Below is a copy of what my co-presenters and I submitted for the iNACOL Conference taking place in November, 2009 in Austin, Texas. I hope to see you there! Facilitator for our session include Tonya Mills, Mary Alice Appleman (PBS) and Miguel Guhlin.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to attend, as well as possibly present, at iNACOL. At no other time has there been so much tangible excitement about online learning opportunities using tools like course management systems (e.g. Moodle, Sakai). I’m looking forward to learning how others are approach online professional and K-12 student learning facilitation, creating online learning environments, and more at iNACOL. This is critical information for K-12 educators, especially in Texas!

Thank you for submitting your RFP appliction for the Virtual School Symposium. Below is a copy of your application for your records.

Submissions will be reviewed after the submission deadline closes on April 13, 2009. You should anticipate notification of acceptance or rejection of your proposal by June 30, 2009.

RFP Application

Proposal Title:
Moodle Habitudes – Constructing Online Learning Environments

Abstract:
Learn how your school district can quickly build up an online learning program! Participants will learn about strategic partners to provide rigorous professional learning content, as well as plan, administer Moodle and develop in-house content.
“A habitude,” shares Angela Maiers in her new book, Classroom Habitudes (http://www.lulu.com/content/4903951), “is the combination of habits and attitudes.” Angela makes the point that we often work from checklists–she challenges her readers to go beyond.

Level of Submission – Target Audience
[x] Level 101 – For beginners new to the field (0-1 years experience in K-12 Online Learning)
[x] Level 201 – For intermediate level participants (2-4 years experience in K-12 Online Learning)
[x] Level 301 – For advanced participants (5+ years of experience in K-12 Online Learning)
Grade Level Audience
[x] K-5
[x] 6-8
[x] 9-12
[x] High school to college transition

Strand
[ ] Funding & Business Models for Online Learning
[ ] Training & Professional Development
[x] Curriculum & Online Course Development
[ ] Research & Evaluation
[ ] Improving Student Performance
[ ] Emerging Technologies
[ ] Marketing
[ ] Public Relations
[ ] Advocacy
[ ] Blended & Hybrid Online Learning Models

Competitive Priorities

“Must Have Sessions”
[ ] Second Life – a Hands On Workshop (introductory and/or advanced)
[ ] A Survey of Available Learning Management Systems
[ ] Web 2.0 Emerging Technologies
[ ] National Update
[ ] Dealing with Reluctant Online Educators
[ ] Blended/Hybrid Learning Models
[ ] Funding Online Learning and Grant Writing – Where Do We Begin?
[ ] Equity & Access for Impoverished Students
[ ] Policy Reform/Legislative Updates
[ ] International Update
[ ] Online Credit Recovery
[ ] Special Education & Online Learning
[ ] Virtual Science Labs – a Hands On Approach
[ ] Visioning: What are the Greatest Needs in Virtual Schooling? Where is Online Learning Headed?
[ ] Maintaining Academic Integrity in Virtual Schools/Student Accountability
[x] Advanced Moodle Session (hands-on)
[ ] Online Teacher Professional Development – Teaching Methods, Pedagogy, etc.
[ ] Online Learning as a Disruptive Innovation
[ ] Engaging & Motivating Students Over the Internet/Student Retention
[ ] Online Course/Curriculum Development
[ ] Online Subject Areas (A Focus on Content and Teaching Methods)
[ ] K-20 Collaborations
[ ] Online Teacher Support Programs – Mentoring and Coaching
[ ] Guidance Counselors and Online Learning
[ ] New Research in K-12 Online Learning

Description of “Must Have Session”
San Antonio ISD has worked hard to develop online learning environments (OLEs) that enhance adult and K-12 learning opportunities. Due to budget shortfalls, it has developed cost-effective solutions that depend on course content adapted from PBS TeacherLine online courses. Strategic partnerships with other organizations ensure that the setup, administration, and implementation of Moodle-based professional learning is ready to launch. Participants will receive specific advice on how to administer online learning courses, organize at the District level so as to avoid common pitfalls, and develop in-house online learning courses. Participants will also learn how to enhance their Moodle installation. More online at
http://tinyurl.com/cy2c64

Multiple Perspectives
The hands-on session will detail a unified, systemic response to administration, course development and implementation in partnership with non-District organizations (e.g. PBS TeacherLine). Participants will have the opportunity to interact with technical support, online course developers, and facilitators who work with K-12 educators, as well as learn how to setup Moodle, including theme and course development.

