OnlinePDDiscussion
From LiteracyTentWiki
On March 29 - April 19, 2004 guests joined the Adult Literacy Professional Development (formerly NIFL-AALPD) discussion list for a two part discussion of online professional development. A description of the discussion and links to the guest list, summary, and full discussion are below. To subscribe to the discussion list, visit: http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Professionaldevelopment
| Online PD Guest Participants |
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General Overview
Adult Literacy Professional Development (formerly NIFL-AALPD) subscribers discussed the many aspects of online professional development for teachers, including:
- Types of online learning opportunities available to teachers
- Practical considerations and possibilities of offering online professional development
- What is being developed
- How the field of professional development is advancing the web presence of online PD in new and creative ways
- What is missing in online PD
- Teachers' experiences teaching and learning in online PD formats
Part 1 (March 29 - April 5, 2004)
Professional Development Online: An Overview
Guest participants addressed a broad range of topics relating to online professional development, including methods, considerations, and implications.
Topics included:
- Subscribers' experiences with teaching and learning with online PD
- Non-technology related issues involved in selecting and using online technology
- Hybrid approaches to distance learning PD (combinations of on-line and face-to-face)
- Alternative delivery systems
- Various ways to create "online courses"
- Issues in using online PD for smaller programs with limited access
- State consortium approaches to online PD
- Inexpensive ways in which programs may be using technology to enhance/extend professional development techniques
[While panelists were not formally scheduled April 5-11, subscribers continued discussing the topics.]
Part 2 (April 12 - 19, 2004)
Content and Course Development for Online Teacher Professional Development
Building on the discussion from week one, subscribers discussed online courses for teachers in detail. They focused on content creation and adaptation; facilitation strategies, and what online tools best meet specific teaching and learning needs.
Topics included:
- Re-purposing face-to-face workshops and courses for online formats
- Making online courses visually rich, stimulating, and interactive
- Skills for negotiating online learning environments
- What features teachers and facilitators like for different online learning needs
- Considerations when moving courses from one learning management system to another
- Open source software alternatives
