Online Professional Development through Virtual Learning Communities

Powerful collaborative learning—anytime, anyplace! Online learning seems like a perfect solution for cost-conscious districts and busy teachers, but can these programs also deliver high-caliber professional learning? Using one district’s success story as a model, this timely book shows you how to combine well-designed online instruction with the energy of peer-to-peer collaboration. At the heart of this book is a model that supports powerful professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for every student. Sonja Hollins-Alexander writes from her own experience building a successful online professional development (PD) program for a large urban district. Readers will find Research-based support for online PD and the author’s original Learner-Learner model A thorough planning guide and ten action steps for program development Best practices for managing staffing and resources Strategies for establishing a true community of learners online Discover how to create a sustainable online PD program that promotes collaboration and growth! "This book provides district and school leaders with a practical guide to shifting professional learning from more traditional ‘sit and get’ models to technology-enhanced models that foster collaboration and co-creation." —Catherine Huber, Principal Northwood Elementary, West Seneca, NY