The South Dakota Bureau of Indian Education has launched the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards (OSEUS) online training course (February 1, 2024).
OSEUS training courses were created to help administrators and teachers incorporate a basic understanding of Oceti Sakowin into their schools and classrooms. This online course is free and self-paced, allowing educators to take the class on their own schedule. This course is currently only available to educators with a K12.sd.us email address. This training course includes his three sections: “Getting to Know OSEUS,” “Practicing Cultural Responsiveness,” and “Creating Lessons Using the Inquiry Design Model.”
“The goal of the OSEUS course is to spread Oceti-Sakowin cultural awareness and education to all schools,” said Fred Osborn, director of the Indian Bureau of Education. “Our office is excited to offer educators the opportunity to learn about OSEUS and how to incorporate it into their classrooms.”
“Getting to Know OSEUS” explores the importance of the land, environment, identity, culture, language, oral traditions, sovereignty, and way of life of the Oceti Sakowin people, guided by the wisdom of South Dakota’s indigenous elders.
“Culturally Responsive Practice” guides teachers in understanding the backgrounds of Indigenous students and promotes sociocultural awareness. In this section, educators can expect to embrace the unique cultures of Native American tribes.
Creating Lessons Using the Inquiry Design Model provides guidance to teachers on how to incorporate OSEUS teachings into lesson planning content for various grade levels. Additionally, this course provides guidance to administrators to develop their one-year plan for the vertical alignment of her OSEUS in the school.
Educators are offered continuing education or graduate credit upon completion of the three-part course. Educators interested in taking the course with a K12 email address can register by visiting https://bhssc.pdx.catalog.canvaslms.com/browse/tie/oseus.
Click here to view the course promotional video. This effort is funded by his Wóokiye Project, a grant project of the Bush Foundation.
For more information about the Indian Education Department, visit indianeducation.sd.us.
