Education Service Center, Region XI offers a comprehensive array of services to districts in the state of Texas to assist districts in providing technology-based supplemental instruction.

Prior studies and research in the area of technology-based supplemental instruction indicate that student achievement is improved when students interact with instructors and content is aligned. Teachers who are involved with online learning need to be supported with research-based training/mentoring and provided digital resources to support their content in a way that is always accessible to the students involved. (Twigg, C. (2001). Innovations in online learning:: Moving beyond no significant difference. The Pew Learning and Technology Program).

The training offered by Region XI is online and diverse.

One portion is designed to assist the teacher/teachers involved in delivering online courses as well as offering an online mentoring program for these teachers. According to a study of the Learning Network at the State University of New York, Fredricksen, et al., (2000) “interaction with the teacher was the most significant contributor to students’ perceptions of their learning. Students reporting highest levels of interaction with the teacher also reported highest levels of perceived learning in the course. Perceived learning was also higher among students who reported higher levels of interaction with classmates and among students who said their online class participation was higher than their participation in traditional classes.” ESC Region XI’s training for online or potential online instructors and mentors emphasizes the need for instructors to engage in interaction with students in order to achieve student success. It offers strategies for these activities while modeling the interaction.

Another portion of online training offered by the region is basic competency teacher training to help districts in empowering regular classroom teachers with technology in order to mentor and support the student population engaged in the project. CPE credit is given for the training and documented at the region.

The resources offered by Region XI are digital resources with statewide access. These resources include:

• TEKS-Based Electronic Field Trips/Content Enhancement
  
• Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning and Teacher <#1.0#>
  
• Professional Development – Teaching With Technology
  
• OnLine Databases - Texas Educational Technology Purchasing Consortium

1) TEKS-Based Electronic Field Trips/Content Enhancement (www.Connect2Texas.net)

• Connect2Texas delivers Technology-Based supplemental instruction
• It provides rural schools, students and communities with supplemental instruction
• Evaluations report the success or failure of each individual session
• Reports of student attendance and participation are maintained locally
• Districts can select Electronic Field Trips/Content Enhancement that are TEKS-based and supplement coursework in English language arts, social studies, mathematics, science or languages other than English for a grade level(s) specified within Grades 6 – 12
• TEKS-Based Electronic Field Trips/Content Enhancement are designed to meet specific TEKS objectives. Districts select Content Enhancement events that meet their needs in the subjects listed.
• Research shows that students are more engaged by doing and seeing.
• Various TEKS-based Content Enhancement Events Ongoing through August 31, 2010
• At least 200 to choose from

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2) Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning and Teacher Mentoring Network (online)

• Online Teaching and Learning and Teacher Mentoring delivers Technology-Based supplemental on-line instruction through teacher training and mentoring
• They provide rural schools, students and communities with supplemental instruction through teacher training and mentoring
• Evaluations report the success or failure of each individual session
• Reports of teacher attendance and participation are maintained by ESC Region XI and provided to districts upon request
• Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning and Teacher Mentoring cover the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare teachers to support the curriculum areas of English language arts, social studies, mathematics, science or languages other than English for a grade level(s) specified within Grades 6 - 12;
• Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning and Teacher Mentoring are best practices that research shows make a difference in student learning and supplement coursework in English language arts, social studies, mathematics, science or languages other than English for a grade level(s) specified within Grades 6 – 12
• Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning and Teacher Mentoring are designed to meet specific online course standards and best practices. Districts are able to train teachers to support or deliver online instruction in the subjects listed.
• Research shows that students learn more from a well trained teacher and teachers learn better through mentoring.
• Online Workshops and Mentoring Ongoing through August 31, 2010
• At least 3 online workshops and 1 online mentoring workshop per semester

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3) Professional Development – Teaching With Technology (online)

• Teaching With Technology delivers Technology-Based supplemental online instruction through teacher training
• It provides rural schools, students and communities with supplemental instruction through teacher training
• Evaluations report the success or failure of each individual session
• Reports of teacher attendance and participation are maintained by ESC Region XI and provided to districts upon request
• In order to deliver technology-based supplemental instructional support, teachers must have the technology-based skills appropriate for that instruction. For example, to assist students with graphing using an electronic spreadsheet, teachers must be knowledgeable in using a spreadsheet. The ESC Region XI Teaching with Technology (TWT) online professional development courses equip teachers with the necessary skills and competencies to address the SBEC technology standards required of all teachers.
• Teaching With Technology (online) covers the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare teachers to support the curriculum areas of English language arts, social studies, mathematics, science or languages other than English for a grade level(s) specified within Grades 6 - 12; The five topics covered in the Teaching with Technology (TWT) online professional development courses (spreadsheets, desktop publishing, multimedia, web pages/internet and databases) readily correlate to all curriculum areas. In addition, these courses prepare teachers to integrate technology into their curriculum area.
• Teaching With Technology (online) is based on the research that shows make a difference in student learning and supplement coursework in English language arts, social studies, mathematics, science or languages other than English for a grade level(s) specified within Grades 6 – 12. When teachers are well-equipped to deliver technology-infused instruction, student learning will be enhanced. Student learning outcomes can be demonstrated by assessment (using rubrics) of the project-based, technology-infused lessons.
• Teaching With Technology (online) is designed to meet state SBEC standards and best practices. Districts are able to train teachers to support online instruction in the subjects listed.
• Research shows that students learn more from a well trained teacher
• Comprehensive Series of Online Workshops Ongoing through August 31, 2010
• At least 3 workshops to choose from each semester

4) OnLine Databases - Texas Educational Technology Purchasing Consortium (TETPC)

• Texas Educational Technology Purchasing Consortium (TETPC) delivers Technology-Based supplemental on-line resources
• It provides rural schools, students and communities with supplemental on-line resources
• Usage reports indicate the success or failure of each individual database
• Reports can be produced by districts
• Texas Educational Technology Purchasing Consortium (TETPC) covers the content necessary to support the curriculum areas of English language arts, social studies, mathematics, science or languages other than English for a grade level(s) specified within Grades 6 - 12;
• Texas Educational Technology Purchasing Consortium (TETPC) is based on the research that shows make library resources make a difference in student learning and they supplement coursework in English language arts, social studies, mathematics, science or languages other than English for a grade level(s) specified within Grades 6 – 12
• Texas Educational Technology Purchasing Consortium (TETPC) are online resources that support all subject areas including those listed above. Districts are able to select on-line databases that best support the subjects listed above at reduced costs.
• Research shows that students have better test scores when there are well-run and well-equipped libraries. These on-line databases provide that well equipped library.
• Available on an annual subscription basis including Ongoing through August 31, 2010 but are not limited to
• Facts on File
• Thomson Gale
• HW Wilson
• Journey Back in Time
• netTrekker d.i.
• Newsbank
• Proquest
• Questia
• Rosen Publishing
• Teaching Books.net
• The World and I
• Worldbook
• Annual Subscriptions