Welcome!

BHSSC provides self-paced online courses for educators, administrators, support staff, and family/community members through Instructure Canvas, catering to individual recertification needs, team/district-wide on-demand training, and digital support for in-person PD.

View Online Courses and On-Demand Training

List of Member Districts

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Key Features

Self-Paced Learning: Courses are designed to accommodate individual schedules, allowing participants to progress at their own pace.
Individual to Whole-Team: Courses are available to individuals, teams, and districts with differing skill levels and needs. Includes options for individual and bulk enrollments.
Automated, Digital Catalog: A new digital catalog at courses.bhssc.org simplifies the process of registration, tracking, and certification. Automatic generation of completion certificates and Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) certificates, accessible from the student dashboard.
Graduate Credit Availability: Options for obtaining graduate credit through local universities for courses longer than 15 hours to complete.
Free for Members: The majority of courses are free for Compass Member districts with the annual member code. For non-members, the average course cost is $75 per individual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on any section to see its questions, then click on a question to see its answer.

Courses

What are TIE Online Courses?

These are original, self-paced, graduate-level online courses and learning experiences through Canvas for educators and other professionals in the education sector.

What types of courses are offered?

The courses cover a range of topics in education. Courses are often either a book study or a flexible, modular style of course we call an "evergreen" course. Both types of courses make frequent use of takeaway resources, scenario-based learning, and feedback.

How long do courses take to complete?

The length of each course will vary. However, the majority of courses will take either half a day (4-5 hours) to complete or two days (14-16 hours) to complete. The number of continuing education contact hours (CECH) possible will give you an indication of the average length. For example, a "5 CECH" course will take roughly five hours to complete.

Are there any live sessions or webinars?

We strive to make training as accessible as possible. Part of this is ensuring that these courses can be accessed at any time. As such, we don't currently offer any live sessions or webinars on this platform. However, BHSSC divisions can offer live sessions and webinar training separate from this. Reach out to our organization if you are interested.

Are these courses accredited?

Yes, the courses can count towards continuing education contact hours CECH and in some cases, graduate credit. However, not all graduate credits may be accepted by all universities.

Who can I contact for technical issues?

We encourage you to first explore the Instructure Canvas Student and Instructure Catalog Guides before reaching out for help. However, you can reach out to BLicht@bhssc.org if the issue persists.

Registration and Instructure Catalog

How do I register for a course?

Register through the digital catalog at courses.bhssc.org by creating an account, browsing the available courses, and following the enrollment instructions as they appear. More information on using the Catalog can found in the Instructure Catalog Guides.

What is a Member Code, and how do I get it?

The member code is an annual promotional code for Compass Member districts that provides free access to select courses and can be obtained in several ways:

Your district administrator, business office, and curriculum director will be emailed the annual code at the start of the new fiscal year in July. They can share this with staff as they choose.
You can contact compass.membership@bhssc.org to request the code. When you do so, please state which member district/school you are a part of.

You enter this code in as the "promotional code" when checking out. It can be used for multiple courses and by multiple individuals. Each member code only works within its fiscal year. You are encouraged to share your code within your member district.

Can I enroll multiple people or a whole team at once?

Yes, there's an option for bulk enrollment in the Catalog for registering multiple members. You first need to reserve and purchase multiple enrollments. After that, you can invite individuals to the seats that you have purchased.

Can I track my team's progress?

We recommend that you track your team's progress primarily through the certificates of completion or their Catalog transcript. After participants have completed all requirements, they are automatically awarded these certificates. They can then email or share these PDF certificates with you to demonstrate participation. If you need more detailed tracking, please reach out to BLicht@bhssc.org to be placed as an observer for your team.

Instructure Canvas

What is Canvas?

Canvas is the learning management system that we use to house our online courses. It is owned by Instructure and is paired with a sister program called Catalog that serves as our registration system. If you haven't used Canvas before, you can learn more about it in the Student Guides on the Canvas website.

How do I access my courses on Canvas?

