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ESC Region XI

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The members in our class offer insightful ideas that will enrich my teaching experience. This course has been put together in a very clever way. Every part of it is an; ah….hah turn on the light bulb experience. There is no such thing as just reading what we are supposed to do; we have not been passive learners. Our learning has been very active. Every part of the course has given us a model to follow. The syllabus, guides , activities, and mentoring of the instructor have all been ideal in providing a positive learning experience. Debbie Currier
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Other Fee-based Support Services for Online Teaching and Learning

Online Course Development
This six-week course introduces the pedagogy and methodology each participant needs to build an effective online course from scratch. This course is aligned to the NACOL Online Course Development standards.

This course is part of our Online Teaching and Learning program.

Schedule/registration and cost information are available in the ESC Region XI Workshop catalog Online Course Development - Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning listing.


Mentoring Network
This year-long networking opportunity utilizes experienced online coaches to work with the instructors through their online teaching. The mentoring network employs a variety of communication channels, such as Webinars full of tips for successful instruction, ideas for generating excitement in the course, and topical articles.

This service is part of our Online Teaching and Learning program.

Schedule/registration and cost information are available in the ESC Region XI Workshop catalog Online Instructor Mentoring Network - Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning listing.


Teaching With Technology
These two-week courses 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.

Schedule/registration and cost information are available in the ESC Region XI Workshop catalog listing:

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Looking for more online learning opportunities, see all that we have to offer.



Course Descriptions


Online Course Development
This six-week online course prepares experienced online instructors to become entirely online course developers. Participants receive instruction on how to create an online course using their choice of delivery software and addressing depth and complexity for gifted students.

The Online Course Development course is designed to cover information needed for the planning and design of an online course for each level of webness. After completion of this course, the participant will be ready to continue with the development of their online course.

They will get lots of opportunities to practice what they learn. Participants can discuss the course, ask questions, and get help with special problems through the course discussions.

The course is divided into four Modules. In each module, there is a syllabus which lists several discussion activities. Details for each of the discussion activities can be found in these module syllabi.

The course is based on Student - Centered Pedagogy. The objectives that this course addresses are the NACOL Standards for Quality Online Teaching.

Website/Summaries/Analysts Discussion: Modules may include a website and/or a summary/analysis discussion. These activities will introduce the participants to resources available on the web and application of the course content. They are to summarize and analyze the content of these websites or activities, and create a link to the website if appropriate so others can go to it and discuss it with fellow classmates. In addition, the participant must discuss the websites or summaries/analyses posted by at least one other student.

Topic Student-led Discussions: In modules you will find Topic Student-led Discussions. This is the way we cover the content. For several topics the participant will ask a "critical thinking" question about some aspect of that topic in the module. Other students will respond to their question, and the participant will then reply back to those responses. In addition they will answer some of the questions posed by other students, and they are required to reply to their fellow classmate answers.

Product Discussion: Products, based on information the participant gained throughout the course, are required.

Everyone is encouraged to keep up these "virtual discussions" as long as they are productive. The idea here is for each student to lead in the specific discussion with the other students about some important issue and/or website introduced in the module, and participate in a few others.

A large percentage of a participant's CPE credit is determined by their participation in these discussions. These discussions will be graded. The participant is responsible for maintaining the quality of the discussion threads they lead. Every posting to a discussion should add something substantive to that discussion.

Course Credit - 18 CPE

Student Expectations:
1) Assume responsibility for your own learning outcomes. This class is both project-based and discussion-based. "Interactive Guides" will only touch on some of the most important aspects of your assignments and will highlight and clarify important concepts. As a result, participants will be expected to assume a great deal of responsibility for their own learning outcomes. If they are highly motivated, logon and participate several times in each module, and produce a quality product - they will be successful. However, if they logon sporadically, participate minimally, or submit poor work - they will not. Online learning is aimed at independent learners. If you require the structure of a classroom, this method will not suit you.

In the online classroom, this means that learners are responsible for actively seeking solutions to problems contained within the broad confines of the knowledge area being studied and raising the level of those solutions to one of more complexity. They are expected to view problems and questions from a number of perspectives, including the perspectives of other learners involved in the process.

They are expected to question the assumptions presented by the instructor and those of the other students, as well as their own assumptions and ideas.

"You will get out of the class what you put into it"... this couldn't be more true than in an online class. There is no instructor looking over a persons shoulder to make sure they are completing all the assignments. Learning online allows a person a lot of flexibility. It also takes self-discipline. Dedicate time at a regular interval to work on.

2) Participants are part of a virtual community. The goal for this class is to create a "community of learners;" therefore, there is an expectation for everyone to actively participate in discussion and peer review by contributing to and responding to at least one other contribution. Other classmates are looking forward to hearing from each other. They want to hear about discoveries and opinions on the lesson's topics. They are there to learn from each other and with each other. Please speak and listen with utmost respect. Check in, read, write, and say "hello."

In short, the hope is that we will engage in a lively discussion about topics related to the online learning. Readings have been selected that it is hoped will spark this discussion and broaden perspectives on these topics. The primary role of the instructor is to act as a facilitator of learning, which is why taking responsibility for ones own learning and participation becomes so important.

