, submitting projects, and sharing ideas with classmates
Zoom: online meeting for live instruction and group practice
Slack: free app for real-time communication with our Coaching Team and collaboration with classmates

Does Dr. Bonnie Singer personally teach the course?

Yes. She created the course and all of the embedded videos. She also will join you and your instructor in Zoom for class.

Who are the other instructors?

Our in-house Coaching Team has extensive experience with teaching EmPOWER not only to students of all ages and ability levels, but also to other SLPs and educators.

Who are my classmates?

Your class will consist mostly of general and special education teachers as well as speech-language pathologists working with students in grades 2-12.  If your job is to help students manage school writing, this course is for you.

How are the learning modules structured?

We believe in the power of multi-sensory instruction, so we present new concepts to you in lots of ways: written text, recorded video, and real-time modeling of how to use EmPOWER. Learning modules also include links that direct you to readings and other sources you can access online. The learning modules are asynchronous but packed with direct instruction.

Can I get graduate course credit, CEUs, or PDPs for this?

Vivido is an approved provider of Professional Development by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Everyone who successfully completes the course will get a certificate reflecting 45 professional development/certification maintenance hours.

If you are an SLP, your certificate will reflect all information required by ASHA. You can use this to fulfill your certification maintenance requirements.

If you are an educator, your certificate will reflect 45 professional development hours.

How much time can I expect to spend each week?

Coursework varies from week to week, so some weeks will take more time than others. The learning modules on the course website will take roughly one to two hours to get through. You can split it up if you need to, and you have a whole week to go through the material.

Class meets live in Zoom for two hours.  Then you’ll have 9 days to complete a project.  When you do that and how long it takes is really up to you.

Project peer reviews should take you about 30 minutes, and you have 4 days to do them.

Can I share the course materials with my other colleagues?

You will receive a packet of materials before the course kicks off. In that packet are guidelines that detail what you can and cannot do with material that is published and copyrighted by Vivido and its affiliated publisher, VividoWorks. Read it. In the event that you have additional questions we didn’t address there, just contact us. We’ll guide you.

Can I put EmPOWER online for my students?

Yes, but not in a location that can be accessed by the public. See the above-mentioned guidelines for, well, guidelines.

Will anyone use my work elsewhere?

If it’s awesome, we might want to show other educators and brag about how awesome you are and it is. If there are names or identifying information on your work, they will be removed.

What types of payment do you accept?

We accept payment via Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. If a school is paying your tuition and cannot provide a credit card, we require payment by check in advance of the course enrollment deadline. Please contact us directly at [email protected] to make payment arrangements.

Can I take this course if I live outside the United States?

Education professionals who speak English and live in other countries are welcome to enroll.  An additional $75 is required to cover the cost of international shipping.

Can I get documentation to be reimbursed by my employer?

If your school or organization is willing to reimburse you for the tuition, save a copy of your payment receipt when you enroll. Upon successful completion of the course, we will provide you with a certificate of completion that you can submit to your school or organization along with your proof of payment.

What’s included in the tuition?

Tuition covers all aspects of the course as well as materials, which will be shipped to you roughly a week in advance.

Do you offer payment plans?

We do not offer payment plans. Payment in full is due at the time of enrollment.

What if something happens to me, and I can’t finish?

We realize that doing life means you’ll encounter unexpected emergencies and stressors. If you hit a setback part way through that prevents you from completing the course, we will defer you to a future class.

What is your refund policy?

Tuition is non-refundable. If you enroll and find that you cannot start the course due to unforeseen events, we will defer you to a class that starts at a later date.

What happens after?

As a graduate of the EmPOWER online course, you are eligible to further your expertise by taking additional online Master Classes.

We’ll give you more information about both of these when you finish.

Where can I find you on social media?

We love hearing from you and hope to continue our dialogue with you for years to come. You can find us on:

Don’t be a stranger!

Enrollment

• Can I enroll if I speak English and live outside of the United States?
• Will this be relevant if I teach college?
• Can I take this course while working full time?
• Should I enroll if I am just starting out in my career

The Training

• Do I have to show up for each Zoom class?
• Do I have to have my camera on in class?
• Is the group work important?
• Do I have to comment on other people’s work?
• Can I do this if I don’t have much teaching experience?
• Will this be relevant if I’ve been teaching for a gazillion years?
• Will trained coaches give me personalized feedback on my work?
• Can I ask questions if I’m stuck or confused?
• Will I be able to talk to Bonnie Singer?

The Commitment

• Does this really take six months?
• Can I teach EmPOWER to students as I learn it?
• Will I use EmPOWER forever?

Tuition

• Can I pay with a credit card?
• Can my school pay my tuition?

After

• Will I have a way to stay connected to my classmates?
• Are there more classes I can take?