Meeting the Challenges of Professional Development

for Distance Educators

Canadian Association for Distance Education

May 2005

Lawrence Ragan PhD Daph Crane MDE

Agenda• Introductions

Who we are?Who you are?Why are we here?

• Brainstorm Activity• 8 Areas of Challenge• Discussion Work Group• Report back• Break

• Discussion Group Work• Report Back• Wrap up

8 Areas of Challenge

• Pedagogical Skills• Technological Skills • Administrative Skills• Motivation

• Responsibilities for Professional Development

• Faculty Selection• Faculty Support• Professional

Development Mode/Program Design

1st Session 2nd Session

Responsibility for PD

Responsibility for PD

Who is responsible?

• Institution?

• Individual?

• Shared?

Faculty Selection

Faculty Selection

• How are projects selected?

• How are project teams selected and organized?

• How are faculty author selected?

• How are faculty selected for delivery?

Faculty Support

Faculty Support

What support do faculty need

• Pre-development

• During Design and Development

• During Delivery

Professional Development Design

Professional Development Design

• JIT or programmed

• F2F, online or blended

• In house, external or partnership

• Formal vs. informal

• Certification vs. no certification

Team Assignment

Team Assignment

• Select 1 Challenge• PD responsibility• Faculty Selection• Faculty Support• PD Model

• Strategize “solutions” to address the challenge

• Team Assignment Feedback

Team Assignment Feedback

Pedagogical Skills

Pedagogical Skills

• Pre-development planning

• Course design

• Course development

• Course delivery

Pedagogical Skills

Pre-Development

• Need for course training?

• Target audience?

• Desired learning experience?

• How to create the DLE?

Pedagogical Skills

Course Design

• Consider how “translation” from face-to-face to online will occur

• Consider learning outcomes

• Consider impact of DE on achieving learning outcomes

Pedagogical Skills

Course Development

• Learning Theories

• Flexibility

• Learner @ Centre

Course Delivery

• Learner support techniques

• Meeting learner needs

• Juggle

Technology Skills

Technology Skills

• What skills are required?

• How are these skills used?

• How can required skills be developed?

Administrative Skills

Administrative Skills

• Dealing with Administrivia

• Who does what and when

• What are the non- negotiatable?

• Providing administrative support

Motivation

Motivation

How do we motivate faculty to take part in PD during:

• Pre-development Planning

• Course Development

• Course Delivery

Team Assignment

Team Assignment

• Select 1 Challenge• Pedagogical Skills• Technical Skills• Administrative Skills• Motivation

• Strategize “solutions” to address the challenge

• Team Assignment Feedback

Team Assignment Feedback