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 i2UGVOm19745; Tue, 30 Mar 2004 11:31:24 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 11:31:24 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <fc.004c56fb01bb329a004c56fb01bb329a.1bb379a@scoe.net> 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: "Marian Thacher" <mthacher@otan.us> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1246] Online PD 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: 4403 Lines: 99 Hi Everyone, Online professional development can mean so many different things. I appreciate Eileen's list, because when I think about my own experience, the most significant learning has also been some of the most informal. For example, I've learned A LOT about assessing reading skills by reading this list for the last week! These kinds of discussions among colleagues who are passionate about their work are very precious to me. So, the listservs are one very important way of developing professionally, even though they aren't "courses." Maybe that is partly because they do form a community. Some of you I've met and I can "hear" your voice in your posts. Others I haven't met but I feel as if I know you. California is a big state, and my organization, OTAN, is responsible for supporting adult education in the area of technology. My particular focus is helping teachers use technology effectively with students. One exciting development recently is the formation of a Technology Mentor Network. We are just at the point where the bigger programs are figuring out how to create such a position, or at least a few release time hours for such a person, but there might be only one such person in each agency. So, when we created a Technology Mentor Network listserve for CA, there was a tremendous response, and now there are over 50 people on the list. To me, we are providing each other with just-in-time professional development. My hope is that this network will continue to develop and will offer a variety of PD opportunities to the state. Another example - we are currently in the midst of a 2-day Distance Learning Symposium, and yesterday we had Cheryl Keenan in for a keynote question and answer session via video conference. It was an interesting conversation, and somehow less formal that having Cheryl up on the dair in front of us. Her office is in the process of moving, and the conference room she was speaking from was piled with equipment, but she could still stand there and talk to us about technology and distance learning in adult ed. I think there are lots of applications for videoconferencing in PD, for exactly that reason, it's very personal. It's almost as good as being in the room with the participants, and once you have the equipment the cost is minimal now that we can do it via the web. I have seen ABE/ASE teachers in San Diego teaching pull-out math groups to several sites at once via videoconferencing, and the students were very comfortable with is. The students at the distant sites talked with the teacher and asked questions just as if they were together in the room. I really think we have only begun to explore this medium. On the down side, I recently participated in one of the TESOL online pre-conference sessions, on blogging, and the content was interesting, but I couldn't keep up with the volume of email and the reading. I guess I'm one of those who was looking for specific content, which I got to some extent, rather than the full online experience. Gee, it's hard to write a short post on this topic! I look forward to reading all your collective wisdom. Marian Thacher, OTAN Sacramento, CA -----Original Message----- From: jataylor [mailto:jataylor@utk.edu] Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 7:08 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1226] Online PD Hello everyone, At this time, this question is for our guests. Each of you have a unique involvement in the area of online professional development for teachers. Since there is much going on in this area, I'd like for you to help us get started in exploring some of the important questions for online PD. First, please tell us more about your work: Why did you/your organization become involved in online professional development? What need(s) were you addressing? How did you decide to address those needs? Describe the online PD you/your organization offer. How is the online PD you offer (or have offered) similar or different from more familiar forms of online delivery (i.e. course platforms)? What have you found to be particularly important for making online PD successful for teachers? What changes have you/your organizationexperienced in the development and delivery of online PD, perhaps even as a result of this? Thanks so much! I look forward to an exciting week ahead! Best, Jackie Jackie Taylor Co-Facilitator NIFL-AALPD jataylor@utk.edu
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