New Technology-Based Ways to Deliver Professional Development COABE2007 Marian Thacher, OTAN, Leslie Petty, Project IDEAL,

2 What will we cover? Online Workshops Online Courses Online Study Groups Online Collaboration Voice over IP Yahoo Groups Workshop on a CD Videoconferencing

Online Workshops

4 Have you participated? Many options –WebEx –Breeze Many advantages –No travel –Easy to use –Good for communicating info –Good for collaboration A few disadvantages –Costs money –No private networking

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6 What is OTAN doing? Tech Plan Training Basic Computer Troubleshooting and Maintenance Professional Development and Technology Planning for Administrators Freeware and Shareware for Adults with Disabilities Share Your Favorite Math Web Site

7 What is CTAP Doing? Online tutorials –Creating Matte Jpeg Images –Creating a Navigation Button

8 CTAP Tutorial

9 View an Online Workshop Click on the link to view the class Gives a good idea of how it works Learn something new about PowerPoint!

Online Courses

11 Online Courses Have you taken one? Have you taught one? CALPRO courses –Designing Programs for Adults with Learning Disabilities –Managing the Multi-level ESL Class –Effective Lesson Planning Two new ones are being piloted now –Enhancing Learner Persistence –Organizing and Monitoring Instruction

Online Study Groups

13 Online Study Groups Developed by Project IDEAL Support Center Small group, extended PD opportunity – 6 – 8 teachers –Trained facilitator –Narrow content focus –6 weeks, 2-3 hrs/week Adaptable to a variety of topics

14 Benefits of Online Study Groups Allows for in-depth learning experience Teachers can participate on own schedules Increase skill/knowledge in content area Gives teacher experience of being a distance learner Creates a community of practice

15 Making it Happen For each course, Project IDEAL: –Develops content & course framework –Trains facilitator –Establishes a dedicated website Community Zero NiceNet Materials placed on course site or ed to teachers Course begins w/telephone conference call Remainder of course conducted virtually

16 Course Models Course content determines model used Case study model – for teacher generated issues –Teaching/learning problems –Evaluation of online distance teaching resources Seminar model – for literature based issues –Distance student persistence

17 Case Study Model Each teacher creates & posts one case study Group analyzes and helps with each case ( online discussion ) Facilitator provides guidance as needed Each teacher posts summary of feedback received

18 Seminar Model Participants provided with a set of readings Teachers complete assignments connecting readings w/practice Facilitator provides feedback on assignments Group engages in online discussions of key issues

19 Time Involved For teachers in class –About 18 hours For facilitators –About 50 – 60 hours –Includes pre-class prep, responding to written assignments, facilitating discussions

20 Key Findings from Pilot Test: Content Helped teachers –understand learning problems in general –learn more about teaching GEDC at a distance –acquire more solutions to teaching challenges –acquire more resources for teaching online –“deep change” for 1 in 5 teachers

21 Key Findings from Pilot Test: Course Design About the right length & amount of work –Four weeks is good course length –Most teachers spent 2 – 3 hours/week Opening conference call useful Online discussions preferred for remainder of class

22 Available at projectideal.org

Online Collaboration

24 What does it mean? Sharing documents – –Web sites Collaborating on documents –Online meetings –Blogs –Wikis Sharing other content –Frappr –Flickr –YouTube –Social Bookmarking

25 Blogs PD Blogs – sharing ideas –Jeff Carter’s Literacy/Technology blog Literacy/Technology blogLiteracy/Technology blog –ESL Transition blog ESL Transition blogESL Transition blog

26Wikis Collaborate on documents online –Anyone can edit –Can revert to previous versions –Many people can add or edit Wikipedia – Adult Education Wiki – Example of a PD project –

27 Frappr Map for TIMAC TIMAC Map TIMAC Map

28 YouTube Share video –Search for ESL –Example Example –Search for Fractions –Example Example –Search for Adult Education

29 Social Bookmarking Del.icio.us –Save your favorites –Access from anywhere –Share with anyone/everyone –See what others are saving –Create a group account

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Voice over IP (VoIP)

32 What can you do with it? Free phone calls from one computer to another Free calls from computer to land line Free conference calls (up to 500 people) Can record your phone calls Chat included Skype.com, Gizmo.com, Yahoo! Voice

33 What do you need? Fast Internet connection Head phones with microphone (quality of mic matters) That’s it!

34 Why is this important? Makes it easy to talk with others over a distance Free conference calls make distance meetings easy Importance of voice

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Online Groups

38 What is it? Group web site Discussion board PhotosDocumentsPollsCalendar

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40 What do you use them for? Sharing information Communicating with a group Sharing documents, photos, links Creating a poll Professional development

41 Elk Grove Teacher Group Group

Workshop on a CD

43 What is it? Uses capture software and recording software Short movies that demonstrate steps in a process Available online or on CD

44 Example OTAN PowerPoint tutorial for adult educators See demo See demo

Videoconferencing

46 What is it? Similar to a telephone call (audio conference) with the addition of a live video picture of the participants.

47 Videoconferencing Have you participated in it? Professional Development Uses –Meet with an expert –Discuss with distant colleagues –Meet regularly over a distance –Collaborate on a project

48 Videoconferencing What are the advantages? –Can go places without traveling –Can teach a class in 3 locations at once –Can reach isolated learners or classes –Can visit faraway places Disadvantages –Can be expensive –Depends on equipment and network –Not good for a lot of interactive activities

49 What do you need? Camera Video Display SpeakersSoftware

50 How does it work? Point to Point Multi-point

51 TIMAC Example PORTS – Capitol Museum –Meet with legislators Ano Nuevo State Park –Meet with elephant seals –Discuss possibilities with ranger

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