Tuesday, May 31, 2011

FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Below you will see a more detailed description of the entire series, along with elaborations on each session and instructions on how to download them. These workshops are free to view, but if a participant would like to earn 10 CEU/PDC's (for a nominal fee of $80) then he/she should complete the requirements listed within the "Directions for Receiving Credit" form.

Series Description:

In this series of workshops, you will learn how to find relevant information among the abundance of raw data found online, evaluate its worth and credibility, and effectively use it to solve an issue or problem. You will also learn how to access the “Invisible Web.” (Cited sources will prove that it is 500% larger than the “Visible Web” and the quality of the content is 2000% more reliable.)

Although the range of materials covered in these workshops is vast, each session will help reinforce your “Information Literacy Skills” (your own ‘research and evaluation’ skills) . More importantly, it will teach you to transfer this knowledge to the students in your classroom. Above all else, each session will focus on a pragmatic approach; continuously integrating practical application and real research projects. There are distinct goals for each individual workshop, some of which are listed below.

Throughout this series of workshops you will create and develop:

• effective ‘Online Search Strategies’
• rigorous criteria for evaluating and analyzing Web sites
• methods of storing and retrieving online information
• acceptable formats for citing online sources and scholarly articles
• experience using online databases
• experience integrating online research into your lessons

Additionally, you will learn how to:

o guide your students through an investigation of online educational materials
o become empowered with the ability to use the Internet to nurture curiosity and facilitate knowledge in your classroom.


Academic honesty and integrity are expected of all students. Any work that you submit must be your own. Any ideas, information, approaches, or formats that you use based on the work of others must be acknowledged by citing the appropriate sources.
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Workshop Descriptions
Below, you will find links to an assortment of professional development workshops that you may take asynchronously. These workshops are PowerPoints that should be saved to your computer. Download time correlates with the speed of your Internet connection. Audio is embedded in most, so please check your volume when beginning.
When prompted, the user name is: "EDC920" and the password is: "education" They are case specific, so PLEASE type them in exactly as above. Each workshop should take approximately 10 hours (including the post-assessment). There are no pre-requisites, but they are meant to be taken sequentially, therefore, some references may be made to previous sessions.
When you have completed a session, and would like to receive your credit form, you may come back to this page and view the "DIRECTIONS FOR RECEIVING CREDIT" link (to the left). You will use this credit form as evidence that you have completed this session and are entitled to accredited hours. You will then have to fill out the required information, 'snail mail' it back to me, and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. This will be used to mail back your confimation form.
My name is Dave Fontaine.
My email is DaveFontaine1@gmail.com and my snail mail can be sent to:
Dave Fontaine
Internet Librarian and Information Specialist
58 Marial Rose Drive
Portsmouth, RI 02871
If you are interested in learning more about these topics; I teach a more in depth, 3-credit, graduate level course. For more information about this course please email Christine Dolan, of URI's School of Education, at christine@uri.edu and ask her about my course offerings!!!




YOU WILL FIND DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH SESSION BELOW, FROM THE MOST CURRENT (session 14) BACK TO SESSION 1 (at the bottom of the page).


SESSION 14: Technology Issues in the Classroom K-12 (part 2) (COMING SOON)

Subjects:

• Constructing “Path-Finders”

Assignments:

• Creation of a basic Path-Finder (discipline specific) to be posted online
• Summary of findings posted digitally
· Video clips of National Board Certified teachers using different methodologies
(COMING SOON)

SESSION 12: Creating a classroom blog to support PLP’s (10 hours)


This session is a continuation of the information from previous sessions. Although there may be references to other sessions, taking them is not a requisite. When prompted, the user name is: "EDC920" and the password is: "education" They are case specific, so PLEASE type them in exactly as above.
Subjects:
•Creating a classroom blog

Assignment:
Create a blog using the skills learned in this workshop.

After all assignments are completed class participants will share their learning experiences, respond to others, and ask “I wonder” questions by clicking on the "comments" link below.
Additionally, you should email me the details noted on the “Directions for Receiving Credit” form.

SESSION 13: Technology Issues in the Classroom K-12 (10 hours)

  • This session is a continuation of the information from previous sessions. Although there may be references to other sessions, taking them is not a requisite. When prompted, the user name is: "EDC920" and the password is: "education" They are case specific, so PLEASE type them in exactly as above.

    Subjects:

    • Plagiarism in the K-12 classroom (a new form of ownership)
    • Who is responsible for teaching all this?
    • Path-Finders as a partial solution (and a powerful teaching tool)

    Assignments:
  • Online Readings
  • After all assignments are completed class participants will share their learning experiences, respond to others, and ask “I wonder” questions by clicking on the "comment" link below.
  • Additionally, you should email me the details noted on the “Directions for Receiving Credit” sheet.