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Courses >
Courses for Teaching Professionals > Big Ideas in Little Books
Syllabus:
All
courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two
lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course.
You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must
complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new
section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure
to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
In
our first lesson, we'll talk about the types of instructional aids you
might consider developing. But more than that, I'll show you specific
examples of actual aids I've developed and marketed in each category:
printed book(lets), manipulatives, student activity kits, and more.
Then, I'll introduce you to the power of the print-on-demand
technology, a technology that allows you to produce book(lets) of the
same quality and appearance as the books you find in book stores—and in
only classroom quantities! It's a "wow" moment that will get you
excited about the possibilities awaiting you.
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| Friday - Lesson 02 |
Is
there a secret that will virtually guarantee your success in developing
a winning instructional aid—one that increases student performance, the
learning underlying that performance, and the probability it can be
marketed successfully? You bet there is—it's called reverse engineering
and it's the most exciting, most powerful concept in this course. In
this lesson, we'll incorporate a fusion of reverse engineering with a
10-part developmental platform to help you align your product design
with student performance standards.
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| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
I
hear you saying, "But Mike, can I really compete with the major
educational publishers?" My answer will surprise you: the question
isn't whether you can compete with them, but whether they can compete
with you! You'll find that they can't. The future of educational
publishing lies not with the major publishers, but with individual
teachers—teachers just like you! I'll show you step by step how to
market the instructional aid you develop through huge educational
product distributors. I'll do something for you that your district
can't: I'll show you how to profit financially from your great ideas!
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| Friday - Lesson 04 |
In
this lesson, we'll take an in-depth look at the heart of designing
printed instructional aids. From page layout, to nonvolatile student
response materials, to my 20-part checklist for organizing the
development of your product—we'll get you on the fast track to success
in a hurry.
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| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
Today
we'll explore student activity kits. I'll give you a developmental
platform to organize your progress, and then we'll move on to covering
safety issues, locating the components you need, and developing a bill
of materials. Then we'll look at specific examples of student activity
kits that I've developed and how you can build off of my ideas.
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| Friday - Lesson 06 |
The
fun is just beginning! Manipulatives, models, and games—these are the
topics today. There are benefits of turning your idea for a printed
instructional aid into one of these products, too. These types of
instructional aids can boost your profits if you plan on marketing your
product, and they'll give students a hands-on aspect to their learning.
Let's not forget—these products are just plain fun for kids to use!
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| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
Break
out the director's chair—today we'll talk about developing video
instructional products. "But Mike, I just want to develop a simple
instructional booklet." Good for you, and that's exactly how I felt
with my first few products. But in today's lesson, you'll learn exactly
how I created over a dozen network-quality video learning products
without spending a dime to do it. You'll learn how to develop quality
video instructional aids using state of the art technologies, and do it
for pennies. We'll discuss the development of a video aid I developed
which turned into a product that now sells for over $1,000 in dozens of
catalogs of the largest educational product developers around the world!
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| Friday - Lesson 08 |
In
this lesson, I'll fully explain the education market and how to get
your product into that market. How can you sell you product yourself?
How can you get huge educational distributors to carry your product in
their catalogs? When is the best time to promote your product? Who do
you need to contact with your product? I'll answer all these questions
and more today.
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| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
Today
we'll talk about the secret tools of the trade that self-published
authors know about that help assure their success. I'll give you
contacts for marketing your product, as well as tips for software to
make your job easier.
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| Friday - Lesson 10 |
In
this lesson, we'll address the question of standards, student
performance, and the instructional aids you develop. We'll look at not
only increasing specific student performances, but also at improving
the actual learning underlying that performance.
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| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
To
boldly go where no one has gone before. Sounds like the opening line
from a Star Trek movie, but this is exactly what this lesson is about.
I not only want you to develop a winning product, I want you to promote
that fact to your community. I want them to realize that you have done
something special. So today, we'll look at how you can use the
media—print, radio, and television—to promote what you've done to your
community and beyond. I'll show you exactly how I've used these
techniques to book author interviews for many of my own books on over
100 radio stations and television programs, like ABC's World News. I'll
give you contacts, techniques, and tips on how you can do the same. I
want to make you famous!
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| Friday - Lesson 12 |
In
our last lesson, you'll find out how to incorporate what you've learned
to help others in your own building. We'll discuss an infrastructure
you can develop that will involve your peers in developing
instructional aids, too! You'll become the focal point for
reality-based change within your district!
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This
course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide
you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your
questions. The instructor for this course will be Michael McMillan.
