Developing PD with Consistency

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Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 1251] Informal Tips Sheet that Goes to My PD Developers
From: Crystal Hack chack at cait.org
Date: Tue May 22 16:38:50 EDT 2007

Hi Everyone,

I have done a lot of work with online PD development. I work with development teams that range in size from 2 to 20ish educators/administrators/coordinators. I know over the past several days I have put food for thought on the listserv. And I know food for thought can be good to exercise the mind, however, I also know that sharing practical PD development tools is something that might be equally, if not more helpful. Something to sink your teeth into so to speak. :-)

Below you will find a VERY INFORMAL message that I send out to my content developers. The Kathy that is mentioned is Kathy Tracey. She has been a lead developer the GED-i Project for several years now. She is generally my example/sample person. I use her work with my review in it to point out to developer the critical eye I use when reviewing their submitted content. The informal message below is an attachment that I include along with a sample of content (I have not included that in this message). I need consistency in what is developed. I need thoroughness and quality and I need clarity in what is developed. My development teams are made up of adult education professionals, many who have never developed content for use in PD before but all of whom have the knowledge base, best practices, and motivation to share. Those that work with me on PD development get a message or two (or a variation of this message) like the following. This is used to get them started, get them on the right track, or to correct them when there is a problem.

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PD Module Template Tips

You must state everything about the topic that you can in the content. We can’t assume the user knows anything, will do anything without our guidance, can make connections, etc. I know this is difficult to imagine, but we really have to put ourselves and our knowledge in there because it is not facilitated, we are not face to face. We have to have closure, clear connections, samples, examples, and ties to the GED-i made clear to the reader of this content.

Here is a set of tips that will help you when fully developing your topics. For each topic presented do the following:

1) Present the content you know.
2) Add in resources from online to support your content
3) Make sure your scenario adequately represents your content and the instructional questions that surround your content
4) Make connections to both traditional classroom and online learning.
5) Bring in samples/examples from the GED-i that support or illustrate your content.
6) Make sure all things are related to the objectives/goals/anticipatory set you created for your content.
7) Make certain you come full circle to close your content section by restating the starting scenario, revisiting your anticipatory set and tie everything together, no loose ends.


Introduction to the Module:

  • Take a look at Kathy’s. She has a decent introduction although I have included some feedback for her to make improvements.
  • The intro should be a separate document entitled IntroPD????.doc (put your title in place of the ???)

Module Content Set Up:

  • Bring the user into the module with an anticipatory set that clearly connects to the goals and the scenario and the learning objectives for the module. You can see my comments on Kathy’s submission.
  • Follow it with a scenario. NOTE: I don’t care for the title of the scenario box so if anyone can come up with a better title than the one listed please share it with me and the rest of the development group.
  • Transition from the scenario into the content and tell how the scenario relates to participant/instructors world and how the content will address the situation presented in the scenario. Then dive into the content and make sure you connect back to the scenario.
  • When moving from topic to topic within a lesson make the connections to the GED-i and to the scenario. Make the connections for the reader. Nothing should be left undone, do not leave the readers to figure something out on their own without some guidance from you. Again, this is not facilitated so we must provide as much information and make as many ties as possible to the goals, scenario and GED-i.
  • Give me closure to all sections. Transition me into each section. Revisit the scenario at the end and tell how everything that was presented helps with the situation presented in the scenario. Go out making the connections to GED-i.

NOTE: As far as module content set up, please model after Kathy’s she and I have worked together to get the set up the way I want it. She still has some work to do to get hers in tiptop shape but the actual structure of the content, the way it is presented is the way I expect it from all of you.

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I thought you might like to see this and could possibly use it to help in your PD development.

Take care.

Crystal

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