Online+PD

Principles and strategies for effective online professional development

"It is very important for the professional development exercise to practice what it preaches and for it to be an example of best practice." (Oliver and Herrington)


 * Use MODULES to provide "chunks" of content.
 * Use EMBEDDED links (which open new tabs or windows) to pre-existing great resources.
 * Ask questions that motivate exploration.
 * Be very clear about purposes (for knowledge, skills, attitudes).
 * Provide a clear and coherent "teaching guide" with a list of learning objectives.
 * Allow choice of what to explore or how to manifest understanding.
 * Aim for understanding instead of "coverage".
 * Focus on big questions and integrative or synthetic thinking (not "how-to's).
 * The designer/developer should see him or herself as coach and scaffolder instead of "teacher".
 * "Instead of providing and delivering information, the lecturer’s principal function is to create collaborative, challenging and supportive learning environments within which the learner operates." (Oliver and Herrington)
 * Distinguish between learning TASKS, learning RESOURCES, and learning SUPPORTS.
 * Engender collaborative and cooperative activities and interactions.
 * Use non-digital materials if these are necessary for a full and rich experience.
 * Aim to help learners reconsider and alter their pedagogical viewpoints.
 * Use the following steps:
 * 1) plan intended learning outcomes
 * 2) plan learning tasks (ENGAGE the learner! Authentic activities are better! Build in reflection!)
 * 3) choose assessment strategies
 * 4) plan support strategies (templates, checklists, learning pathways, glossaries)
 * 5) plan resource needs
 * 6) plan the organization strategy for online materials

Class brainstorming:

Resources:

Extracting best practices principles from reflective paper excerpts Two exemplary examples of online professional development A useful list of PD resources: @http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/prodev.htm Some useful articles about PD in tech (old but still valuable): @http://staffdevelop.org/articles.html Some tips about creating online professional development: @http://staffdevelop.org/online.html Online Learning Design For Dummies: Professional Development Strategies For Beginning Online Designers  (Oliver and Herrington) Designing effective online PD Effective strategies for designing online activities Designing and implementing online professional development workshops Guidelines to planning your training plan