Hi Dear Readers and Listeners,
It was so much fun to talk to Melissa and Erin in this episode as they shared their passion in supporting both students, teachers, and district folks.
And it is so much fun to see how our professional learning plays out in our ‘classrooms’ each day. This summer and school year we are focusing on the Community of Inquiry Theory - teaching presence, cognitive presence, social presence, and community presence, and how connecting these rings helps students to make meaning of what they are learning.
Our PLC’s have just started and it is so exciting to see how our folks are applying their learning in the classroom.
How do you provide those deliberate opportunities for your people to ask questions or just talk through something?
Have a great week,
Pat
In This Episode
Professional learning is so important and different in a Virtual program. We talked about how important connection is in the virtual space - and that we don’t bump into each other in hallways. As we plan and develop we want to be deliberate about providing informal opportunities to seek support or just talk through teaching with a trusted colleague.
Melissa’s main focus is onboarding students into the virtual environment, helping them navigate platforms, and maintaining a connection through consistent follow-ups. This helps us know how she can support and develop our facilitators. Erin works primarily with students who take virtual courses while still attending traditional schools, coordinating with facilitators and ensuring a smooth integration of online and in-person learning.
Takeaways From this Episode:
1. The First Connection Matters: Melissa and Erin are both the first point of contact for students and teachers. They both share that making a connection during onboarding for students and adults creates fertile ground for student success. Ongoing support ensures that if students are stuck they are quickly back on track.
2. Professional Development for Virtual Teaching: The pandemic taught us how unprepared many folks were for providing engaging virtual learning experiences. At the WOL year-round professional development helps everyone to focus on best practices and honing their skills. We are fortunate to have a deep bench when it comes to great teaching - and our facilitators help each other when challenges arrive.
4. Everchanging Technology: AI is the big buzz right now. And in addition to all the other platforms teachers can get overwhelmed. Our VLS’s help the facilitators with the adoption of tools to support best practices in the classroom and create opportunities to troubleshoot technology issues together. While exploring new digital tools can be overwhelming - when we work together, we can be sure we are using the best tools to enhance student interaction and create a vibrant virtual learning environment.
5. Building a Supportive Community: Erin and Melissa have, through their actions and dedication gained the trust of their colleagues and our districts. These relationships support collaboration and demonstrate the significance of a strong community of teachers so students can thrive in a world that relies on technology for learning almost everything.
Quick Bites
Family Newsletter
Link to Parent Toolbox (Including Zoom for Caregiver Connections)
Calendar of Events
MORE
COI Theory and Use as we digitize so much of our learning.
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