Full Description
Much-needed direction for navigating online professional development
Although many educators are on the fast track to embracing online professional development (OPD), choosing the best solution is not as simple as pushing a button. OPD expert John D. Ross's practical framework will guide you through asking the right questions and making sound development and purchasing decisions. The book's process is founded on proven principles of professional learning and instructional design. You will benefit from others' experience and expertise while efficiently charting a cost-effective course to success. This reader-friendly guide provides a path to answering these fundamental questions:
Why online professional development?
How much does it cost?
How do I get started?
What does high-quality online learning look like?
What technologies are right for me?
How do I put it all together?
Did it work?
Included are an OPD decision matrix, a step-by-step planning and implementation framework, "buyer beware" guidelines, and real-life case studies from successful OPD providers. Whether you want to purchase or create OPD, this time-saving resource will help you understand your financial options and confidently chart your course to success.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. Why Online Professional Development?
The OPD Framework
Asking the Right Questions
Why Online Professional Development
Caveat Emptor: Talking to Vendors
Determining Your Need for Online Professional Development
Take Action: Conduct a Needs Assessment and Create Your Vision
Conclusion
2. How Much Does It Cost?
Outcomes
Take Action: Determine Your Desired Outcomes
Measuring Your Outcomes
Support
Security
Required Technology
Ease of Use
Risk
Caveat Emptor: Supporting Your Outcomes
Economies of Scale
Conclusion
Take Action: Set Your Mission
3. How Do I Get Started?
Take Inventory
Caveat Emptor: Facilitation Models
Caveat Emptor: Partnering for Success
Conclusion
Take Action: Gap Analysis to Describe Your Needs
4. What Does Good Online Learning Look Like?
Why Instructional Design?
Take Action: Instructional Design Considerations
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Take Action: Content Development Timeline
Using Media to Help (Or Hinder) Learning
Conclusion
Caveat Emptor: Evaluating Media in Online Content
5. What Technologies Are Right for Me?
A Word About Learning Objects
Presenting basic information via text and images
Demonstrating a process, sequence, or procedure
Hosting asynchronous interactions
Hosting synchronous interactions
Growing a learning community
Monitor learning
Take Action: Exploring Technology Specifications
Infrastructure for online professional development
Caveat Emptor: Is Free Right for Me?
Conclusion
Caveat Emptor: Evaluating a Management System
6. Putting it All Together
Gathering all the pieces
Taking Care of Business
Take Action: What Online Facilitators Should Know and Be Able to Do
Putting the Pieces Together
Take Action: Putting all the Pieces Together
Celebration
7: Did it work?
Formative evaluation
Is it better than face-to-face?
Measuring your outcomes
Take Action: Measuring Your Desired Outcomes
Was it worth it?
One story: The framework in action
Design, Deliver, Succeed!
References and Resources
References
Index