 After
graduating from Western Michigan University with degrees in chemistry
and mathematics, Mike McMillan was employed as an inner-city public
school teacher for more than fourteen years. While teaching, he
developed a number of supplemental instructional materials that found
their way into the catalogs of many educational product distributors.
Since 1989, Mike has worked full time developing a wide variety of
student activity kits, instructional videos, supplemental work books,
lab manuals, and study guides for the K-12 education market. Mike has
been interviewed on some of the nation's largest radio stations and
television programs, including ABC World News. In addition to his
online courses, Mike does over 80 live seminars related to
self-publishing each year.
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins
(two free and simple downloads you obtain at
http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and
Get Adobe Reader).
Student Reviews:
"A great 'how to course.' Gave me the information I needed
to get several simmering ideas off the ground. I would recommend this
course to anyone interested in getting their work published. Cudos!"
"Awesome course! I feel as though the information presented
in this course was what I've been searching for in books, websites and
seminars, but have not found so clearly expressed and concise."
"A wonderfully inspiring and helpful class... full of incredibly useful information!! Thank you so much!!!"
"Excellent class. I look forward to developing my own little books."
"Fabulous information, organization and presentation. The
instructor, Mike McMillan, promptly responded to my questions. I am
applying what I have learned from Mike's "Big Ideas in Little Books".
Hopefully, my products will one day sell as successful as my mentor's."
"Great class. Excellent, informative lessons. Definitely
valuable information for me because I had already written books and
brainstormed activity kits but never put anything in motion. Thanks a
bunch Mike. I Truly enjoyed the class."
"Great class...I loved the pacing and time frame...extremely valuable information."
"Great Class!!! It provided more information than I expected. Thank you!"
"GREAT class!!!!! Mike "knew his stuff," and I'd love to see another class from him with more information. THANKS!"
"Great Class taught by an instructor who is an expert on the topic!"
"Great course...it covered much more than I thought would be
covered by the title alone...quite enjoyable and I have a wealth of web
sites to visit and additional information from which to learn....very
happy with both the course and instructor's knowledge and style."
"Great course -- I've already shared several ideas with
teachers I work with and have encouraged them to consider this course
for their own staff development plan. Thank you!"
"Great information, especially when trying to publish curriculum, thanks."
"Great Job, it was awesome to have a real world experienced
teacher to share his wealth of materials and resources with us. Talk
about empowerment!"
"Hi Mike, I truly got a lot out of the course and I am very
glad I took it! This was my first online course and I really enjoyed
and looked forward to the weekly lessons. I have a few ideas to market
an educational product, but didn't know how to go about getting my idea
to become a reality. Although, I have not actually created a product, I
hope to someday move from teaching to creating and marketing products.
Thanks for a wonderful class!"
"I am not a teacher in an actual school but I am a childcare
provider who has created and designed (specialty) classes for the
children in my care. This class has given me wonderful information to
get my ideas and knowledge out there to the wonderful world of
children! I have never been so satified with any course I have ever
taken. I can't wait to pursue another class from you. Thank you."
"I enjoyed learning what Mike McMillan had to teach; I
really wish I had this info in the 80's and early 90's when I was
teaching; I hope to use the course material to write a children's
book(s); please pass on to him how interesting his class was and how
much I agree with his assessment of the educational field; many who are
no longer teaching are in other positions due to the stresses of
teaching."
"I enjoyed the class. The lessons and assignments will
continue to be a valuable resource for developing tools for my
classroom and the marketplace. Thanks so much."
"I enjoyed the class; was a lot of information in a short amount of time."
"I enjoyed this course and found it very informative. I
appreciate the fact that I can put the information and knowledge gained
to immediate use! The instructor is very knowledgeable about the
subject and gave very valuable resources."
"I enjoyed this course and learned a lot of interesting and helpful facts that I didn't know."
"I felt this was one of the best courses I've ever taken,
on-line or in person. It was very useful, and very explicit in the
information presented. I would like a follow-up course, or something
else along the same lines from this author. I say BRAVO!"
"I found this course to be very helpful and inspiring. I would tell others interested in this subject to try this class."
"I had never thought of publishing my own educational
material. I thought it would be too difficult. This couse gave me the
insight and information to accomplish publishing my own educational
material. I have taught 30 years and am retired. I think I could put
this course to good use."
"I haven't taught for the past seven years and have been
homeschooling our youngest son while helping with my husband's
business. I have wondered for years what I could do with my teaching
degree without teaching. Now I know! Thanks."
