Online Professional Development Through Virtual Learning Communities

Online Professional Development Through Virtual Learning Communities
May 2013 | 120 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9781452276687
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781452276663
Available from January 0001

Description

Powerful collaborative learning—anytime, anyplace!

Online learning seems like a perfect solution for cost-conscious districts and busy teachers, but can these programs also deliver high-caliber professional learning? Using one district’s success story as a model, this timely book shows you how to combine well-designed online instruction with the energy of peer-to-peer collaboration. At the heart of this book is a model that supports powerful professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for every student.

Sonja Hollins-Alexander writes from her own experience building a successful online professional development (PD) program for a large urban district. Readers will find

  • Research-based support for online PD and the author’s original Learner-Learner model
  • A thorough planning guide and ten action steps for program development
  • Best practices for managing staffing and resources
  • Strategies for establishing a true community of learners online

Discover how to create a sustainable online PD program that promotes collaboration and growth!

“This book provides district and school leaders with a practical guide to shifting professional learning from more traditional ‘sit and get’ models to technology-enhanced models that foster collaboration and co-creation.”
—Catherine Huber, Principal
Northwood Elementary, West Seneca, NY

Watch Sonja Hollins-Alexander's webinar, Professional Learning Through Virtual Communities, hosted by Learning Forward

Contents

Preface: The Evolution of a Design

Preface: The Evolution of a Design

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About the Author

About the Contributors

  • 1. The Learner-Learner Model
  • 2. Getting It Started: A Planning Guide
  • 3. 10 Action Steps to an Online Virtual Learning Community
  • 4. The Process: Transitioning a Face-to-Face Professional Learning Community to an Online Virtual Learning Community
  • 5. Getting It Done: What Structures Support the Implementation of a Virtual Learning Community?
  • 6. Building Capacity and Sustainability: School-Based Virtual Learning Cohorts
  • 7. Pitfalls Don't Hold You Back
  • 8. Summary: My Reflections

References

References

Index

Index

Description

Powerful collaborative learning—anytime, anyplace!

Online learning seems like a perfect solution for cost-conscious districts and busy teachers, but can these programs also deliver high-caliber professional learning? Using one district’s success story as a model, this timely book shows you how to combine well-designed online instruction with the energy of peer-to-peer collaboration. At the heart of this book is a model that supports powerful professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for every student.

Sonja Hollins-Alexander writes from her own experience building a successful online professional development (PD) program for a large urban district. Readers will find

  • Research-based support for online PD and the author’s original Learner-Learner model
  • A thorough planning guide and ten action steps for program development
  • Best practices for managing staffing and resources
  • Strategies for establishing a true community of learners online

Discover how to create a sustainable online PD program that promotes collaboration and growth!

“This book provides district and school leaders with a practical guide to shifting professional learning from more traditional ‘sit and get’ models to technology-enhanced models that foster collaboration and co-creation.”
—Catherine Huber, Principal
Northwood Elementary, West Seneca, NY

Watch Sonja Hollins-Alexander's webinar, Professional Learning Through Virtual Communities, hosted by Learning Forward

Contents

Preface: The Evolution of a Design

Preface: The Evolution of a Design

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About the Author

About the Contributors

  • 1. The Learner-Learner Model
  • 2. Getting It Started: A Planning Guide
  • 3. 10 Action Steps to an Online Virtual Learning Community
  • 4. The Process: Transitioning a Face-to-Face Professional Learning Community to an Online Virtual Learning Community
  • 5. Getting It Done: What Structures Support the Implementation of a Virtual Learning Community?
  • 6. Building Capacity and Sustainability: School-Based Virtual Learning Cohorts
  • 7. Pitfalls Don't Hold You Back
  • 8. Summary: My Reflections

References

References

Index

Index

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Online Professional Development Through Virtual Learning Communities


May 2013 | 120 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781452276663 $37.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781452276687 $35.00

Powerful collaborative learning—anytime, anyplace!

Online learning seems like a perfect solution for cost-conscious districts and busy teachers, but can these programs also deliver high-caliber professional learning? Using one district’s success story as a model, this timely book shows you how to combine well-designed online instruction with the energy of peer-to-peer collaboration. At the heart of this book is a model that supports powerful professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for every student.

Sonja Hollins-Alexander writes from her own experience building a successful online professional development (PD) program for a large urban district. Readers will find

  • Research-based support for online PD and the author’s original Learner-Learner model
  • A thorough planning guide and ten action steps for program development
  • Best practices for managing staffing and resources
  • Strategies for establishing a true community of learners online

Discover how to create a sustainable online PD program that promotes collaboration and growth!

“This book provides district and school leaders with a practical guide to shifting professional learning from more traditional ‘sit and get’ models to technology-enhanced models that foster collaboration and co-creation.”
—Catherine Huber, Principal
Northwood Elementary, West Seneca, NY

Watch Sonja Hollins-Alexander's webinar, Professional Learning Through Virtual Communities, hosted by Learning Forward


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface: The Evolution of a Design
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Author
  • About the Contributors
  • 1. The Learner-Learner Model
  • 2. Getting It Started: A Planning Guide
  • 3. 10 Action Steps to an Online Virtual Learning Community
  • 4. The Process: Transitioning a Face-to-Face Professional Learning Community to an Online Virtual Learning Community
  • 5. Getting It Done: What Structures Support the Implementation of a Virtual Learning Community?
  • 6. Building Capacity and Sustainability: School-Based Virtual Learning Cohorts
  • 7. Pitfalls Don't Hold You Back
  • 8. Summary: My Reflections
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"This book provides district and school leaders with a practical guide to shifting professional learning from more traditional "sit and get" models to technology-enhanced models that foster collaboration and co-creation. Leaders charged with the work of transforming professional learning will benefit from this practical text."
Catherine Huber, Principal, Northwood Elementary, West Seneca, NY
"As educators, we need to rethink our designs of teaching and learning in order to prepare our students for a more advanced technological future. Using a virtual PLC model for professional development directly aligns districts with the type of learning students should be involved in. I envision Online Professional Development Through Virtual Learning Communities as a pioneer, forging the way for virtual PLC's all over the world."
Jennifer W. Ramamoorthi, Building Assistant, Community Consolidated School District 59, Mount Prospect, IL

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