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Distance Learning Forum
OTAN offers a series of webinars on distance learning topics as part of the Distance Learning Forum. As these sessions occur, slides and links to recordings of the some of the sessions will be posted. To register for any future session, go to the California Adult Education Training Calendar.
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Join the Distance Learning Forum Email List
If you would like to join an email list to continue discussion on Forum topics, send an email to join-cdlp@lists.scoe.net with the word "join" as the subject and nothing in the body of the email. You will receive a "Welcome" message from the list. If you do not receive a Welcome message within 10 minutes of joining the list, check your spam folder. The message could be blocked by your email server.
Forum Sessions 2010 – 11
Digital Technologies and Adult Literacy — March 16, 2011
Presenters:
- Matthias Sturm and Maria Moriarty, Alpha Plus Centre, Ontario, Canada
Staff from the AlphaPlus Centre in Ontario, Canada share findings from two learning technology related initiatives. The first is a review of literature looking at the use and integration of digital technology in teaching and learning with particular reference to the potential for these technologies to transform adult literacy teaching and learning. The review also looks at current thinking about what constitutes effective professional development to enable educators to develop to integrate technology in their practice in a meaningful way. The second initiative focuses on the development of a digital technology use competency within the context of a curriculum framework and the skills essential for employment and training for adult learners.
Additional Material:
Student Orientation to Online Learning — December 9, 2010
This meeting provides a forum to talk with other online teachers and different strategies and approaches to orienting students being successful online learners. From low literacy students to CTE, all students need a solid understanding of what to expect in an online course, or web resources to support their course of study. Come and talk among your peers as to current research on best practices for preparing students to be successful online learners. Materials and relevant web sites will be shared and reviewed.
Moodle: Creating Assignments — November 18, 2010
Fully integrate your classroom activities into an online experience for your students. Create student assignments incorporating other Moodle modules, or use resources found online, or upload your own materials. Student assignments will include review, reflection and assessment.
Prerequisites: All participants must have their own Moodle course shell with teacher editing rights. Your course can be hosted by OTAN or your school site (Moodle v1.9.5+ is recommended). Must have taken the introductory course "Using Moodle to Create A Course Web Site" and have an assigned course.
Moodle: Using the Lesson Activity — November 16, 2010
The Lesson module in your Moodle course is a powerful tool for learning. As a teacher, you can create simple "flash card" lessons to help students learn vocabulary or other content that needs reinforcement. Lessons are also adaptive. The student guides their learning based on the choices they make while completing the tasks or activities within the lesson. Teachers can add quiz questions, embed videos and link to other documents or web pages. Through this webinar, teachers will gain a basic understanding of how lessons work, and create one short lesson within their course. Participants are encouraged to have lesson materials on hand such as presentations, text files, and images to use in the creation of their lesson.
Prerequisites: All participants must have their own Moodle course shell with teacher editing rights. Your course can be hosted by OTAN or your school site (Moodle v1.9.5+ is recommended). Participants should have completed the "Using Moodle to Create A Course Web Site" workshop prior to this webinar (or its equivalent).
Using Moodle to Create a Course Web Site — November 2, 2010
Learn how to streamline your distance learning program. This workshop walks you through the new and improved application process and highlights the latest information on curriculum and program requirements. Learn about new federal guidelines and how they will apply to your agency. There are many questions about distance learning. This workshop offers the opportunity for discussion and sharing ideas about how to thrive in challenging times. There is something for everyone — from new to the field to experienced practitioners.
Prerequisites: Basic computer and Internet skills.
Creating a High Quality Online Course — October 21, 2010
In this short webinar, review the 6 basic areas of creating a well-designed online course. Review specific guidelines on creating good content, principles of instructional design, elements of student assessment, technology requirements, course evaluation and management and the implementation of 21st century skills within your course. Short discussions on each area will be encouraged and rubrics to measure a current or future course will be provided.