3) Keep a Journal or "Learning Log". Keep a journal and submit reflections at the end of each Module. The intent of a journal is to highlight ones personal dimensions of learning; to articulate and document personal learning odyssey through this course. We strongly believe that learning is very personal and often 'what we learn' does not fall within the realm of standard assessments. Our hope is that a journal will help give us (and of course, the participant) a rich picture of their learning experience, and over time allow us to refine assessments to embrace the learning process in its entirety.

4) Course Competency: This program is developed with the expectation that a participant will already knows how to operate a computer with proficiency and browse the Internet. The course also has the expectation that the participant is a wanting participant in an online course environment.

Course Schedule:
Detailed information on each module is contained in that Module's Syllabus located in each Module # section. The Module Syllabus offers a guide to the direction the work will take. Since any course must evolve to suit the needs and interests of students, the right to modify the syllabi as the course unfolds is reserved for the instructor.

Module 1: Analyze This

  • Interactive Guides: Read Interactive Guides One through Eight
  • Readings: Read the module selections for enrichment
  • Discussion 1: Just Like Me
  • Discussion 2: Analysis
  • Discussion 3: Course Goals and Objectives
  • Journal

Module 2: Assessments and Course Materials

  • Interactive Guides: Read Interactive Guides One through Nine
  • Readings: Read the module selections for enrichment
  • Discussion 1: Assessments
  • Discussion 2: Internet Presentation Style or Tool
  • Discussion 3: Finalized Course Goals and Objective Grid
  • Journal

Module 3: Learning Activities

  • Interactive Guides: Read Interactive Guides One through Eight
  • Readings: Read the module selections for enrichment
  • Discussion 1: Interactivity
  • Discussion 2: Evaluating Learning Activities
  • Discussion 3: Course Design Blueprint
  • Journal

Module 4: Courses and Management

  • Interactive Guides: Read Interactive Guides One through Seven
  • Readings: Read the module selections for enrichment
  • Discussion 1: Course Management
  • Discussion 2: Syllabus
  • Discussion 3: Learning Unit Redesign
  • Journal

Evaluations:
Each module consists of activities that will be done individually or collaboratively by teams. All activities will be uploaded or attached as individual files when required for completion of the activity.

Individual performance is assessed based on (1) participation in the discussion as per module and (2) completion of all activities in each module. Credit will be awarded to a participant at the completion of the course based on the participation and completion of all of these assessments. A Product Descriptor (rubric) is posted for appropriate product assessment to enable a participant to set and obtain the points necessary for credit. If they do not obtain the credit necessary for each activity they can improve on the activity until the desired level is reached. The deadline for accepting any improvements on an activity is by the end of the course.

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Teaching With Technology
TWT Online: Desktop Publishing for the Classroom
Learn essential word processing skills necessary to implement desktop publishing techniques for the creation of a newsletter, flyer or brochure. Develop a lesson plan that utilizes desktop publishing tools and templates to enhance classroom publishing and writing assignments.

TWT Online: Multimedia Presentations for the Classroom
Today's students have been referred to as The Multimedia Generation, or simply Gen M. In this two-week online workshop, participants will learn multimedia techniques which will enable them to effectively educate the Multimedia Generation!

Learn the essential elements of a multimedia presentation, including appropriate use of fonts, graphics, audio and video for effective visual communication. Develop a lesson plan that emphasizes group collaboration in the creation of the multimedia presentation. Design a multimedia rubric for evaluating a student product and presentation.

TWT Online: Spreadsheets and Charting for the Classroom
Learn the essentials of spreadsheet design and data entry, including formulas, functions, charts and graphs. Examine lessonplan resources and examples that integrate spreadsheet skills into the curriculum. Create or customize a lessonplan for immediate use in the classroom.

TWT Online: Using a Database in the Classroom
Learn the essentials of database creation by defining fields, entering data, anddesigning layouts appropriate for reporting and communicating information. Also utilize classroom technology resources to perform administrative tasks like collecting and analyzing data, tracking trends, setting time lines.

TWT Online: Web Pages and Classroom Internet Research
Learn the essentials of creating a web page that includes text and graphics. Establish guidelines for conducting effective Internet research, including proper citation techniques and search strategies.

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Mentoring Network
Mentoring creates a great opportunity for the exchange of ideas, affords the opportunity to see online instructor skills modeled, makes available the opportunity to practice skills in a safe environment, and offers feedback for the beginning online instructor.

The mentoring network utilizes experienced online coaches to walk side-by-side with the instructors through their online teaching. Mentoring creates a great opportunity for the exchange of ideas; presents opportunities to celebrate success; puts forth the knowledge a beginning online teacher needs; affords the opportunity to see online instructor skills modeled; makes available the opportunity to practice skills in a safe environment; and offers feedback for the beginning online instructor.

The mentoring network employs a variety of communication channels such as telephone, email, listserv, blogs, and online conferencing. There are also webinars full of tips for successful instruction, ideas for generating excitement in the course, and topical articles.

  • Annual subscription service
  • Registration available fall, spring and summer terms.

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