E-Learning for Educators UW-Stout Graduate Certificate Program

University of Wisconsin-Stout
School of Education
Online Professional Development

E-Learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/elearningcertificate.html

• Are you looking for an E-learning and Online Teaching Certificate program?
• Is your institution rapidly developing online courses and programs?
• Are you looking for a new career or a way to supplement your current salary?
• Our courses benefit educators interested in effectively teaching online or blended courses.

Spring registration is open. Sign up soon.

Courses are completely online; no travel to campus required.
8-Week Online Courses Recommended Course Sequence

• EDUC 760 E-Learning for Educators two start date options:  February 8, 2010 or March 22, 2010
• EDUC 762 Assessment in E-Learning Begins January 11, 2010
• EDUC 763 Instructional Design for E-Learning  Begins February 1, 2010
• EDUC 761 Creating Collaborative Communities in E-Learning Begins January 25, 2010
• EDUC 764 E-Learning Practicum  (Prerequisite: Completion of EDUC 760, 761, 762, 763 and Consent of Instructor)

For more information, visit http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/elearningcertificate.html You may enroll in any single course for professional development or complete all four courses and the practicum to receive the Certificate in E-Learning and Online Teaching.

Courses can be used to fulfill requirements in the Master of Science in Education, Master of Science in Career and Technical Education and Ed.S. in Career and Technical Education degree programs.
Benefits

• Expert facilitation by veteran online educators
• Small highly interactive classes
• Professional quality projects for an e-portfolio to aid in job searches
• Career mentoring and job placement assistance
• Credits may also apply as electives in three different UW-Stout graduate degree programs
• Highly competitive tuition (tuition is the same for Wisconsin residents, out-of-state and international students)

The courses model best practices in e-learning with interactive discussions and hands-on experiences

• creating and using blogs, wikis, and other social tools
• integrating video and podcasts
• adopting best practices for engaging class discussions and assignments
• designing authentic assessment activities, quizzes and grading options
• building strong communication activities in your online class
• motivating online students who are falling behind
• managing your online teaching workload

If you have any questions, please contact Dennis O’Connor, the program adviser, at (530) 318-1145 or email oconnord@uwstout.edu

REGISTER SOON

Register online today to reserve a spot at: http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/register.shtml

Mark university billing (do not include credit card info) and no tuition payment is due until mid January.

Online discussion is the heart of a community of practice oriented e-learning course. However, it can be difficult to know how to respond.

I’ve been researching and writing about Information Fluency since the turn of the century. My work is published on the 21st Century Information Fluency Portal: http://21cif.imsa.edu You’ll find modular online learning content including games, micromodules and assessments on the portal. (Free for all educators.)

I include information fluency training in all of my online classes. I introduce power searching and website investigation to the graduate students studying in the E-Learning and Online Teaching Certificate Program at UW-Stout ( http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/elearningcertificate.html ) because I believe that Information Fluency is a foundation skill for all online teachers and learners.

What continually surprises me is that most educators (including those with advanced degrees) lack formal training in this field. Unless I’m working with a Library Media Specialist, most have little experience in searching, evaluating, and ethical use of digital materials.

Curiously, most educators think they are competent searchers and evaluators, when they are really just beginners. Their disposition is to ask for help rather than search for answers. With simple instruction many radically improve their ability to search, and evaluate. This is empowering and greatly increases learner satisfaction. Instruction in copyright and fair use is also part of the program.

At the same time I push the idea that it is everyone’s duty to teach website evaluation and ethical use as part of any online curriculum. Too often educators assume someone else should have done the job by the time their students walk through the door. The application of information fluency to all curriculum areas is profound. Students given even rudimentary instruction in Information Fluency immediately benefit.

As online teachers and learners we work in a computer where information is just a few keystrokes away. I hope we can promote the disposition in all online teachers and learners that skilled use of Internet resources is the essential learning skill of our times.

