SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching: Why They Are So Important Barbara Treacy SREB Online Teacher Meeting April 30, 2008
SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching:
Why They Are So Important
Barbara TreacySREB Online Teacher Meeting
April 30, 2008
Why Are Teaching Standards Important?
For the same reason teachers are important!
“The most important factor affecting student learning is the teacher.”
–SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching
What Do Teaching Standards Do?
Enable accountability Ensure quality instruction Ground instruction in effective teaching
and learning principles Provide guidelines while not restricting
creativity or learning
Why Are Online Teaching Standards Important?
Online teachers need to meet the same quality teaching standards as f2f teachers
Online teachers need to understand how to do this in the online environment
What’s So Different About Teaching Online?
Online curriculum Social dynamic Increased importance of written
communication Online facilitation strategies & “online voice” Assessment strategies Technical challenges occur Classroom management New support & parental communication
systems
SREB Standards for Quality Online Teaching
Address good teaching practices AND the online context – Connecting them both together
Set the agenda for quality teaching AND preparation of new online instructors
Example: EDC/EdTech Leaders Online Virtual School Instructor
Training
Based on SREB standards Emphasize need for initial and ongoing PD Online Instructor Course: initial training (8 wks) Follow-Up: Building a Community in a VS course
(4 wks) Ongoing support and national online forum Online course, with “model” online instructor
Instructor Training Course Sessions 1: Introduction to teaching students
in online courses 2: Building an online learning
community 3: Identifying supporting resources
for an online course 4: Using the course management
system's instructor tools 5: The power of online discussion in
virtual courses 6: Managing diverse learning needs
in a virtual classroom 7: Assessing students in virtual
courses
SREB Standards as a Guide to Action:
Basis for the Instructor Training Courses Academic Preparation: for Certified
Teachers Content Knowledge, Skills, and
Temperament for Instructional Technology
Experimentation Course Incorporation of Web 2.0 technologies Online course: provides experience in
CMS and online environment
Standards as a Guide to Action, cont.
Online Teaching and Learning Methodology, Management, Knowledge, Skills and Delivery
Online discussion techniques and skills: Scenarios
Online voice and netiquette Approaches, tools, techniques for online
classroom management and to differentiate instruction
Clear expectations: Welcome Letter Online assessment and regular feedback Project-based: Final Planning Template Legal, ethical and online safety issues Online experience with model instructor Pre and post course data informs instruction
How are online instructors changing teaching?Virtual School Instructors Understand how to teach with technology Incorporate new strategies for individualized
instruction and collaborative activities Increase student engagement and/or facilitate
deeper discussions with effective questioning techniques
Can be much more accessible to their students Use innovative approaches to assessmentVirtual schools are “labs of reform” and virtual
teachers are in the forefront!
A few quotes…“This course has influenced my teaching in the
physical classroom as well as offering thorough preparation and excellent resources for online courses that I may teach.”
-Louisiana Virtual School instructor
“I can plainly see that each of my colleagues are as intrigued and inspired to teach as I am! Each of us brings something to the table of educating and if we just take the time to glean from each other -- WOW!... I tell you this information alone has taken my level of excellence in teaching to higher level.” -Mississippi Virtual School instructor
Thank you!
Barbara Treacy [email protected]
EdTech Leaders Onlinehttp://www.edtechleaders.org
Education Development Centerhttp://www.edc.org