One interesting question raised by the online professional development
plan is - how do we learn new things? We created a list of learning
strategies based on the experience of the expert advisors and interviewing
a variety of teachers. On the form you can choose a strategy from the list
or add your own. The list includes:

- Self-study online: This is where all the resources the David and others
collected are listed, related to each competency. More and more I think we
go online when we want new information, or to answer a question, so we
started there.

- Read a book or journal article (Yes, we still read words printed on
paper, right?!)

- Attend a conference

- Subscribe to an electronic discussion list (Well, if you're reading this
email you already employ this strategy!)

- Find a tech buddy: A tech buddy is a friend or relative who is ahead of
you on the technology trail, the person you go to when you have a
technology question. If you don't have one, it's worth looking around for
one.

- Get a technology mentor: A mentor relationship would be a bit more
formal than with a tech buddy. You might decide to focus on a particular
topic with your mentor, and meet regularly a certain number of times. It
might be set up through a program or department rather than by an
individual on their own.

- Join or start a study circle: Since NCSALL started promoting study
circles as an effective way for teachers to learn, and began to develop
and disseminate materials for study circles, this has become a popular
approach to professional development. (See
http://www.ncsall.net/?id=25#teach)

- Use your state literacy resource center: States have adult basic skills
resource centers that offer a variety of professional development

- Take a course

- Take an online course

- Create or join a learning community: the description focuses on
web-based communities, but this could also be face-to-face

- Make integrating technology a teacher research project for yourself or
your students

- Other, add your own

Does this list cover it? Any comments on particular strategies? What are
you favorite learning strategies? How have your strategies changed over
the last five years?

Marian
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marian Thacher, OTAN
P.O. Box 269003
Sacramento, CA 95826-9003
(916) 228-2597
www.otan.us

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