- Instructor: ies
Course Provider: VHS Learning
| 225USD | Flexible | 10 Hours | Self-paced | Certificate available |
In addition to rich content knowledge, effective teachers also possess strong communication skills. This holds true regardless of whether instruction is delivered in a traditional classroom, online classroom, or blended setting. When transitioning to an online classroom setting, teachers can rely on strategies honed for the face-to-face classroom but must also develop additional strategies to compensate for the lack of non-verbal communication cues.
This 10-hour module introduces a variety of considerations around communication and leads teachers to develop models of communication that can be used in their online classroom. Teachers will reflect on personal strengths and challenges in written communication, consider integration of audio/video communication in their online classroom, explore the importance of teacher presence in online classrooms, differentiate between academic and non-academic community building in online classrooms, and develop activities that encourage community building in their online classroom.
This module is part of a series of professional learning opportunities focused on critical skills online teachers must develop. Teachers can enroll in one module or take the entire series. Courses are designed for middle and high school teachers or teachers teaching grades 7-12.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the webinar series, participants will be able to:
● Identify their strengths and challenges in written communication
● Employ best practices in written communication
● Identify the best ways to integrate audio/video communication in their online course
● Identify the importance and characteristics of teacher presence in the online classroom
● Explain the importance of both non-academic and academic community building in the online classroom
● Develop activities that encourage community building in the online classroom”
Course Commitment
● Fully Asynchronous
● 10 hours asynchronous study
Schedule
Flexible Schedule / Self-paced
VHS Learning (VHS, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization providing supplemental online classes and blended learning opportunities to middle and high school students, and professional development to educators. We partner with schools and districts to create programs in their schools and work directly with parents and students that want to enroll in our classes individually.
VHS Learning began as “Virtual High School” in 1996 as part of a technology grant from the Department of Education. In 2001, VHS, Inc. was established as a nonprofit. The organization has set the standard for quality online education. VHS Learning prepares students for college, careers, and life through supportive, instructor-led online and blended classroom experiences.
VHS Learning is accredited by Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), ACS Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and Cognia. We offer a catalog of 24 Advanced Placement® courses and all eligible VHS Learning courses are approved for initial eligibility by NCAA (VHS Learning is school code #221356).
Director
Xuan You
Xuan You is Director, Global Programs and Services. Xuan develops strategic international partnerships and manages a variety of high-profile projects to provide students and schools from more than 66 countries with collaborative and engaging learning opportunities. She works closely with administrators, teachers, and students from partner schools around the world in the U.S. and speaks and facilitates online education discussions at international education conferences.
Stacy Young
Stacy Young is the Associate Dean of Instruction at VHS Learning. She mentors and collaborates with the Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) team members to support VHS Learning teachers in their professional development. Key responsibilities include oversight of professional development courses, traing and supervision of teachers, supervision of the Faculty Advisors, coordination of teaching assignments, and Curriculum and Instruction program development as a member of the C&I Leadership Team. Stacy was formerly the Director of the Massachusetts Personalized Learning Network with the Center for Collaborative Education, and she brings fifteen years of classroom expeirence to this role. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Masters of Science in Teaching and Learning from the University of Southern Maine.
Rick Weinland
In June 2020, as we completed three months of pandemic-induced remote teaching, we anticipated needing to start the following school year virtually as well. We were looking for a professional development experience that would help our teachers build a shared set of beliefs and strategies connected to distance learning, while not overwhelming them. We chose the four-part “Effective Instructional Strategies for Online Classrooms” webinar for our entire faculty, and the team at VHS helped tailor this course to our particular schedule and context. The presentations were informative, and the readings and online discussions were effective in generating good discussion. Thank you VHS!
Ole Bernard (OB) Sealey
We used VHS learning to help coordinate our distance learning plan. We had a series of teacher “champions” take the 4 week courses and another group of “advocates” follow the webinar series. These teachers grew as practitioners and were able to put student and teacher voice into our plan. Each champion presented a section of their course and essential agreements around best practices within our school context were established. VHS were extremely helpful and flexible and this PD was exceptional value for money. <p class="LC20lb DKV0Md"></p>
