Missy,
We've had good success using a similar approach with the introductory 
course we offer at Project IDEAL.  We use the FTF intro session to get 
all of the course participants familiar with the online platform.  One 
of the things we do is practice at using the discussion, with everyone 
practicing posting comments.  We also talk about how the goal is to have 
the online discussion mirror a FTF discussion, and get people thinking 
about what that might entail.  Some people take to it very quickly, but 
for others it remains a more challenging task.

Leslie

missy slaathaug wrote:

> I think this is a very cool idea, Holly.  When I tried to start up a 

> blog for ESL teachers here in SD, it limped along and then finally 

> expired.  A few teachers complained that they didn't know how/couldn't 

> figure out how to sign up and post comments.  Many never even tried.  

> We should have introduced it at a F2F session, and then required 

> everyone to sign up and practice posting.  Your idea sounds very 

> intriguing, even if it isn't fleshed out yet. . .

>  

> Missy Slaathaug

> Pierre, SD

>

>  

> On 5/14/07, *Holly Dilatush-Guthrie* 

> <Holly.Dilatush-Guthrie at ccs.k12.va.us 

> <mailto:Holly.Dilatush-Guthrie at ccs.k12.va.us>> wrote:

>

>     Thought/Idea?:   Many PD opportunities (if not most) conclude with

>     some sort of evaluation -- and often the style/format of those

>     evaluations are similar/repeated -- perhaps the evaluation portion

>     of direct, face-to-face PD opportunities could (fairly easily) be

>     online and planned during the last half hour of an event, with

>     registration onto online component a required task during the

>     break/lunch/etc and then the RE-entering of the site (good

>     practice, and we all know repetition helps!) to complete the

>     evaluation could be the final task of the day.

>

>     This would help ensure that participants left their correct

>     emails, provide a database of contact info of confirmed

>     participants, give a 'teaser' of what an online experience could

>     be -- and provide evaluation.

>

>     A very simple Moodle could be set up -- with the evaluation

>     including a link to a survey AND a question or two on an

>     interactive discussion --

>

>     and with minimal adjustment -- it could be used again and again --

>     setting up new groups on the same Moodle or (easily) copying the

>     outline/framework of one course to another new Moodle.

>

>     Has anyone tried anything similar?  What do you think?   FYI, this

>     idea came to me while reading posts today -- it is not a

>     well-thought out idea -- does it have promise?

>     Holly

>

>     "No matter what our attempts to inform, it is our ability to

>     inspire that will turn the tides."

>     Holly Dilatush

>     ESL distance learning, Dialogue Cafe, Volunteer coordinator

>     Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning Center

>     1000 Preston Ave., Suite D

>     Charlottesville  VA  22903

>     (434) 245.2815 office

>     (434) 960.7177 cell/mobile

>     http://theHsmile.org  ['home' to several Moodle CMS (course

>     management systems/virtual classrooms)]

>     http://www.Charlottesville-ESL.org

>     "Live with intention. Share inside~out smiles, inspire hope, seek

>     awe and nurture in nature."

>

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-- 
*********************************
Leslie Petty
Associate Director, Project IDEAL
University of Michigan
Institute for Social Research
734-425-0748

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