Hello Cris,

I would love to hear more about the webheads in Action. How did being  
part of this Community of Practice (CoP) support, inform, and  
challenge you? Do you think it helped you to improve your teaching?  
If so, how? Can you tell us how it was a CoP? That is, how does an  
online CoP work? And how did this one work for you?

For some reading this, CoPs may be a new idea, and an online CoP  
especially may be new, so please -- if you can -- start at the  
beginning. Tell the whole story. Gives us the details. What you have  
described is tantalizing, and for you familiar, but it's not familiar  
for everyone here. I, for one, will be an eager reader.

Thanks.

David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net


On Apr 11, 2008, at 3:02 AM, Cristina Mendes-Da-Costa wrote:

> Hi Gina,

>

>

>

> I know the feeling. In previous institutions where I worked before  

> there was no budget at all for PD. However, it didn’t stop me. I  

> paid for my own Masters’. However, the greatest achievements and  

> the more efficient learning was not acquired and developed through  

> the official accomplishment of this degree, but through the active  

> and ongoing engagement with an international CoP – The webheads in  

> Action. I have learned so much from these people, and I think I  

> have also been able to give something back. It is this continuous  

> learning exchange that keeps me motivated and also keeps my  

> learning spark going.

>

>

>

> Yesterday I also joined another group in NING on Professional  

> Development 2.0 http://newlearning.ning.com/m which you might also  

> find useful.

>

>

>

> I hope to meet you there too.

>

> Best,

>

> Cris

>

>

>

> Cristina Costa

> http://www.knowmansland.com

> ………………………………………………….

> Learning Technologies Development Officer

> Research and Graduate College

> University of Salford

> Tel: +44 (0)161 295 6751

>

> Skype ID: navysternchen

>

>

>

> P Please, consider your environmental responsibility. Before  

> printing this e-mail ask yourself: "Do I need a hard copy?"

>

>

>

>

> From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov  

> [mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of  

> Lobaccaro Gina (DOC)

> Sent: 10 April 2008 21:20

> To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List

> Subject: Using Listservs, Online Meetings, Online Learning Circles,  

> Communities of Practics to encourage technological uses of PD

>

>

>

> I am investigating the use of technological tools to build and  

> enhance teacher professional development during these days of  

> financial cutbacks.

>

> It is my understanding that the State of Delaware has left no money  

> in the budget for professional development during this year of such  

> a shortage of funds.

>

>

>

> As it happens, I have just returned to work on my EdD (Educational  

> Doctorate) at the University of Delaware, so I hope to offer my  

> expertise and work on projects that will give teachers in Delaware  

> opportunities to create their own opportunities for professional  

> development.

>

> I am writing this to this listserv to solicit ideas and suggestions  

> for how other states and professional groups have taken on the  

> development of professional development opportunities without a  

> great deal of funding provided by the states or the federal  

> government.

>

>

>

> I will be creating a bog, for the project for the class I am taking  

> this semester - Cognition & Technology, to document and provide   

> sounding board for Delaware adult educator and other adult  

> educators who have used technology to enhance the effectiveness of  

> low cost/high quality professional development opportunities for  

> teachers.

>

>

>

> I am an adult educator and an correctional educator. I am the media  

> & technology specialist for the Prison Education program that is  

> administrated by the Delaware Department of Education, but I do not  

> expect this conversation to be limited to Adult Education  

> professional development.

>

> But, I will take suggestions that I might use to strengthen the  

> opportunities for adult educators' professional development in  

> Delaware.  The Adult Education Professional Development  

> organization for Delaware is DAACE.

>

>

>

> I look forward to a lively conversation on this topic.

>

>

>

> Sincerely

>

>

>

> Gina Lobaccaro

>

>

>

> Sussex Correctional Institution

>

> Prison Education Program

>

> PO Box 500

>

> Georgetown, DE 19947

>

> 302-856-5282 x 6204

>

>

>

> gina.lobaccaro at state.de.us

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

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>

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>

> Email delivered to djrosen at comcast.net

>

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> Adult_Literacy_Professional_Development