Special Report
Special Report

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 Turn
    Schools blend face-to-face and online professional development, but traditional PD still plays a role.
    Michelle R. Davis, October 24, 2011
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    8 min read
    IT Infrastructure & Management Social Media Feeds Freewheeling Professional Development
    Educators click into Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for quick feedback and open-ended discussions on best practices.
    Michelle R. Davis, October 24, 2011
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    7 min read
    Sharon Kortman, left, director of BEST Professional Development, based on the Phoenix campus of Arizona State University, and Kelly Olson-Stewart, a BEST regional professional coordinator, talk via video with educators at a school in Tucson.
    Sharon Kortman, left, director of BEST Professional Development, based on the Phoenix campus of Arizona State University, and Kelly Olson-Stewart, a BEST regional professional coordinator, talk via video with educators at a school in Tucson.
    Laura Segall for Education Week
    Teacher Preparation Education Schools Playing Online PD Catch-Up
    Offerings 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.
    Ian Quillen, October 24, 2011
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    6 min read
    Kellie Viera, a reading teacher at Manatee High School in Bradenton, Fla., works with students using a READ 180 program. Ms. Viera shares ideas with other reading teachers through professional learning networks.
    Kellie Viera, a reading teacher at Manatee High School in Bradenton, Fla., works with students using a READ 180 program. Ms. Viera shares ideas with other reading teachers through professional learning networks.
    Chip Litherland for Education Week
    IT Infrastructure & Management Professional Learning Networks Taking Off
    As budget cuts continue to limit district-level training opportunities, PLNs take an organic, grassroots approach to professional development.
    Robin L. Flanigan, October 24, 2011
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    7 min read
    School & District Management Administrators Go Online to Share Ideas, Learn New Skills
    Overbooked schedules and tight budgets are increasingly pushing K-12 administrators toward online professional development.
    Katie Ash, October 24, 2011
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    5 min read
    Steve Reeves, left, and Kevin Adkisson, principals for the Florida Virtual School, collaborate at a weekly professional-development meeting at a restaurant in Gainesville.
    Steve Reeves, left, and Kevin Adkisson, principals for the Florida Virtual School, collaborate at a weekly professional-development meeting at a restaurant in Gainesville.
    Andrew Stanfill for Education Week
    Classroom Technology Virtual Schools Offer PD Programs for E-Teaching
    Because 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.
    Ian Quillen, October 24, 2011
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    6 min read
    Standards & Accountability Common Core Accelerates Interest in Online PD
    Education leaders say the Internet will be a powerful tool for sharing resources and best practices across state and district lines.
    Katie Ash, October 24, 2011
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    6 min read