Virtual PD Creates Connections
October 26, 2011
This special report, another installment in Education Week's series on virtual education, examines how K-12 professional development is taking a more digital and freewheeling approach to educator training. The report—which also features a webinar and online chat—shows how professional development programs are now blending face-to-face and online training, incorporating social networking tools, offering administrators more flexible ways to hone their skills, and developing online PD to prepare educators for the common-core standards and assessments.
- IT Infrastructure & Management Teacher Training Takes a Hybrid TurnSchools blend face-to-face and online professional development, but traditional PD still plays a role.IT Infrastructure & Management Social Media Feeds Freewheeling Professional DevelopmentEducators click into Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for quick feedback and open-ended discussions on best practices.
Teacher Preparation Education Schools Playing Online PD Catch-UpOfferings from many schools of education are more aligned with traditional face-to-face approaches, but some colleges are moving to incorporate more virtual PD into their programs.
IT Infrastructure & Management Professional Learning Networks Taking OffAs budget cuts continue to limit district-level training opportunities, PLNs take an organic, grassroots approach to professional development.School & District Management Administrators Go Online to Share Ideas, Learn New SkillsOverbooked schedules and tight budgets are increasingly pushing K-12 administrators toward online professional development.
Classroom Technology Virtual Schools Offer PD Programs for E-TeachingBecause schools of education have been slow to offer programs to develop virtual instructors, many of the nation’s leading online schools are trying to fill the void.Standards & Accountability Common Core Accelerates Interest in Online PDEducation leaders say the Internet will be a powerful tool for sharing resources and best practices across state and district lines.
