ISTE+2011

=Best Practices in Globally Attended Professional Development=

There are many things that folks can do on their own, without paid tools.  Recommended Best Practices:
 * Plan with the end goal in mind.
 * Consider carefully the needs of __all__  attendees - speak to the passion of attendees.
 * Consider involving authentic experts - there are now few excuses not to bring in an expert voice.
 * Build a comfortable and easy-to-use environment (similar to )
 * Break the program into simple easy to follow steps as it’s easy to overwhelm attendees if a new concept for them
 * Clearly identify r esponsibilities of PD providers
 * Globally attended PD must be fluid.
 * Flexible during PD sessions
 * For local participants, 2 facilitators may be needed (one to focus on internal and one to focus on external participants)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Test all equipment the day prior to the session to help trouble shoot any potential issues
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chat moderator
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Natural follow-up should be built into the course.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Involve participants in co-creating the follow-up learning experience (tagging and track-backs are important).
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Take time to reflect.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What went well, what should be changed?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Have a central learning hub
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Have one central location that’s easy to find and use such as a wiki or blog
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Purpose is to:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Document and share what is covered in each sessions so attendees can easily refer back to it
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pull the reflections of the attendees into one location to make it easier for them to connect with each other
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Model the type of practises you want them to learn how to use and be using with their students
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Encourage attendees to continue learning outside of PD sessions
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Provide incentives or encouragement that makes them want to continue to learn outside of the schedule session times
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Make it easy for them to easily connect with other attendees online so they learn together as a community

Recommended (Free) Tools


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Skype
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Elluminate: 3-person v-room
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Google Tools
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikispaces
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">VoiceThread
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Twitter with session hash tags (important to continue the conversation)