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills and comfort with navigating the Internet. This would also be a good webinar to take before taking "Using Moodle to Create a Course Web Site."
So You Want to Teach Online — October 7, 2010
Teaching online is much different than teaching face-to-face in a traditional classroom. Attend this webinar to learn what those differences are, what it takes to be a good online teacher, what technical skills are needed, and where you can find additional help for all of the above. Expect to participate in discussions and share ideas and concerns among the participants.
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills and comfort with navigating the Internet. This would also be a good webinar to take before taking "Using Moodle to Create a Course Web Site."
Distance Learning Offers New Solutions — September 8, 2010
Presenter:
- Lynn Bartlett, San Juan USD / OTAN Consultant
Learn how to streamline your distance learning program. This workshop walks you through the new and improved application process and highlights the latest information on curriculum and program requirements. Learn about new federal guidelines and how they will apply to your agency. There are many questions about distance learning. This workshop offers the opportunity for discussion and sharing ideas about how to thrive in challenging times. There is something for everyone — from new to the field to experienced practitioners.
Additional Material:
Forum Sessions 2009 – 10
Open Forum — What Works? — December 4, 2009
You've submitted your Innovation Program application and your evaluation for last year, and the new year is well under way. Share with your colleagues what's working, and what the challenges are in terms of courses, curriculum, program areas. What did you change this year in terms of courses and curriculum? What great materials have you discovered or created that you would like to recommend to colleagues? This will be an open forum, and anyone can share information or even Web sites. There will be several questions sent out beforehand to help structure the conversation.
Building the Skills Adults Need to Succeed as Online Learners — October 23, 2009, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Presenters:
- Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Senior Research Analyst, American Institutes for Research
- John Fleischman, Assistance Superintendent, Sacramento County Office of Education
- Matthias Sturm, Distance Learning Coordinator, AlphaPlus Centre, Ontario, Canada
- Nancy Friday, AlphaRoute Coordinator and eLearning Trainer, AlphaPlus Centre, Ontario, Canada
- Heather Robinet and Courtney McGee, The Learning Hub, Ontario, Canada
This session follows up on the previous Distance Learning Webinar, on the skills adults need to be successful online learners. The next question is, How do we help learners build those skills? Heidi Silver-Pacuilla will be back to discuss materials available online and how to guide adults to use them for learning. John Fleischman will provide information about the ESL Web site USA Learns, including numbers of learners using the site and instructional design factors that contribute to site "loyalty." Matthias Sturm from AlphaPlus Centre in Canada, which has offered online instruction to adult learners on AlphaRoute for a number of years, will talk about their experiences. Heather Robinet and Courtney McGee from The Learning Hub in Canada will relate their experiences as well in orienting and supporting online learners.
Additional Material:
- Building the Skills Adults Need to Succeed as Online Learners
Ontario Initiative Handout - Audio-Visual Presentation
This recording begins a little bit after the start of the session. - PDF Script
- HTML Script
What Tech Skills Do Learners Need to be Successful Studying Online — October 9, 2009
Presenter:
- Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Senior Research Analyst, American Institutes for Research
Thinking about teaching online? Wondering what skills your students would need to be successful? There is a growing body of research and professional wisdom regarding the skills that adult learners need to be successful independent online learners, and the answers might surprise you. NIFL recently published a study on this topic authored by Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, and she presented a webinar on her findings for California adult educators. If you would like some background information you can read the NIFL report, or a shorter article about lessons learned by schools implementing technology.
Additional Material:
Open Forum — Where Are We Now? — September 15, 2009
Like all of adult education in California, Distance Learning is facing budget cuts and challenges along with new opportunities. This forum is provided participants the opportunity to hear what is happening and how others are meeting the challenges and taking advantage of some of the changes. Los Angeles USD, Oakland Adult School, Elk Grove Adult and Community Education and others will shared their experiences and ideas. An opportunity to ask questions, provide information, and explore possibilities was provided.