Question:
The Internet adds many options for professional development on you "own time." Have you ever taken a professional development course or workshop online? Would you recommend this option to your teacher friends? Why or why not?
Replies:
Grand Rapids - MI, Becca
I have taken quite a few online courses that were quite interesting. I spend hours in the evenings and on the weekends looking up many things to help me in my profession, so yes, I would take a professional dev. course online. I would recommend this to my teacher friends so that we could share ideas and promote more ideas on the same subject.
Cheryll - NYC, NY
I have not done any formal courses online although I have been encouraged to do so. My reason is that I get bored sometimes just typing and reading online. Also, my friends who have done courses let me know that the work load is heavier than when you are in an actual classroom. If some one is going to study on line they have to be prepare to talk with their fingers and have the commitment to spent the time required infront of the computer.
pat - montville, nj
I think these courses online are great for someone who has such long hours. It gives one the opportunity to learn at their own pace, wherever and whenever they wish. There are many which are free or even minimally priced, and some which even offer college credits.
Genelle - Glasgow, KY
I have taken several free online PD courses through our state's department of education. It has been a good way to share ideas with educators across the state. The convenience is the best part. I can log in and complete the weekly lessons as my schedule allows and I can work ahead if I have an extra busy week coming up. Each course presented quality material that has had a positive impact on my teaching in the classroom.
Mrs. Abbett - San Leandro, CA
I have taken a couple of courses online. One was for my teaching credential. I met many wonderful people across the country and got to know what teaching life is like in different areas through their comments and shared assignments. The teacher had a great personality for online teaching. It was through University of Phoenix and i think the workload was equivalent to the classroom courses I had taken. I also got linked with several good websites that were recommended by others in the class. I had another class that had only one weekend of classroom meeting and the other work was online. It was a class with several of my coworkers. It was interesting to read their comments and see their online assignments and also to talk about assignments in the brief contacts we actually had in person at work. Recently I took an online class with video segments and I found it rather boring, but it was not related to teaching directly. Perhaps the topic and teacher and level of personal interest that make the online classes interesting or boring, much like a classroom coures. I appreciated the hours, as others have said, I could do the coursework evenings and weekends after other activities were done each day. I met other teachers from across the country. I had wonderful teachers. I learned as much as though I was in a classroom. I would take another online class for professional development.
If you would like to read and respond
to this week's question, click here. |
