Professional Development

08/02/02

Rationale
Standards
How TOs & FAQs
PowerPoint Guides
Conference Prep
Project Gallery
Resources

 

Videoconferencing is an invaluable tool for professional development.  In spite of time and distance variables, teachers can visit, interact with, and learn from professionals around the world. Experts from all fields can be reached in a matter of minutes to demonstrate and explain their special areas of interest.  Successful classrooms can be viewed in progress, so that teachers can analyze the learning going on and choose and adapt elements that fit into their own curriculum. Teachers can meet other teachers via video to share and evaluate ideas for proposed projects. The possibilities are endless and are of minimum cost to the individual school districts!

This site provides a variety of projects that cover all areas of curriculum for middle and high school.  Some are subject specific, but many are interdisciplinary.  Standards based with complete lessons plans attached, these projects have been designed by classroom teachers from across the state who are themselves, resources for anyone interested in Videoconferencing.  Some are works in progress, and some have been successfully tried at least once.  Anyone interested in a particular project (or projects) is welcomed to contact the teacher(s) and join in!

Videoconferencing Team Recommendations

The group of teachers assembled to discuss possibilities of a training model for professional development in the area of videoconferencing agreed that such training should include the following elements:

bullet A strong focus on curriculum emphasizing the ways in which videoconferencing enhances teaching and learning
bullet Time to work individually and in groups to develop standards-based, performance driven projects which incorporate videoconferencing in meaningful ways
bullet The opportunity to experience a variety of video conferences including those with technology experts, practitioners who use videoconferencing, and providers of distance learning
bullet Hands-on use of the videoconferencing equipment to become familiar and comfortable with its capabilities

For teachers conducting professional development workshops introducing videoconferencing technology, the group produced a brochure which may be useful. Click here to view and download the brochure.  

Additional Professional Development Resources

bulletA Model for Teaching with Technology
bulletThe 8Ws Model for Information Literacy
bullet Seven Keys to Successful Staff Development
bullet Informational Technology Professional Development
bullet Ten Steps to Effective Technology Staff Development

This site was last updated 08/02/02