David, as usual, love your ideas -- and would be interested in such a group
(or groups) as you mention.

here are some active groups:

 http://connecting-online.ning.com/

LWCers http://learning-with-computers.blogspot.com/

http://learningwithcomputers07.pbwiki.com/Microblogging+weekly+tasks

http://crowdstatus.com/Learning%20with%20Computerscrowd.aspx


and of course the TESOL EVOs:  http://evosessions.pbwiki.com/

last year's:  http://evo08sessionscfp.pbwiki.com/

[I've participated in these groups for years and most remain active with
interested posts throughout the years]
On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 7:55 PM, David J. Rosen <DJRosen at theworld.com>wrote:


>  Hello Michael,

>

> Thanks for your great post. I wholeheartedly agree with the direction you

> are suggesting.

>

> Local PD adult ed learning communities and program-based professional

> development efforts can now use (usually free) web-based tools to quickly

> organize or structure their professional development to meet their learning

> community needs. This is one of the most promising and exciting ways in

> which to enhance adult ed professional development and, if organized well,

> one that can lead to program development too. It doesn't require new

> funding, but does require  passion, seriousness of purpose and, of course,

> its members' time.

>

> National online learning communities are also an exciting concept. They

> can use tools such as OfficeZilla, Community Zero, Google Groups, wikis, and

> others, and content resources such as the NIFL discussion lists (and their

> archives), NIFL collections, the ALE Wiki, the NCSALL Web Site, and others.

> These tools make organizing these grioups easy.

>

> I wonder if there is a group of subscribers to this discussion list who

> might like to form a small national learning community to explore something

> in depth, what some might call an online study circle. It would require that

> someone step forward to be a convenor, and that there were half a dozen or

> so people who cared deeply about learning about the topic. The National

> Issues Forum or the Study Circle Resource Center (if they still exist) have

> developed proven models for how to do this well face-to-face. Their

> models could be adapted easily to an online learning community. NCSALL

> developed face-to-face study circles on Persistence, and Health Literacy,

> perhaps on other topics. Perhaps these have been -- or could be -- adapted

> to an online PD study circle. If a group of subscribers to this list formed

> an online PD study cirlce, the content might be: Learning Communities,

> Program-based Professional Development, Online Professional Development, or

> something else they cared about learning.

>

> I am part of an adult ed professional development learning community called

> the Second Life Adult Professional Development Explorers (SLAPDE) group.

> It's nearly 20 people from around the world who want to learn and think

> about how to use Second Life for adult learning Professional Development. It

> needs a leader and some focus, but now and then it gets fired up and we meet

> and explore things on Second Life. We have a wiki and a Google group. I

> would describe us as (a fledgling) online learning community. Let me know if

> you are interested in joining.

>

> Anyone else have examples of online learning communities in adult ed? Or

> face-to-face learning communities? I, for one, would really like to learn

> about these if they exist. Maybe others would, too.

>

> David J. Rosen

>




>  Holly (Dilatush)

> ABA Virtual Learning Center

> Charlottesville, VA USA

> holly at dilatush.com

> (434) 960.7177 cell phone

> (434) 295.9716 home phone

> [OK to call 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST / GMT -5 time]

>

> "Live with intention. Share inside~out smiles, inspire hope, seek awe and

> nurture in nature."  (original by Holly)

>

> Plan to attend TESOL 2009!   http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/convention2009/

>

> My presentation: Exploring Intercultural Communication and Conflict

> Resolution Through Drama; Reflecting Online:

> 3/28/2009 at 12:30 PM in room 603 at the Colorado Convention Center.

>

> http://tales-around-the-world.blogspot.com

> http://abavirtual-learningcenter.org

> http://blogblossoms.edublogs.org

> *Twitter and Skype IDs = smilin7

>

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