Professional Learning

Technology Tools in Support of Collaboration

Using technology to engage educators in learning with and from each other is essential to creating sustainable change in schools. The Education Alliance's online professional learning opportunities draw upon the latest research, relate directly to teachers' classroom experiences, and bring educators together to collaborate on their work. Tools for collaboration include asynchronous online environments and real-time formats such as webinars and e-meetings. We convene educators and develop online professional development that can support sustained interactions that are not bounded by limitations of geography or daily schedule.

• Adolescent Literacy Collaboratory
  The Adolescent Literacy Collaboratory is a year-long, job-embedded professional learning experience for middle school and high school teachers of math, science, social studies, and English/language arts. The Collaboratory combines an initial face-to-face institute with year-long online learning activities.

Examples of other recent offerings include:

• Job-embedded online professional development for improving adolescent literacy
• Online seminars for elementary mathematics teachers and coaches
• E-meetings to support dissemination of scientifically based research

Related Work

• Knowledge Loom: Educators Sharing and Learning Together
• The Knowledge Loom: Adolescent Literacy

Related Publications:

• Using The Knowledge Loom: Ideas and Tools for Collaborative Professional Development
• Gauging and Improving Interactions in Online Seminars for Mathematics Coaches
• Improving Online Collaborative Learning for Teachers: How Changes to Design Features of the Adolescent Literacy Collaboratory Influenced Participant Retention, Overall Satisfaction, and Engagement
• The Role of Facilitation in Online Professional Development: Engendering Co-Construction of Knowledge
• Topics of Peer to Peer Listserv Postings: How Can They Serve as a Resource for Enhancing a Web Site for Early Foreign Language Educators?

Other Professional Learning Services

• Job-embedded Learning Supports
• Support for Educator Networks
• Coursework and Workshops on Culturally Responsive Teaching Practice