Return-Path: <nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i1ODhmI27591; Tue, 24 Feb 2004 08:43:48 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 08:43:48 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <fc.004c4d1916915b593b9aca001e67db68.1691766c@umit.maine.edu> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Evelyn Beaulieu" <Evelyn_Beaulieu@umit.maine.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1134] Re: Pragmatic approaches to professional development X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Status: O Content-Length: 3831 Lines: 60 Thank you Barbara for sharing the Tennessee professional development information for this discussion. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit the Tennessee system. Their handbook is a great resource for state professional development systems. Here in Maine, we have one statewide professional development center, the Center for Adult Learning and Literacy at the University of Maine. We have two staff development specialists to cover our entire state and provide the state leadership activities required under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. Our Professional Development Handbook is revised each year and shared with all 126 programs statewide. Maine's professional development activities are tied to the AEFLA statewide leadership topics: distance learning, reading instruction, data management, family literacy, and instructional strategies. I invite you to visit our web site for further information on our professional development: http://www.umaine.edu/call/ Visit our calendar page to learn of our professional development offerings: http://www.umaine.edu/call/calendar/calendar.pl Evelyn "If you do not have time to read, you do not have time to lead" --Phillip Schlechty Evelyn Beaulieu, Director Center for Adult Learning and Literacy 5749 Merrill Hall, UM Orono, ME 04469 (207) 581-2413 evelyn.beaulieu@umit.maine.edu nifl-aalpd@nifl.gov writes: >Colleagues, perhaps we can take a look at what Tennessee does in terms of >professional development for its adult education programs. The state >contracts with the Center for Literacy Studies at the University of >Tennessee/Knoxville for the provision of professional development activites, >including on-line pd. A professional development catalogue is published, >listing all PD events and activities - chronologically, alphabetically, and >by track. In addition, FAQs are answered, and info about valuable websites, >electronic discussion groups, and other resources are included; this >organization is especially helpful to those new to adult education as well >as those who like info at their finger tips. Naturally, changes to the >directory are inevitable, but those are announced electronically via a >number of listservs. > >Each PD event is outlined in the directory with a brief description, the >intended audience, PD points to be earned, date/time/location, registration >procedures, and contact information. What I am seeing via my work as a >contractor with Tennessee is a commitment to multiple-phase PD in a >continuum that enables practitioners to address varing levels of interest, >commitment, and achievement. And yes, incentive awards are part of the >equation! I'm sure Jackie can provide details for those interested. > >Here in Texas, we are just getting back on track with PD. As Varshna >mentioned, 7 centers across the state have been awarded grants to deliver >professional development and technical assistance to both program >adminstrators and instructional staff. This is a monumental task in such a >large state and will no doubt take some time to fully and successfully >implement. Top that with state legislation requiring us to develop >demand-driven workplace literacy and basic skills curricula to address the >needs of the Texas workforce - particularly the limited English proficient >workers - and we've got our work cut out for us. Texas is hoping to focus on >several industry sectors. The Workplace Planning Conference held in Chicago >last December showcased some programs just beginning to "blend" English >language instruction and occupational skills training. Teacher preparation >was barely mentioned yet critical. As we know, wishing things to happen, >or even having funding for an initiative is no guarantee of success! PD is >key. Barbara Tondre-El Zorkani
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