Dennis O’Connor
Program Advisor
E-Learning & Online Teaching
School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University
oconnord@uwstout.edu
530-318-1145 (Cell)
Skype: wiredinstructor2

Another school year is starting! Where will you be a year from now?

The decision to return to graduate school for the UW-Stout E-Learning and Online Teaching Certificate isn’t made lightly. During hard economic times you can choose to stand pat or grow your teaching arts by seeking new ideas and opportunities. It’s not enough to simply be curious about teaching online. You have to act now to learn the skills to swim in this 21^st Century sea of change. The bottom line is to develop real experience and skills that open the door to new jobs and opportunities.

• If you want to qualify for the best part time job a teacher can get; join our program.
• If you want to deeply understand how to integrate the latest web technologies into your classroom, join our program.
• If you want an edge in an uncertain job market, join our program.
• If you want flexibility, opportunity, and intellectual challenge join our program.

Despite the economic downturn, there are many jobs available for those with online teaching experience and solid curricular subject matter expertise. Our program will provide you with the skills and real online teaching experience needed to break into this booming field.

The market for experienced online teachers at the K-12 level is red hot. Also more community college and university opportunities are developing everyday. As part of the UW-Stout E-Learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate Program you will receive hands on instruction along with current educational theory about distance learning. Job search advice and a steady stream of fresh job opportunities are being regularly updated on my blog at: http://doconnor.edublogs.org/category/e-learning-jobs/

If you want to work from home, love a challenge, enjoy technology, crave a change of pace and are seeking new horizons now is the time to become an online teacher. Join our program!

Questions? Concerns? Call or email, I’m always happy to share information.

Fall courses begin in late September and are open for registration NOW!

Dennis O’Connor, Program Advisor

E-Learning & Online Teaching

School of Education

Online Professional Development

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University

530-318-1145 (Cell)

Skype: wiredinstructor2

Oconnord@uwstout.edu

Tech Tip: Free Software Training Quick Reference Sheets

Photo Credit

Originally created for the UW-Stout Infobytes Newsletter Karen Franker, Editor

Please forward this announcement to teachers in your district.

This summer teachers from around the nation and the world will join online to exchange ideas and share best practices. The conversations are rich. The community is real. If you’ve never taken an online class before… this is the one to start with!

Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6 Traits

EDUC 744 920 Elementary (Gr. K-4) – 3 gr. cr. begins June 16, 2008 EDUC 744 909 Middle/High School (Gr. 5-12) – 3 gr. cr. begins June 16, 2008

Learn to teach and assess writing with the 6-Traits of writing (voice, ideas, word choice, organization, sentence fluency and conventions). Learn to use the 6-Traits with the writing process to teach revision strategies. Help learners meet higher standards and improve test
scores.

Earn graduate credits via online courses that support your professional development goals for licensure renewal, salary advancement and advanced certification.

Sign up soon to reserve your spot! Classes are TOTALLY ONLINE. You may participate from your home or school computer. Registration is limited to 20 participants per section.

Syllabus and other details: http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/traits.shtml REGISTER ONLINE or REGISTER BY FAX Fax: (715) 232-3385

For more details e-mail Dennis O’Connor: oconnord@uwstout.edu

• Dr. Howard D. Lee – Home Page

  Info on Howard Lee, director of online Master’s programs at UW-Stout

  (tags: UW-Stout online_education)

• Prospective Students – M.S. degree in Career and Technical Education – UW-Stout

  Intro page for online Master’s candidates at UW-Stout

  (tags: UW-Stout online_education)

Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6 Traits: Classes are are Filling Fast!

EDUC 744 920F Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6-TraitsElementary (Gr. K-4) – 3 gr. cr. begins January 28, 2008.

EDUC 744 909F Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6-Traits – Middle/High School (Gr. 5-12) 3 gr. cr. begins January 28, 2008.

Learn to teach and assess writing with the 6-Traits of writing (voice, ideas, word choice, organization, sentence fluency and conventions). Learn to use the 6-Traits with the writing process to teach revision strategies. Help learners meet higher standards and improve test scores.

