Creating Champions

From LiteracyTentWiki

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1306] Non-technology Considerations
From: Tim Ponder (tponder_at_zhost.net)
Date: Thu Apr 01 2004 - 11:33:57 EST

Hello,
I want to echo what several have said, wow! When Jackie asked me to join her in this activity, I thought it would generate a rich discussion, but what we have had the first three days is way beyond what I expected. I want to thank our guests and all participants of this list for their participation in this discussion.

We will be looking at some of the technology related issues in distance education, especially as they relate to the topics discussed so far. Yet it is important to (continue) addressing the non-technology angle. What other non-technology related issues need to be considered? What issues did you encounter in the planning or development of the distance education activity?

Examples might be related to accountability, accreditation and standards, teaching styles, or what pedagogical concerns were identified and addressed. How did your audience respond?

How did the non-technology related issues help define the choice of platform or technology you chose to use? What features of the technology became important? Did you or would you revisit your choice based on what you have learned?

And finally, to participants in distance education activates, how well did the chosen platform address your "non-technology" needs. What suggestions or requests would you have for the instructor/facilitator to enhance your learning experience.

tim

Tim Ponder
Ohio Literacy Resource Center/Midwest LINCS
tponder@literacy.kent.edu
865-637-7074
http://www.midwestlincs.org

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1307] non-technology: creating champions
From: Eileen Eckert (eileeneckert_athotmail.com)
Date: Thu Apr 01 2004 - 14:35:38 EST

Tim asked about non-technology issues around online pd. One that springs to mind is the role of advocates, champions, early adopters in getting started--key people with both the vision and understanding of the potential effectiveness of online pd <and> the authority or position in an organization to make things happen.

Can some people in organizations that are using online learning for pd talk about this?

Thanks,
Eileen

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1309] Re: non-technology: creating champions
From: Joyce Probus (JProbus_at_ket.org)
Date: Thu Apr 01 2004 - 16:01:30 EST

In October of 2001, KET and the Kentucky Department for Adult Education and Literacy launched an online training site designed to help Kentucky's adult educators prepare to teach their students about the new version GED exam, which was to come into use in January of 2002.

This free site, located at http://www.ket.org/ged2002, has been visited by teachers from all 50 states, and several countries. The site counter is at 79,226 visitors as I write, and I watched as seven new teachers registered in the minutes after 2 p.m. today.

There are several reasons this site has been so successful :

  • timely delivery of information that was new, and greatly needed
  • the graphic interface of the Internet permits samples of graphic literacy questions
  • simulation of alternate format questions, with immediate scoring and feedback

Please visit!

Joyce Probus
KET
560 Cooper Drive
Lexington, KY 40502-0022
800-354-9067

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1338] http://www.ket.org/ged2002
From: Duren Thompson (solveig_at_utk.edu)
Date: Mon Apr 05 2004 - 08:32:13 EDT

I like this site and have only one complaint -

What about the *other* subject areas on the GED 2002?
This site covers Math, Writing, and Critical Thinking. And while Critical Thinking is a major component of the Science, Social Studies and Reading sections - our practitioners have asked us when you all are going to "add" the other subject areas?

So they like it! And they want more! (We link to it and have them explore it in our GED 2002 Teaching Tools online Course.)

Duren Thompson
Center for Literacy Studies

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1310] Re: non-technology: creating champions
From: Eileen Eckert (eileeneckert_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Thu Apr 01 2004 - 16:20:06 EST

Joyce,
Thanks for the link. Did you have a "champion"? Clear demand for online training and someone to hear and respond? How did this training come to be offered online?

Eileen

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1312] Re: non-technology: creating champions
From: Joyce Probus (JProbus_at_ket.org)
Date: Thu Apr 01 2004 - 17:26:33 EST

The GED2002 Online Professional Development project was piloted by KET's Milli Fazey, project consultant for PBS LiteracyLink's GED Connection and Workplace Essential Skills. Just as Kentucky Educational Television's network of transmitters was developed to beam educational programming around the hills and hollows of our state--the physical barriers; the LiteracyLink project used technology to extend the opportunities and improve the quality of education for adult literacy providers across the nation (www.pbs.org/literacy).

Milli and DAEL applied this learning model to reach teachers across the state in a timely way, building upon the experience gained from LiteracyLink's online learning components and KET's role in the production of the GED Connection materials. Milli continues to develop online training materials for Kentucky, most recently for LiteracyLink's Online Management System.

KET is proud to partner with PBS to offer ESL/CivicsLink online professional development for teachers of Civics to English language learners (www.pbs.org/civicslink).

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1337] Re: non-technology: creating champions
From: Duren Thompson (solveig_at_utk.edu)
Date: Mon Apr 05 2004 - 08:31:15 EDT

In TN, we have been incredibly fortunate to have our State Director of Adult Education, Phil White, be a "champion."

He has really worked to integrate the benefits of technology into all aspects of Adult Education - at all levels. He has supported and encouraged online PD, Distance Education for Adult Learners (the full range - online through low tech), e-mail for communication, computers for programs, and "Computer Basic Skills" classes.

We also have a set of "Support Practitioners" in TN who work with other practitioners in regions of the state to answer questions, encourage good instructional practices, disseminate resources, etc. These folks (about 20 or so) peppered our first few online courses. They are the ‘’’gung-ho’’’ early adopters - and they in-turn "talked up" the courses to others as part of their "support" role . We have similar "gung-ho" supervisors/coordinators who also joined the early classes and talked them up to their instructors as well as their peers.

Then, of course, there is the whole Center staff and the wonderful, wonderful PI's we have (People In charge - 'Principle Investigators' to UT). They also threw their support, encouragement, challenges, and even needed skepticism in our direction as we over-enthusiastic techo-philes proudly announced "It can be done! Now how do we do it?" - and then went on through many jungles to capture the online PD beastie.

I feel we have also been fortunate in our support from the Federal offices - their encouragement, through Phil White, has been important as well. If there was no support or even "atta-boys" coming from that direction, I'm sure our struggles would have been longer.

So yes, having everyone "on the same page" made implementing Online Professional Development much easier. And since we already *had* such great advocates standing out there for us - I really have no ideas as to how to "find" or recruit such champions or advocates...Any ideas folks?

Duren Thompson
Center for Literacy Studies

Retrieved from "http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Creating_Champions"