By: Sheri | In: Professional Development, Atomic Learning, Easy Tech |
Approximately a year ago, we subscribed to our first web-based training and support software and about the same time, we adopted Learning.com (some of you know this as EasyTech) for grades 1-8 technology applications adoption. Both products can be used to deliver technology literacy staff development. We have not yet set up a learning path in Learning.com, but in May we created several online classes in Atomic Learning of which approximately 35 teachers/staff have enrolled and completed over the summer months.
In mid-July, right after our face-to-face ACTIVinstruction Introduction classes ended, Promethean published their first six hours of ACTIVinstruction and made it available free to charge to ACTIVteachers. Their timing was great because we had a handful of teachers who for one reason or another missed the first six hours of training. These teachers were offered the opportunity to complete the first six hours online or attend face-to-face training in September. To date, everyone contacted has chosen eLearning for the first six hours! The eLearners are issued a certificate of completion which they email to Ed Tech. When we receive the certificate, teachers are issued their laptops so that they can complete their flipchart assignment and attend the Advanced session.
The are many advantages of PJPD, the biggest of course being able to complete the hours in the comfort of your home (in your pj’s if you like). However, all PJPD for which hours are awarded require participants to complete an assignment and submit it online–which some may see as a disadvantage.
Regardless, I anticipate PJPD catching on and it can’t happen too soon. Educational technology is fast becoming an integral part of an educator’s daily routine both administratively and instructionally. We need to be offering training and support for them as they transition from old to new, yet there is little space dedicated to this task.
I firmly believe if we continue to build and offer online classes for credit, enrollment will increase. A natural outgrowth of PJPD is an increase in teacher technology proficiencies which will eventually lead teachers to the brink of technology integration and then all we will need is access. We are on our way!
Technorati Tags: PJPD ProfessionalDevelopment AtomicLearning EasyTech CommonCraft