After enrolling in a course via the Catalog, you'll be directed to Canvas, where you can log in using your TIE account credentials to access the course materials. You can navigate to our Canvas account directly at https://bhssc.instructure.com/

Can I access Canvas on different devices?

Yes, Canvas is accessible on various devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

CECH/Certificates/Credit

What do I earn for completing these courses?

Upon course completion, a certificate of completion is automatically awarded and can be downloaded from your student dashboard in the Catalog. Beyond the certificate of completion, some courses may also provide different amounts of continuing education contact hours (CECH) or graduate credit as indicated in the Catalog. You decide which option to pursue at the end of a course.

What is the difference between CECH (contact hours) and graduate credit?

CECH reflects professional development hours, while graduate credit can be applied towards a graduate degree. They may have different requirements depending on the course. You decide on which option to pursue at the end of a course.

How do I register for graduate credit?

For graduate credit, you need to register with the respective university offering the credit for the course and complete any additional requirements, such as a capstone assignment. We recommend not registering for graduate credit at the university until after you have completed all assignments in the Canvas course. We also recommend contacting the instructor to let them know that you have registered for credit. Most courses are listed for credit through USF. For USF, find the workshop you are registering for in USF's TIE catalog and pay with a credit card through the secure registration system. If you would rather register by mail, complete the entire graduate credit registration form (PDF or Word) and mail with a check ($40 per credit hour payable to USF) to USF, Attn: Director of Workshops & Continuing Education, 1101 W. 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105 with appropriate payment.

Can I use CECH (contact hours) outside of South Dakota?

Our CECH certificates are built for renewal in South Dakota. However, we understand that we have plenty of individuals in neighboring states and beyond who are interested in contact hours for their state rather than pursuing graduate credit. In this case, you can follow the following instructions for neighboring states to pursue contact hours for this experience. As always, we encourage you to consult your state's guidance on renewal and contact hours first.

General Policies

*These are applicable unless otherwise specified by course or instructor.

What is the policy on using AI tools like ChatGPT?

Generative AI tools can be used to assist with writing mechanics such as rewording, drafting, formatting, and spelling. However, for any work that is being scored against course learning outcomes, the core thinking and analysis must be your own. For example, you may use AI to help polish the writing of a reflection, but the reflective thinking itself must come from you. If you're unsure whether AI use is appropriate for a specific task, please ask your instructor for clarification. If an instructor suspects that AI is being used inappropriately, that instructor maintains the right to request the assignment be redone in part or in whole OR for an alternative to be completed in place of the original (regardless of the degree of proof of AI usage).

What constitutes plagiarism in these courses?

Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own without proper attribution. This includes:

Copying text directly from sources without citation
Paraphrasing without citation
Submitting work done by another person
Reusing your own work from previous courses without permission

All sources, including websites, publications, and AI tools, must be cited. Violations may result in losing credit for the assignment and potential removal from the course without refund. We encourage collaboration and discussion, but submitted work must reflect your own understanding and analysis.

How are courses graded?

Courses use the following standard scale unless otherwise specified:

A (Exemplary): 90-100%
B (Proficient): 80-89%
C (Developing): 70-79%
F (Beginning): Below 70%

Grading is based solely on demonstration of the course learning outcomes through set success criteria. This means we focus on evidence of learning rather than factors like participation or effort. This ensures grades reflect actual achievement of course objectives and maintain consistency across all learners.

Can assignments be modified for my role or needs?

Yes! We recognize that our learners come from diverse roles and backgrounds within education. All assignments can be modified to better align with your specific role, needs, or preferences with instructor permission. Simply reach out to your instructor before beginning the assignment to discuss appropriate modifications that still meet the core learning outcomes. This might include adapting classroom-based assignments for administrators or support staff, or modifying delivery formats while maintaining content requirements.

What accommodations are available?

We are committed to providing equal access to professional learning opportunities for all participants. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request for individuals with disabilities. This may include:

Extended time for assignments
Alternative formats for materials
Modified submission requirements
Other reasonable accommodations as needed

Please contact your instructor or BLicht@bhssc.org as early as possible to discuss your specific needs. All requests are handled confidentially and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

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