Please forward this announcement to teachers in your district.

Earn graduate credits via online courses that support your professional development goals for licensure renewal, salary advancement and advanced certification.

Sign up soon to reserve your spot! Registration closes this week!

to allow time for assigning user names, passwords and ordering/shipping the textbook.

Classes are TOTALLY ONLINE. You may participate from your home or school computer. Registration is limited to 20 participants per section.

Syllabus and other details:

http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/traits.shtml

REGISTER ONLINE
or
REGISTER BY FAX
Fax: (715) 232-3385

• Assement of mentoring preferences

  online mentoring style assessment. Good basis for a discussion about mentor/student teacher relationship.

  (tags: assessment self-assessment mentoring)

• Creating a Teacher Mentoring Program

  The NEA Foundation guide to relationships etc

  (tags: mentoring)

• teacher skills assessment chart

  ascd

  (tags: mentoring)

Next session: EDUC 762 September 10 – November 2, 2007*

Assessment in E-Learning (Complete course description.)

EDUC 762 3 semester hours graduate credit

Instructor: Datta Kaur Khalsa (Faculty Bio)

Have you realized how powerful assessment is in the online learning environment? Assessment has the capability to drive interactions and engagement, as well as minimize plagiarism, strengthen higher-level learning and build eportfolios. Learn what is needed to

become an excellent online course designer while developing your electronic record keeping systems and methods for evaluating discussion postings and group projects. Become familiar with assessment tools that could make or break your online course.

Enroll now!

* I wanted to add a personal note to this course announcement. I’ve worked with Datta Kaur Khalsa for years. She is a spectacular online teacher with a warm and understanding online presence.

Some might think of online assessment as a dry topic. You’ll find Datta’s class anything but dry! This is a great course! Take the leap and join now.

You won’t be disappointed. ~ Dennis

Reposted from the UW-Stout Infobytes Newsletter, edited by Karen Franker

Online Teaching: Interaction and Collaboration Activities

Special Issue on Online Collaboration
The February 2006 issue of the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks (JALN) contains eight articles which provide an excellent overview of effective methods for structuring online collaboration activities.

Relationships between Interactions and Learning in Online Environments (PDF)
Kathy Swan presents research findings on best practices in interactive learning and how they can guide effective course design and facilitation.

Online Learning Communities
Jan Engle and others describe how an effectively-designed online course can facilitate movement of a class through group development stages and deepen the learning experience. Key elements impacting student interaction include: the level of structure required, teamwork skills, discussion forums, and cooperative/collaborative learning exercises.

Understanding Interactions in Distance Education
Veronica Thurmond and Karen Wambach ask educators to consider if they are making optimum use of interaction and feedback, and describe four types of interactions commonly seen in online classes.

Earn a Graduate Certificate in E-Learning and Online Teaching!

For More Information about Classes Forming Now.

What Our Students Are Saying…

About the Online Classroom: Creating Collaborative Communities course:

“…the course design fostered a level of cohesive participant interaction that I have not experienced in many places. The instructors provided an effective model of online facilitation while teaching about online instruction. Every potential online instructor should take this class.” ~ Paul Mugan , High school biology teacher, Waverly, Iowa

Tech Tip – RSS Feeds in Internet Explorer 7

The new Internet Explorer 7 for Windows makes it easy to set up RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feeds for favorite Web sites so that you automatically receive personalized information updates. This can be a huge timesaver, as the updates are automatically sent to your Favorites Center, so you only have to look in one place. To set up an RSS feed:

1. First, check your favorite Websites to see if an RSS feed is available. To do this, open a Website and look for an orange and white striped icon in the toolbar (usually next to the Home icon), which means that RSS feed capability is available for this page. If there is no RSS feed for this page, the icon will be gray and white.

2. Next, click on the small black triangle next to this orange Feed icon to see which site items are available via RSS. Select an item from the list. A new window opens. In the new window, click on the Subscribe to This Feed text near the top of the screen.

