Learning and Leading - November 2012

in Action

Professional Development That’s Right for You

Debren Ferris, webinar program manager,counts down seven great ways that ISTE can help improve learning and teaching at your school.

T his month, L&L celebrates excellent educators. As ISTE’s webinar program manager and producer, I am privileged to work with exceptional educators every week. I search out ed tech leaders who model excellence and invite them to share their successes with ISTE members. I love my job because I get to talk with people from around the world who are just like you. I learn about your stories, your challenges, your successes, and your dedication to your students. As part of ISTE’s Professional Development Services (PDS) team, I work with committed teachers, administrators, tech leaders, and library media specialists to support the excellent work that you do.

Here are seven ways ISTE can help you improve learning and teaching in your school:

1. ISTE webinars. These bite-sized nuggets of professional development (PD) feature tools and strategies you can use in your classroom today! For an hour once a week, you can convene with peers from around the globe to learn and share tips and tricks for integrating technology into every corner of your classroom. And if the time and day don’t work for you, search more than 200 webinar archives to purchase and view as many times as you’d like. ISTE webinars are extremely economical. Just hook up a computer to a projector and invite your entire staff using a single connection. iste.org/webinars

2. ISTE online courses. These facilitated, self-paced courses provide a cost-effective PD option on topics relevant to you, such as project-based learning, digital citizenship, Universal Design for Learning, and digital storytelling. iste.org/learn/onlinecourses

3. NETS Leadership Academy. These courses provide a comprehensive understanding of the NETS for students, teachers, and administrators; the essential conditions that need to be in place for successful implementation; and the design of NETS-based strategies to transform the educational environment. You’ll learn how to implement the NETS, how to apply them in technology planning, and how to leverage them for school improvement. iste.org/netsleadershipacademy

4. Onsite NETS-based training. ISTE faculty members will provide training and coaching at your school or district office on topics ranging from STEM and mobile devices to understanding and implementing Google Docs, developing digital age skills, and teaching with iPod touches. iste.org/customPD

5. Books. ISTE publishes an array of books on topics such as flipping your classroom, teaching with Google, project-based learning—you name it! iste.org/books

6. Special interest groups. Meet and share with like-minded folks whose passions are aligned with yours by joining any or all of our 21 SIGs. iste.org/sigs

7. Best of the best. We can help bring the best presenters from ISTE’s annual conference and exposition to your regional or school conference, and you can be assured of their quality and relevance. iste.org/profdev