"I have to say that this is one of the best classes I have
ever taken! It really has got the wheels turning in my head. I'm so
excited about getting started on my book and activity kit ideas! Thank
you so much for all that you have taught me!"
"I learned a lot from this course. Very informative."
"I made a binder with all the information from this course
in it. In our teacher lounge we have a table where we put "must sees!"
At our last staff meeting we discussed this class and people seemed
really pumped about the idea of doing their own stuff! At the end of
the day when I went to the lounge.....the binder was missing with a
note that said "to whoever took it...I'm next" People are waiting in
line so we will see!"
"I'm gathering up my Big Ideas and will be out of here
shortly. I'm setting out to change the world - and I'm starting right
here in my classroom with my students and then branching out to my
school and community, then heading toward state, national, and
international - and I may not stop there! Thanks for sharing and Mike
has done an exceptional job of showing us how to put our Big Ideas to
work! THANK YOU, Mike! This is one of the best classes out there!!!!!"
"I think this was an excellent class and I would love to
take another class from Mr. McMillan. Well worth my time, effort and
money!"
"I thought that the instructor did a great job of
communicating a great amount of helpful information...I worked for an
educational publishing company as a sales representative and consultant
and was interested in how the instructor presented the home made
version with additional info about textbook companies and felt that he
was quite accurate and knowledgeable...I enjoyed the course."
"I truly appreciate all of the information you passed along
to us. It has been a pleasure taking your course and I will certainly
recommend it to peers!"
"I truly got a lot out of the course and I am very glad I
took it! This was my first online course and I really enjoyed and
looked forward to the weekly lessons. I have a few ideas to market an
educational product, but didn't know how to go about getting my idea to
become a reality. Although, I have not actually created a product, I
hope to someday move from teaching to creating and marketing products.
Thanks for a wonderful class!"
"I was very satisfied with the course and the instructor. His enthusiasm was contagious!"
"Mike, how can we ever thank you for all you have done for
us!! The information and expertise you've shared with us is absolutely
invaluable!! I do hope that it will someday lead me to a fun little
book or two in the future."
"Mike, I enjoyed the course immensely. All of the
information was clear and well-written, and was new to me. I will
definitely recommend the course to others. I especially appreciate your
suggestions in the discussion area regarding special books for
exceptional students."
"Mike, This class has been one of the best among 100's of
classes I have taken! Not only have you planted seeds for ideas, but
you have taught us how to nurture and harvest our ideas! Thank you so
much and I am already recommending your class to our person at our
School District Central Office who recommends classes for teachers.
Thank you again! You are making a difference!"
"Mike was the most energetic and knowledgeable teacher I
have ever had in an online course!! I would recommend this course to
anyone who wants to learn a lot as well as have fun!"
"Mike, when I signed up for this class I had hoped to find
some suggestions to help me create better learning and enrichment tools
for use in the classroom. There was much more covered in this course
than I had ever imagined! I had never considered publishing my own
materials before, but now....who knows??? Thanks for all of your
information and inspiration!"
"Mike, When I signed up for this class I had hoped to find
some suggestions to help me create better learning and enrichment tools
for use in the classroom. There was much more covered in this course
than I had every imagined! I had never considered publishing my own
materials before, but now....who knows??? Thanks for all of your
information and inspiration!"
"Mike, you are a wonder. I hope that I can emulate that
energy when it comes to developing my own instructional aids! Thank you
for such a comprehensive course. I enjoyed learning the material!"
"Much of the publishing and marketing information was new.
Mike was very thorough and definitely set the wheels turning about this
process leading to profitable results as well as meeting student needs.
I am determined by Mike's positive outlook and success to follow
through on several ideas I've set aside for far too long. This is my
second online course completed with your program and I have thoroughly
enjoyed this experience."
"My students are encouraging me to 'GET WITH IT'. They want
to 'buy' my book. Many are excited that they might be 'in' my book. I
hope to keep their interest level up as I collect my materials."
"Thanks for all of your suggestions, Mike. I've got several
ideas for booklets I'd like to create, and ideas for others our
department could use. I was also thinking as I read the final chapter
that, if I get my own act together on these projects, I'd like to share
these ideas with the teachers at my children's elementary school. It's
an inner-city magnet school with lots of very creative teachers and
much in need of positive publicity. Thanks for all of your very
concrete suggestions. There is a wealth of information here for me to
sift through as I try to put some of my own ideas down in writing. It's
really a wonderful course."
