Glad you asked, Silvio. I chose Moodle, originally, because it was 
free and offered all of the features I saw in more expensive 
programs. I used different versions of Blackboard over the years and 
found the platform to be challenging, requiring lots of tech support 
and student orientation. PBS used to use Blackboard and switched to 
Desire to Learn (D2L), which, I believe is a separate company. D2L is 
fantastic, and I've taught several classes with it. Of course, I 
can't afford it. I think that once I learn Moodle well, I'll be able 
to have it free on my own server, and that's why I paid that much for 
the first year. Classroom Revolution is hosting it all year and it 
provides total tech support for the software itself. Otherwise, there 
are many tutorials online to get through the management part.

As to the lessons, I assume that you are referring to the lessons I 
created on ebooks on TechBeat. I have oodles of other lessons as well 
on different sites. I am now moving toward developing lessons for 
students themselves (ABE, ESL levels), so that teachers can just 
assign them while working with students that have more need for 
contact at different stages. If they use the lessons and are 
successful, they'll pick up the working strategies, which is a form or PD!

I'm not sure about your question regarding html format. Are you 
asking about a template? I have stopped using a lot of links to Web 
resources in the lessons themselves because of the constant changes 
that happen with URLs. I share URLs generously through other means, 
but  I don't depend on them or outside materials in the lessons 
themselves. I get really frustrated when I find an ideal topic for a 
lesson online, only to see a link to a book or something else 
teachers need to implement to content.

As to access, please help yourself and share generously. That's what 
we are about! Your feedback is precious to me, so do let me know how 
things go. You have my individual email, and we can keep talking! 
leecy at fone.net

At 07:09 AM 5/11/2007, you wrote:

>Leecy,

>You seem to be doing a lot and I know I will enjoy looking at all the

>materials that you have developed.  As a student, I'm usually lost, so

>I'm not sure if we are to ask questions right now, but I thought I would

>ask you know, because I also tend to forget things easily.

>I am curious about your choice of course management software. If you're

>paying that much for Moodle-related services, what made you choose

>Moodle over Blackboard?

>I like Moodle, but as you probably already know, you don't get direct

>support.  You do get a lot support from users through forums and online

>communities, but I was wondering that if you had grant money you might

>as well spend it on something already set up?

>I don't work for Blackboard and I like Moodle...but I'm just curious and

>I want to learn...

>

>I like the lessons and their format and approach. Question: Is there an

>html format of these resources too? I am thinking about the links to

>other resources in the lesson plans would be easier to navigate.

>Also, can anyone use those resources? or is it just for teachers in

>Colorado?

>

>Thansks for sharing

>

>Silvio

>

>--

>Silvio J. Avendano, Ph.D.

>Director

>Online TESOL Professional Development Programs

>UMBC English Language Center

>207 University Center

>1000 Hilltop Circle

>Baltimore, MD 21250

>410-455-1578

>410-455-1115 (Fax)

>http://www.umbc.edu/elc/

>

>

>Leecy Wise wrote:

>

> >> 1) So please tell us about your program's, state's, or organization's

> >> work in online PD -- What's happening in online professional

> >> development?

> >

> >

> > I represent the Four Corners Professional Development Resource Center

> > (4CRC) for the Dept of Ed's (CDE) Adult Education and Family Literacy

> > Program.

> >

> > My focus is on providing training opportunities and information to

> > encourage practitioners to integrate technology into teaching and to

> > learn through distance education opportunities. I run a number of

> > Websites to promote that mission. You may want to check our main

> > content site, http://www.coloradoadulted.org/. My last newsletter on

> > that site, Tech Beat, focused on professional development and

> > announced a series of blended  workshops that I'll be offering in the

> > new future. To check that issue, go to

> > http://www.coloradoadulted.org/techbeat/techbeatApril_May07.htm. Those

> > particular workshops will offer Prof Dev points from the state and

> > graduate credit for those who wish to pursue it (I have a great

> > working relationship with Adams State). The workshops themselves are

> > free, except for the GotoMeeting session, which requires participants

> > to pay their own regular long distance fees. I've offered to send

> > 1-hour, pre-paid phone cards to programs that are really struggling

> > financially.

> >

> > 4CRC offers many training opportunities for faculty throughout the

> > state through blended or hybrid instruction. I often visit programs

> > for a little hands-on work when they wish. We have just purchased

> > Moodle for a year, which I want to use extensively for students and

> > staff development. Moodle is a powerful online classroom program with

> > great bells and whistles: gradebook, forums, chats, resource and

> > assignment rooms, calendars and more. I'm glad to share info on that

> > for anyone who wants. Moodle itself is free; however, I thought I

> > would use Classroom Revolution's hosting and technical support plan

> > for a year, before I try to host Moodle on my own server. Under that

> > plan, I pay $800, plus any training fees I may want to add. The

> > training is super expensive in my view ($400 for three hours in hybrid

> > form), but I had several teachers join me (up to ten) while I learned

> > how to work with the system myslef. I have found that this type of

> > training money is well used, when available, and avoids hours and

> > hours of troubleshooting on my part.

> >

> > GotoMeeting is just one option for blended instruction. I have found

> > it super easy and reliable, allowing connection through computer and

> > phone. It costs around $400 a year for unlimited use. Yugma provides

> > similar services for free. There are others around.

> >

> > Colorado has required that all programs pursue teacher certification

> > in adult ed. Those courses are offered onsite to some areas, but most

> > courses are offered through Colorado Community Colleges Online

> > (CCCOnline). I've taught several sessions and find the online

> > offerings ideal for teachers who have trying schedules.

> >

> > Adult Ed teachers are no different than K-12 teachers in that their

> > days are filled with conflicting tasks of all types. They have little

> > time to devote to their own prof growth. I would like to see $ to

> > provide oodles of incentives for teachers who want to grow. It's too

> > easy to put our own needs for professional development behind

> > everything else in our lives. I know because I to it to myself all too

> > often.

> >

> > Lot more on the subject, but I'll stop here.

> >

> > Leecy

> >

> >------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >

> >----------------------------------------------------

> >National Institute for Literacy

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> >

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> >http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Adult_Literacy_Professional_ 

> Development

> >

>

>

>----------------------------------------------------

>National Institute for Literacy

>Adult Literacy Professional Development mailing list

>ProfessionalDevelopment at nifl.gov

>To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

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>Email delivered to leecy at fone.net

>

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>

>--

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>Checked by AVG Free Edition.

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