Summaries
From LiteracyTentWiki
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 1128] Summaries
From: Taylor, Jackie jataylor at utk.edu
Date: Tue May 15 21:13:46 EDT 2007
PD List colleagues -
Below is a recap of discussions for the last two days. Feel free to
nudge me about anything I may have missed! :-)
All threads can be found at:
http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Distance_Discussion_Topics-by-Thr ead
(just as quickly as they can be manually posted!)
or the PD List Archives at:
http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/professionaldevelopment/2007/date.html
(automatically updated)
Monday, May 14th
On Monday, we heard from several of our guests and subscribers, and we
now have a collection of issues and questions regarding online PD
(http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Subscribers_Questions_-_Online/B
lended_PD) . Discussion was broad-based, and touched on the values of
discussion boards and threaded posts, the need to revisit boards
multiple times a week to keep the interactions lively. Some expressed
frustration with chats, and some identified uses of chat rooms that are
effective, including brainstorming, problem solving, and creating
community. Several expressed the difficulty in gathering folks at the
same time for synchronous activities, and noted the importance of
planning for several synchronous junctures that offer a variety of
scheduling and access options.
We've also heard from subscribers in several states regarding their work
in online professional development, including Colorado, Illinois,
Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Maine (thanks for the Maine reporting tool,
Evelyn!), Pennsylvania, and California. We invite others to share what's
happening in online PD in their state.
Tuesday, May 15th
Tuesday focused in on three main themes:
- 1. Discussions focused on the benefits of different types of interaction:
- a. Face-to-Face (F2F) - social, getting to "know" someone in person, make connections
- b. Online - provides opportunities to reflect, to build an online social component (distance is also social), synchronous sessions to build rapport, and specific strategies to humanize the online experience.
- 2. Online PD and the "hard sell"
- Holly shared an idea to use F2F sessions to 'tease' educators into becoming more interested and comfortable with online technologies. Missy and Leslie shared ideas for introducing the online component in a F2F sessions, and Elizabeth discussed the use of teams, case studies, and study circles in using technology to address a real and practical need.
- 3. Jackie requested more examples of models for blending, and specifically how the EVOs are designed using mentors, training
moderators, and offering online learning experiences as a "ramp up" to TESOL. Noreen shared a surprising result from the NIFL survey she conducted, in that of teachers who completed the survey, 55% and 58% respectively felt they learned more and changed their teaching more as a result participating in the online course, when compared to other forms of professional development. (However, since this was a small group, no generalizations can be made from the survey.)
Synchronous Chats
Chat sessions on Monday and Tuesday respectively focused on using
technology mentors to increase teacher computer comfort and competence
with technology, and the problem of motivating teachers to learn more
about technology and online training.
Three chats are scheduled for Wednesday: http://tinyurl.com/ysob9j
<http://tinyurl.com/ysob9j> . Click on the scheduled times to learn of
the chat availability in your time zone.
Email Footer
Links to the Wiki and the Discussion Resources are now in the footers of
all list posts. NOTE: Some footers come as .txt attachments to emails.
-- All for now!
Jackie Taylor
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 1222] Notes from Newsprint - To post or not to post?
From: Taylor, Jackie jataylor at utk.edu
Date: Mon May 21 07:31:59 EDT 2007
PD List Colleagues,
Today is the last day of the formal guest discussion of online/blended
PD.
On Thursday evening and Friday, subscribers explored the questions
regarding "lurking" - a term often used to describe those who read
messages online but do not participate or "post." Given the high
energies of the topic, below you will find my 'notes from newsprint.' A
more complete summary of the entire guest discussion will be posted
after the formal guest discussion.
Lurking: What's wrong with it? Is it the job of the facilitator to motivate me if my needs are being met?
- The benefits of online and blended PD come from dialogue
- Participants don't "pass" online courses without interacting in the online community
- It is the facilitator's job to nudge others and remind them they are there to help others as well as themselves
- No social ques that participants are "getting it." In person, one has performance-based feedback and assessments. This may not always be true of online PD, depending upon the model.
- If everyone viewed posts but did not post, then there'd be no discussion.
- Online communities can die if no one makes an investment to post
- What is acceptable and what is not?
- It is like sitting in a classroom, listening to a great exchange of ideas. Many don't actively participate, but benefit from hearing from others
- In comparing F2F w/online, more may be inclined to participate online, b/c it gives folks time to compose ideas
- Viewing discussions is not a matter of if, but of when. (one may be subscribed to multiple lists - pick and choose when to post)
- Kinesthetic learners may need to process thru writing and responding in order to get something out of the discussion.
- Depends upon work environment. Especially if one is isolated much of the time - reading posts may be a reason to love the lists, to stay connected
- If my voice is represented, do I need to "say it again?"
- Does reading list posts constitute as valid professional development?
- Do others read from work or home? What are the considerations for each?
- Informal survey (from Holly): of 9 ESOL teachers, 7 were subscribed to ESL lists, only 2 read the messages and posted; only 2 said they would choose online PD as an option
- Katherine shared that others may not know the lists are here, or the benefits of engaging, participating
- Reading and posting - way to feel connected to other DL instructors
- Difficult in keeping up with postings during a work week
- The term "lurking" connotes guilt, and Jane shared that PD trainers would never do anything intentionally to make participants feel guilty
- Many dislike the term "lurking" - sounds sinister. The term is also offensive, has negative connotations
- Idea - give online participants a tentative plan/schedule of how to organize their coursework or participation
- Laine shared an end-of-course idea she uses to elicit summaries/responses from course participants, called "What Sticks" (could easily be online) in which she asks each student to pick something they especially recall from the course that will stay with them. She reports that they are amazed to hear each other's comments and learn from that final moment of thought. (Post 1213)
- Subscribing but not posting gives an idea of online audience, topic, and purpose
- Moodle (?) offers ways to track number of "hits" - one way to document interactivity from those who are not posting - they may be reading and reflecting upon lots of course content
- Think of it more as following or viewing the discussion. If someone else voices an opinion that I agree with, then I don't feel the need to say "Me too".
- Linda shared a memory of how lists used to work - discussions that were scrolling lists of input by members of the group, where one did not need to open each message to read and post comments.
- Leecy shared a course strategy: "I occasionally have a teacher who has an emergency that keeps him or her from participating in the week's discussion. Since I close forums when a new one comes up, that person has no chance to reply to others or dialog with them. [No catch up]. I often allow such a person to read all of the posts for the week and reflectively summarize the main points made during the discussion. I always get some very perceptive summaries from this "allowance," but I only allow the choice once in the course." (Post 1204)
- Much of the available research refers to not posting as "lurking" - seeking research and terminology that refers to it differently
- Jackie shared that the PD List is a safe space to read and also to voice your thoughts and ideas. You should feel no guilt for joining us here - in whatever ways you define your participation. And ideas do not need to be fully formed before we "put them out there."
Please feel free to add anything I've missed, or that has not been said.
Last question of the guest discussion coming up shortly!
Best, Jackie Taylor