"Thanks, Mike for an informative and engaging course! I'll
definitely make use of the principles learned here to guide the
development of targeted learning aids for the benefit of my students."
"Thanks so much! This course was interesting and useful! I
have often thought of trying to market what others have told me are
great ideas and now I feel that I have the ability to do just that!"
"Thank you for all the information to help us get started in
selling our ideas in booklets, kits, or in videos/DVDs. The information
was a lot, but it makes sense and it should be an easier for our ideas
to become realities. I was overwhelmed with all the material and
resources, but in the end it will be very helpful. Thank you again!"
"Thank you for the very interesting, and well organized
course. I have taken many teacher education courses and have found very
few to be as organized, informative, or thought provoking. I looked
forward to the release of each lesson and now look forward to
developing and marketing my ideas."
"Thank you Mike for a fun and exciting course. I loved how
you included support material through website links that I would have
never found without your help. I can't thank you enough for all the
wisdom and support that you passed on!"
"The class provided so much information. It was just what I needed!"
"This class, its resources, and ideas... have created a
great wealth, a plethora of valuable tools for our futures... I'm sure
I speak on behalf of everyone who has taken this class, that "Big Ideas
In Little Books" and all the printable materials and resources that
come with it, will go on teaching us as we have the opportunities to
re-read them... Thank you for the inspiration and thank you for
creating such a great course that can bring so many of us wealthy ideas
that will touch so many students... I would suggest this course to
anyone interested in changing the way they teach, or the way they view
the field of education. And to me, it isn't at all about making extra
cash; it’s about changing lives through enrichment! That's the wealthy
experience!"
"This class provided the detail needed to understand the
material, and to encourage my individual growth as a teacher. I look
forward to implementing the ideas that I have generated while taking
the class, and would highly recommend it to anyone considering creating
their own educational materials. The instructor was thoughtful,
creative and responsive to all questions and truly supportive of the
developmental process. I also feel the course material will provide me
with excellent reference material in the future."
"This course is really great! I have learned so much about
business and how to get things done. About two years ago I wrote a
preschool level book and have been trying to figure out how to go about
having it published. In chapter nine I learned everything I have been
searching for to do this. Thank you for all the help."
"This course was exactly what I was looking for. I always
create my own assignments, projects, etc. for the classroom because I
am unhappy with adopted texts, so now I can take it a step further."
"This course was very interesting and fun. I learned new
information in Education Administration, standards and policies, and it
complemented my knowledge in educational aids design. It helped me to
find new ways to make my big ideas a reality and to use them to improve
students’ learning process. I'm grateful for having the opportunity to
study this course on-line, at my pace and with enough time to complete
it."
"This is a great course for all teachers who may be
interested in developing their own products for the classroom.
Excellent references and materials!! The instructor explained all
concepts clearly and with great examples (using work he has done). Very
helpful!!"
"This is a great course for all teachers who may be
interested in developing their own products for the classroom.
Excellent references and materials!! The instructor explained all
concepts clearly and with great examples (using work he has done). Very
helpful!!!"
"This is the most informative class I have ever taken!"
"This was a fantastic course - I've been looking for just
such a class. The information was outstanding, and even though we never
met Mike McMillan, I felt as if he were genuinely interested in my
success."
"This was a great class for anyone interested in learning every aspect about selling teacher products."
"This was an excellent course about creating supplemental
educational materials. I enjoyed looking at the various options that
one could consider. The instructor was very motivating and made me feel
that I could really reach the goal of creating my own products."
"Very affirming of what teachers do and provides teachers
with straight-forward information on how to take advantage of what they
do in a financial, self-promoting way."
"Very helpful course! It answered my questions on projects
I'm working on now, and inspired me to do more. Mike McMillan is an
excellent teacher, and the course is well thought out and written. Mike
is a great teacher of teachers; this is because he continues to be a
student himself and grows in his career."
"Very informative and helpful. So glad I took the course.
The information I received will definitely help me to get my ideas on
paper and out to other teachers. Thanks!"
"Very nicely done-I especially like the many resources that were given throughout the course."
"What a fantastic class!!! Very informative, detailed,
practical, fun!!! Exactly what I needed to start publishing. Thank you,
Prof. Mike McMillan!"
"Wonderful instructor and ideas! Felt as if I was in a classroom...never alone! Thanks!"
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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Do
you have an idea for an instructional aid? The instructor--a former
K-12 teacher who is also the author and developer of over 50 products
for the educational market, will help you develop instructional aids
that align with standards important to your district.