| |
PBS TeacherLine provides schools and districts across Virginia with high-quality, standards- and research-based professional development. By partnering with Virginia's PBS TeacherLine, you can provide your teachers with superior professional development, while achieving your district's strategic goals.
How can PBS TeacherLine courses enhance professional development in my district?
Provide choice:
Individual teachers may have professional development needs that are unique within the district, such as a course in linear functions that only a couple of teachers in a district may teach. With Virginia's PBS TeacherLine, districts can purchase a block of courses and let their teachers select the courses they need.
Provide standardization:
A district or school can enroll a cohort of its educators in a private course that meets the school's strategic objectives—such as incorporating curriculum mapping in induction—without the need for in-service days or substitute teachers. This course can be further customized to meet the needs of your school or district. Contact us to set up local course at 866.851.3677.
Why Districts Choose PBS TeacherLine
Ensures quality with research-based content and methodologies
- Our courses, developed under a grant from the Department of Education, follow strategies that have met rigorous evaluation by an independent evaluator and incorporate best practices developed over six years.
- All Virginia's PBS TeacherLine courses have dedicated facilitators who stimulate participation, make online learning accessible for those new to the medium, and provide a crucial element of social interaction to online learning. This facilitated and discussion group format is based in social development theory in which learners' involvement in "communities of practice" allows learning to occur as a function of the activity and context. Our basis in situated learning theory distinguishes our courses from self-paced ones.
- Our content is developed in collaboration with major professional organizations and leading experts in instructional strategies and content, such as NCTM and ISTE.
- Our courses incorporate metacognition activities such as prior-reflection, self-monitoring and debriefing, drawing on constructivist theory and the "habits of mind" framework. Courses not only teach pedagogical theories, they utilize them.
- All of our courses include guidance in modifying teachers' instructional approach to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Helps districts meet NCLB requirements
- The NCLB's definition of "professional development" (Title IX, Part A) specifies activities that are "high quality, sustained, intensive and classroom-focused in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction and the teacher's performance in the classroom." Our six-week courses encourage learners to incorporate their professional development into their classroom practices. In particular, Classroom Link courses ask learners to implement lessons with their class or with a small group of students, and then reflect on the activity.
- NCLB "Enhancing Education Through Technology" (Title II, Part D) requires that every student be technologically literate by the time he or she finishes eighth grade. Our Technology Strategy (TECH) courses help educators incorporate technology into the classroom, from using the Internet for research to using the computer in the classroom. Also, all PBS TeacherLine courses, even content area courses, include the rich use of technology within the course (video, interactives, etc.) to improve learning and introduce teachers to how technology can be used in instruction.
Offers districts and schools flexibility and savings
- More than 90 courses in core concepts of mathematics, reading, instructional technologies, curriculum mapping, instructional strategies, and science allow a district or school to provide a broad range of courses from one source.
- The online format accommodates both individuals and groups in multiple locations, eliminating the need for substitutes and special training facilities.
- Because of a grant from the Department of Education, Virginia's PBS TeacherLine courses can be offered at a significant discount off of the list price.
Provides a structured format for learning
- Courses are led by Virginia facilitators with master's degrees who have content expertise and skills certified through our specially developed Online Facilitation Training (OFT). Facilitators are trained to guide a constructivist use of discussions, and to support development of a professional community of practice.
- Facilitators provide feedback and assessment against clearly stated objectives to maximize teacher learning and subsequent impact in the classroom.
Helps educators meet their professional development goals
- Most districts allow teachers to apply PBS TeacherLine courses towards professional development points (PDPs), continuing education units (CEUs) and graduate credits.
To offer PBS TeacherLine courses to your teachers:
- Browse the Course Catalog to decide which courses you might like to offer.
- If you would like to pay via purchase order, download our purchase order form.
- For group sales, district sales or purchase orders, you can also call Virginia's PBS TeacherLine toll-free at 866.851.3677.
|
|
