Topic-of-the-Month

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The PD List is highlighting a "Topic-of-the-Month." The purpose of having a monthly topic is to provide an additional way to use the Professional Development List -- so that we may maximize opportunities to collaborate.

How it works:
Pose your own questions, resources, tips and strategies to the PD List, pertaining to the Topic-of-the-Month. Any ideas or resources shared during the course of the month will be systematically compiled here, in the Professional Development area of the ALE Wiki.

Monthly topics are chosen by PD List subscribers, and are not meant to prescribe the dialogue. Anyone should feel free at anytime to pose their own questions and share resources both on _and_ off the topic-of-the-month. But by having a monthly topic, it may provide us an opportunity to go into greater depth, share our work (and work-in-progress), and collect resources and the latest PD strategies, issues, and solutions.

Ground Rule:
It is never too late to contribute to a discussion thread, especially as it pertains to the Topic-of-the-Month. If you feel too much time has elapsed or that the discussion has "come and gone," just remind us where we left off (a brief summary - sentence or two) and go from there. In these times, we are all very busy and many of us travel. It is better to contribute your thoughts than not.

To share resources pertaining to the month's topics, visit the link(s) below:

July: Follow-Up Models to Professional Development
-- Examples of effective follow-up to single session workshops or other face-to-face PD

NOTE: Guest Discussion July 9-13th: Research in Professional Development and Teacher Change

Guests: Cristine Smith and Marilyn Gillespie


August: Alternative Delivery Models and Innovations in Blends (Including, but not limited to):

  • Sharing our OWN work and seeing others': local/regional online courses
  • Tools/Course management systems such as Moodle
  • Pod casts
  • Synchronous distance PD such as Tapped In
  • Second Life
  • Use of interactive TV
  • Online Course Considerations: Facilitated, Non-Facilitated, and Self-Paced
  • Technology and Time Considerations

September: Keys to Communities of Practice
-- What learning communities are and strategies for building them, including, but not limited to:

  • Considerations in establishing and nurturing CoPs
  • Wikis and social networks
  • Distance Teaching and Online Facilitation considerations
  • Facilitator tips, face-to-face or distance
  • Role of moderator versus facilitator versus administrator versus participant, etc.
  • Lifecycles of online communities
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