Watch this Video on How-To Subscribe
eLearning
Welcome! The SAISD Office of Instructional Technology & Learning Services (ITLS) is focused on facilitating online learning for K-12 and adult learners.
Additional resources–such as discussion forum and printable documents–are online at http://intouch.saisd.net/learn
Update 08/2009:
- Feedback from Participants -
What You Will Find Here
On this page you will find the following:
- Presentation available via Slideshare
- Background Information on eLearning
- eLearning Course Offerings (includes downloadable courses SAISD is sharing)
- List of Moodle Modules/Blocks in Use
- About SAISD’s Strategic Partners in eLearning – PBS TeacherLine and LOTI Connection
- More About Moodle – Published articles
Note:Resources are shared under Creative Commons Copyright (ShareAlike-NonCommercial-Attribution). These courses are offered “as is” and need to be restored to a working Moodle installation. Included for each course are standard modules/blocks that should be loaded prior to loading, although you can certainly try to load them without those modules present. Please share your feedback on these courses and ideas for improvement. We are always looking for ways to improve our professional learning offerings!
Presentation
Background
In 2007, San Antonio ISD sought out ways to enhance professional learning for cohorts of educators. In the first 2 cohorts of the Technology Integration Lead Teacher (TILT) program (video 1 of PBS | Video 2 | Video 3) Instructional Technology Services team members realized the power of online professional learning. The first partnership was with PBS TeacherLine, which played a key role in defining the TILT Program and then in providing critical Online Facilitator Training (OFT) for Instructional Technology team members. Since the collaboration began in the fall of 2007, two cohorts of San Antonio teachers have been nominated and enrolled in the PBS TeacherLine program as part of the initial stages of the initiative. In 2009, with our second partner, SAISD switched to a customized 10-week program for the online learning component using the LOTI Connection’s Lead Teacher Program. Cost has decreased from initial $95K to $54K (sometimes less) per cohort (view spreadsheet). Testimonials appear online at http://itls.saisd.net/lead
Since SAISD began facilitating online professional learning through TILT, there have been approximately over 300+ participants in online professional learning (not just through TILT courses, obviously). More online learning opportunities are scheduled to begin in Summer, 2009. Our course management system is Moodle. We chose it because it was a free, open source system that has global support in education.
eLearning Course Offerings for Professionals and ParaEducators
Note: The following courses are under development (takes about 24 hours per course) and are listed in order of priority with completed courses topping the list. All courses available for download are in ZIP format and can be restored to active moodle install.
- Completed Courses
- Online Course Template (152K)
- Virtual Learner Series
- Introduction to Online Learning (not available for sharing; undergoing content modification) – This course helps you ascertain whether you are ready for online professional learning. First time online learners often struggle with time management, technical issues, and the shock of learning online. The IOL course tries to ease you into this and help build confidence. This course is a pre-requisite for ALL online learning courses offered in SAISD by Instructional Technology Services and is highly recommended.
- SAISD Blogging Course (127.8 meg) (uses the Apple Blog Server and includes video tutorials) – This is an introductory course on using blogs in the classroom! You’ll have an opportunity to explore how many educators around the world are using blogs, podcasting, as well as various forms of copyright, to transform how they approach teaching, learning and leading in their specific situation. You will create your own blog and learn how to add content to it. You will also be expected to join the global learning conversation by building your own academic learning network! Participants need to be prepared to work at least 1 hour, if not more, per day on this course during the 5 day session.
- Online Course Template (152K)
- June 1, 2009 Release Date
- Electronic Gradebook and Attendance Tracking System
- iDataPortal - This online course will guide administrators and teachers through the format of the iDataPortal Database. As well as provide real-world opportunities for sharing, learning and enhancing your on-campus data collection.
- Online Literature Circles – This online course will guide you through the setup and monitoring of a Moodle for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books via collaboration on SAISD’s Online Literature Circle pages. Teachers will make connections between present classroom strategies and learn how this Web 2.0 tool helps students gain deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response using technology in realtime communications.
- August 1 Release Date
- Virtual Learner Series
- Building Your Professional Learning Network -
- Digital Storytelling – This online course will guide you through development of digital stories, how they might be used in the classroom, as well as introduce you to various free tools available. Free tools include MS PhotoStory, iMovie, and Voicethread.com.
- Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction – This course will explore the application of technology to the design of instructional materials and activities that make the learning goals achievable by individuals with wide differences in their abilities to see, hear, speak, move, read, write, understand English, attend, organize, engage, and remember. Note: This course may be provided through the LOTI Connection.
- Problem-Based Learning Academy -
- Virtual Learner Series
Other courses are also purchased from the following vendors, including the following:
- LOTI Lead Teacher Course - This course ($1800 for 30 participants) is used as a core component of the Technology Integration Lead Teacher (TILT) program. These are purchased as needed and more courses are available than just this one. Provider: LOTI Connection
- PBS TeacherLine – These 3 courses are used as a part of the available courses offered to adult learners. Cost is about $24,000, which included conversion to Moodle format. These courses have to be licensed annually. Our current license ends February, 2010. Provider: PBS TeacherLine
Moodle Modules/Blocks In Use
Note: While not all modules below are in use, it is expected that you will at least have modules 1-3 installed.
- Questionnaire – This module is one of my favorites because you can get online feedback–just like you would with SurveyMonkey type site–but it graphs the data for you as bar charts, which has been great for doing regular surveys, not just for use in courses. Unlike the built-in survey module in Moodle, you can create your own questions and questions can be labels, essay, text, multiple choice, Likert-type (rate 1-5), radio buttons, and Yes/No questions.
Get it online at http://tinyurl.com/bxua9w - Book - This module is great because you can create multi-page–just like a book with chapters and subchapter–resource that includes text, enables import of web pages, video embedding and more.
Get it online at http://tinyurl.com/crngyd - OUBlog – Desiring to organize your student blogs within Moodle but disappointed with Moodle’s built-in blog feature? I know I was. OUBlog provides a nice alternative, that while not as rich as a dedicated blog platform like Multi-User Wordpress or b2Evolution, is usable.
Get it online at http://tinyurl.com/ayvts5 - Lightbox Gallery Resource – While working with middle school teachers about to embark on a learning journey, it became advantageous to take photos of the students. The photos would end up as the thumbnail image that appears when someone posts a message in the forum, or simply, the students’ profile. But how to display them within a course? The Lightbox Gallery Resource is easy to set-up and accomplishes this well.
Get it online at http://tinyurl.com/devh2v - Learning Diary – This module is used to combine the many Reflections into one ongoing diary, a much more efficient and appealing approach for adults. There are so many individual activities in each section that the list appeared exhaustive. It’s a 3rd Party Mod not hosted on Moodle.org.
Get it online at http://julmis.julmajanne.com/index.php/Learningdiary - Exabis ePortfolio – This module enables both Professional and Student Moodles as a repository for users’ to store top projects and more importantly, to allow file-sharing to classmates/teacher for review, collaboration or comments. Check it out for broader use across courses. It allows for collection of files, notes, hyperlinks, etc. and exports to SCORM. Items can be shared to all site users, only those in a common course, or individuals.
Get it online at http://www.moodlekurse.org/course/view.php?id=13 - Podcast Module – This module makes it easy for students and teachers to record audio and share them via a subscribable RSS feed (a.k.a. a podcast).
Get it online at http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=2160&filter=1
About Our Strategic Partners
Note that you can find PBS TeacherLine Course Licensing Information below:
And more information about Online Facilitator Training:
Peer Connection Information
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Features
- Pricing
- Self-Assessment
- Sample Syllabus – Session 1
- Sample Syllabus – Session 2
The LoTi Classroom is an online learning environment from LoTi that offers innovative professional development interventions for the busy K-12 classroom teacher or instructional leader. We currently offer a combination of theory into practice and practical application courses on topics that model 21st Century learning and researched best practices. Completing an online course in the LoTi Classroom is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3!
More About Moodle
Published Articles About Moodle:
- How to Manage Your District’s Online Learning Opportunities (Education World)
- 5 Essential Technology Tools for Administrators (Education World)
- Moodle-izing Your Education Enterprise (Education World)
- Moodle Habitudes: Constructing Online Learning Environments (TCEA TECHEDGE)
- Engaging Learners Online: Picking the Lock on the Classroom Door – Part 1 (MassCUE Publication)
- Doing the Moodle Mambo (TCEA TechEdge)
