Field Trips to Model Classrooms – Without the Travel
by Linda De Grand
Program Development Consultant, Raleigh NC
"Next best thing to observing in a classroom." So states Kay Ball, Instructional Technology Coordinator, Yancey County Schools (NC), about "Literacy to Learn: Reading, Writing and Thinking across the Curriculum" (L2L), a 30 hour online professional development series produced by the United Star Distance Learning Consortium (USDLC).
Kay, who spent nine years as a third grade teacher before moving to her system’s central office, is a strong believer in modeling – for her students and for her teachers. As a technology coordinator, Kay believed that she should ensure that she knew what her teachers were going to experience when they registered for USDLC’s training, which had been licensed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for statewide use. Kay enrolled in the elementary sequence of L2L during the 2008 summer. She completed all of the modules within three weeks and concluded: "…that I have greatly enjoyed working through the Elementary Modules. They provide so many ways to address the 21st Century skills our students need to flourish in today’s world. This was some of the BEST professional development that I have ever had the opportunity to participate in."
Kay’s enthusiasm was based particularly on the mini video documentaries incorporated into the modules. Given Kay’s philosophy that modeling is an effective instructional tool, she stated that the documentaries were "the next best thing to observing in a classroom. I will use many of the strategies and tech ideas from these modules with students." This is no mean praise from an educator who was herself identified by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a model teacher for the seamless integration of technology into the curriculum!
Kay is now informing teachers in her district about the L2L resources, particularly those teachers whose expertise is in areas outside of language arts, e.g., math, science, social studies. Finding resources to meet North Carolina’s requirement of three hours of reading credit for certification renewal can be challenging for teachers outside of language arts. Being able to use the modules “in the convenience of [their] homes” is an added benefit!
A further benefit for the district is the way that the L2L modules complement training from other sources. Kay points out that she used the L2L video documentaries to demonstrate blogs and lessons that match reading with writing (and vice versa), as these topics came up in other training used by the district.
In addition to the elementary modules, L2L offers "Reading, Writing and Thinking across the Curriculum" for middle and high school teachers; "Digital Literacy" and "Best Practices for School Library Media Programs" suitable for teachers at all grade levels; and "Scientific Literacy" for teachers in grades 3-12.
The United Star Distance Learning Consortium (USDLC) is a nonprofit multi-state educational consortium. Its mission is to ensure that all students and educators, regardless of circumstance or geographic location, have equitable access to high quality education opportunities using blended technologies. Current programs and services provide 1) student instruction, including delivery of over 200 online courses for high school students, particularly those living in rural areas; and 2) professional development for K-12 educators, delivered with online tutorials and interactive projects, including Second Life; web-based resources; video on demand; live streaming video; and podcasting. Professional development topics include those addressing federal No Child Left Behind legislation, literacy to learn – reading, writing and thinking across the curriculum, best practices in school library media programs, online print resources, video case studies of best classroom practices, and keynote addresses from leading educational experts.
For further information on USDLC and its programming, visit www.usdlc.org, or email: info@usdlc.org.
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