3. To read your RSS feeds, go to the Favorites Center in Internet Explorer 7 (yellow star icon at left side of screen) and click on the Feeds button. A list of your selected feeds will appear. Select a site feed, and the content will open in a new window.

This is a repost of work by Karen Franker, Editor Of UW-Stout’s Infobytes Newsletter

Using Peer Feedback to Enhance the Quality of Student Online Postings: An Exploratory Study
Writing for the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Peggy A. Ertmer and others describe how peer feedback was used to promote higher-level thinking and higher-quality student postings in online classes.

Strategies for Providing Feedback
The Illinois Online Network staff provides fifteen effective feedback strategies to promote high-quality student participation in online classes.

Using Asynchronous Audio Feedback to Enhance Teaching Presence and Students’ Sense of Community
(Registration required — be sure to register for this wonderful free resource!)
Philip Ice and others in the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks report on the use of audio feedback to provide a more personalized communication with online students.

Effective Feedback
Paul Hammond lists the characteristics of useful feedback, and includes tips for providing effective feedback in a professional manner.

Tech Tip – Convert MS Word Documents to PDF Format
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a popular file format that is readable on Macs and PC’s. PDF’s are especially suited to documents with special formatting and graphics (such as classroom newsletters) which will be displayed on a Website. Converting to PDF format retains the formatting of the original document.

On OS X Macintosh computers there is a built-in PDF converter which is accessed by opening your document and choosing File – Print. In the Print window, click on the PDF button, and then pull down to select “Save as PDF…” which creates a PDF version of your file.

For Windows, there are two free options:
PrimoPDF or CutePDF Writer (both are free downloads).
When downloaded and installed on your computer, these applications can convert most documents into PDF format by going to File – Print, and ‘printing’ to the PrimoPDF or CutePDF printer which appears in the Print window. If you don’t wish to install PrimoPDF on your computer, you can use the new Primo Online converter which allows you to upload a document to the Primo site, convert it online, then download it as a PDF file.

What Our Students Are Saying…

About the E-Learning and Online Teaching Certificate Program:

Julie Fischer is a business and information technology instructor at Hayward and a candidate in UW-Stout’s online Master’s in Education program. She selected the E-Learning Certificate courses to learn more about teaching online and how to “create an environment where students could have flexible learning and to provide options for students who may be home-schooled or enrolled in charter schools and taking courses from our high school which would help them learn to meet state technology standards.”

Sign up soon for Fall Online Classes. Instruction begins October 2007.
For more information, contact Dennis O’Connor, program advisor at oconnord@uwstout.edu Phone: (530) 318-1145
Register online at: http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/register.shtml

This post was originally created by Karen Franker, editor of UW-Stout’s Infobytes Newsletter

• Facilitating Effective Online Discussions
• Engaging Reluctant Students

Discussion Rubric for Online Class
Lynn Nielsen’s rubric provides an excellent, ready-to-use set of guidelines to assess the quality of online discussion participation.

Dialogue-Intensive Learning
Richard Dool describes how he manages some common student behavior problems, such as: the last-minute poster, the “I agree” person, the dominator, and the contrarian.

Lurking
UW-Stout online instructor Susan Manning and Dan Balzer, hosts of The Learning Times Green Room, have produced an excellent podcast about lurking. Should online instructors allow students to lurk on the edge of discussions? Are lurkers learning anything?

Top Tips for Moderators of Online Discussion Groups (pdf file)
William Spitzer and others describe the strategies used by effective online moderators, including: asking good questions, promoting reflective dialogue, and setting a motivational and positive tone.

Moderation, Response Rate, and Message Interactivity:Features of Online Communities and Their Effects on Intent to Participate
Kevin Wise and others explain the structural features of an online community which elicit the highest intent to participate, including: moderated discussions, response rate, message interactivity, and the length of time between posts.

Tech Tip – Manage Passwords Easily and Safely With RoboForm
Keeping track of all of the login passwords for every online account and making them secure can be a challenge. RoboForm keeps track of all your passwords, and generates new, hard-to-crack , encrypted passwords. All you have to remember is one master password, which gives you access to all of your stored passwords.