Demonstrates creating new solutions through online learning
The San Antonio ISD’s online professional learning center has impacted over a 100 educators, both through 100% online professional learning opportunities as well as hybrid, blended approaches with some face-to-face and online. It has developed online courses that it will be sharing with others under Creative Commons Copyright (SA-NC-Attrib) and free of charge. SAISD currently serves over 1,000 K-12 students and several hundred K-12 educators with participation increasing every day.

Provides School Reform Strategies
Online professional learning serves as a way to deepen learning conversations through the use of rigorous course content (such as that provided by PBS TeacherLine’s online professional development courses and its Peer Connection resource—an online suite of tools for Instructional coaches) that can be incorporated into online professional learning opportunities.

Facilitates Interaction Amongst Attendees
The SAISD is committed to enriching the learning conversation of conference attendees, recognizing that online conversations can better engage participants after the event. For that reason, participants will be invited to join the LEARN Online Learning environment. It is already online at http://tinyurl.com/cy2c64

Includes Student Perspectives
The perspective of online adult learners will be shared through quotations and video interviews–also will be available online via the LEARN ONLINE environment–but funding and other responsibilities prevents the presence of these at the conference session.

Shows Innovation
Research (http://www.srnleads.org/resources/publications/nsdc.html) shows that “professional learning can have a powerful effect on teacher skills and knowledge and on student learning.” Unfortunately, most teachers who need 50+ hours of professional learning around relevant topics only get 16 hours of irrelevant professional learning. The report goes on to say that for professional learning to be effective, it must meet 3 criteria. Professional learning must be 1) Sustained, 2) Focused on important content, and 3) embedded in the work of collaborative professional learning teams that support ongoing improvements in teachers’ practice and student achievement. How do you achieve this? To accomplish this, the San Antonio ISD is the first district in Texas to partner with PBS TeacherLine of Texas to license professional development content for use in Moodle-based online learning environments.

Mission Critical
A book of in-house online learning content using Moodle will be shared with conference participants, as will fully develop syllabi and online courses that are available for participants to access and use under Creative Commons Copyright.

A checklist of what will be discussed and addressed in this session is included below:
1. Vision for Constructing Online Learning Environments in K-12 School Districts
2. How to Grow Your Own Online Learning Facilitators
3. How to Scaffold Adult Learners in K-12 Online Learning Settings as they embark on new experiences in virtual space
4. How to Setup Moodle Server for optimum use in K-12 learning environments
5. 20 How-To Moodle Tips that School Districts Need to Know will be shared
6. The Role of Strategic Content Partners in enhancing what school districts can offer, with particular attention paid to PBS TeacherLine and Peer Connection content, as well as LOTI and other content providers.

If you would like to be considered as a panelist on one of the following VSS Pre-conference workshops, please check the topic your presentation is aligned to and you may be contacted by the Pre-conference workshop organizers to co-present:
[ ] How to Start an Online Learning Program
[ ] Research & Evaluation for K-12 Online Learning
[ ] Online Science and Virtual Labs
[x] Web 2.0 and Emerging Technologies for Online Learning
[ ] Professional Development for Online Learning

Presenter Information

Lead Presenter:

Name:
Miguel Guhlin

Title:
Director, Instructional Technology Services

Organization:
San Antonio ISD

Street Address:
406 Barrera

City:
San Antonio

State:
TX

Zip Code:
78210

Phone:
210-527-1400

Email:
mguhlin@gmail.com

Co-Presenter #1:

Name:
Tonya Mills

Title:
Coordinator, Instructional Technology Services

Organization:
San Antonio ISD

Street Address:
406 Barrera

City:
San Antonio

State:
TX

Zip Code:
78210

Phone:
210-527-1400

Email:
tmills@saisd.net

Bio:
As SAISD’s Online Learning Coordinator, certified PBS TeacherLine and Capstone online learning facilitator, Tonya Mills is responsible for ensuring content and course development is aligned to state, national and international standards–such as iNACOL’s–as this is her primary duty. She is also an expert Moodle theme designer and Moodle administrator.

Co-Presenter #2:

Name:
Mary Alice Appleman

Title:
Asst. Director, Educational Services

Organization:
KLRU TV, Austin PBS

Street Address:
2504-B Whitis Avenue

City:
Austin

State:
TX

Zip Code:
78704

Phone:
512-475-9051

Email:
maappleman@klru.org

Bio:
Since 1987 Mary Alice Appleman has served as the assistant director for KLRU’s educational services. She has been responsible for coordinating station activities with KLRU K-12 member schools by providing assistance in marketing PBS TeacherLine of Texas courses; managing the United Streaming media program; facilitating program integration workshops; assisting in presenting and preparing Ready To Learn workshops and materials.

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