This free, award-winning software (for Windows only, including Vista) stores 30 passwords. To start using RoboForm, go to the RoboForm Web site and click on the Download button to download the software to your desktop and install it on your Web browser’s toolbar. For a visual, step-by-step guide on how to use RoboForm, click on the tutorials link on the home page.

Courses Forming Now! Sign Up Today.

For more information, contact Dennis O’Connor, program advisor at oconnord@uwstout.edu Phone: (530) 318-1145 (West Coast)

Register online at: http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/register.shtml

Last Chance to register! Do it now!

EDUC 763

3 semester hours graduate credit
Instructor: Susan Manning

Evaluation, discussion, and application of instructional design theories and principles for e-learning. Examination of hybrid, self-paced and facilitated e-learning experiences delivered via learning management systems. Discussion of scenario based simulations and case study analysis, interactive multimedia learning objects, and instructional strategies to meet a variety of learner needs and content areas. Consideration of universal design for accessibility and usability.

NOTE: This is one of the courses for individuals pursuing the Graduate Certificate in E-Learning and Online Teaching and is also open as an individual course to students seeking professional development.

• Dates of Next Sessions
• Learning Outcomes
• Resource Requirements
• Course Outline
• Alignment with Teaching Standards
• Accreditation
• Registration
• Tuition

Because this class is asynchronous and open to you 24/7, you may participate from your home or work computer during hours that are best for your work and family schedule. Advanced computer or programming skills are not required. Learners need a basic understanding of Internet browsing, email, and word processing.

The class is highly interactive with a significant discussion component. Instructor/peer comments will be available through discussion groups or sent by e-mail.

SIGN UP SOON!
Register online
Return to Catalog and Schedule

The demand for online education is growing as teachers discover that Web-based courses offer a convenient alternative when pursuing educational and career advancement goals.

—————————

Friends, this course is getting rave reviews from former students. Susan Manning is an insightful responsive online teacher. This is a chance to learn from one of the best! ~ Dennis

This course is taught by my friend and Colleague Datta Kaur Khalsa. You’ll find her to be an exceptionally insightful and skilled online teacher! Join her this summer for a great online class. ~ Dennis

Course Starts June 18. Registration closes June 12!

Have you realized how powerful assessment is in the online learning environment? Assessment has the capability to drive interactions and engagement, as well as minimize plagiarism, strengthen higher-level learning and build e-portfolios. Learn what is needed to become an excellent online course designer while developing your electronic record keeping systems and methods for evaluating discussion postings and group projects. Become familiar with assessment tools that could make or break your online course.

EDUC 762 – 3 gr. cr. begins June 18, 2007

EDUC 762 – 3 gr. cr. begins September 10, 2007

Description Registration

NOTE: This is one of the required courses for individuals pursuing the Graduate Certificate in E-Learning and Online Teaching and is also open as an individual course to students seeking professional development.

Dates of Next Sessions
Learning Outcomes
Resource Requirements
Course Outline
Alignment with Teaching Standards
Accreditation
Registration
Tuition

Because this class is asynchronous and open to you 24/7, you may participate from your home or work computer during hours that are best for your work and family schedule. Advanced computer or programming skills are not required. Learners need a basic understanding of Internet browsing, email, and word processing.

The class is highly interactive with a significant discussion component. Instructor/peer comments will be available through discussion groups or sent by e-mail.

SIGN UP SOON!

Register online
Return to Catalog and Schedule

The demand for online education is growing as teachers discover that Web-based courses offer a convenient alternative when pursuing educational and career advancement goals.

Note:The School of Education reserves the right to cancel classes that do not meet minimum enrollment requirements.

For More Information…

Request for Information Form
Email: Dennis O’Connor
Program Advisor
E-Learning & Online Teaching
School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University

Telephone: (530) 318-1145
Home Page
Online Professional Development Catalog and Schedule
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