Professional development -- on your schedule

WEA's new online classes, forums fit your hours and location

WEA has taken a new step in delivering professional development courses online, and the move has been greeted enthusiastically by members across the state.

A new online course offered last month earned a big thanks from Tammy Vander- Lugt of Olympia.

"I really appreciate that we can take this course online," Vander- Lugt said. "I am taking two other courses and am in the middle of my internship. It saves so much commute time, and I can work at 11:00 at night if I want to!"

This first class guided participants through a discussion of key issues for school employees who write Individual Education Plans for special education students. WEA members could take the course online, on their own schedule, and pick up two college credits or 20 clock hours.

"Since I live in a rural area (my husband and I farm) the opportunities to take classes are limited," added Susan Moon, of Prosser, "so online courses are really appreciated."

More to come

This month, WEA is offering an online course for educators focusing on assistive technology for people with disabilities. Participants in the course, offered through WEA and the University of Washington, can earn one credit or 10 clock hours.

In March, WEA plans to offer an online version of our 504 class. Carol Coar, a member of the WEA Special Education Cadre and a KEYS facilitator, is the instructor. Participants will learn how IDEA/504 are related in their application to students with disabilities, be able to distinguish between students who qualify under IDEA and/or Section 504, and will acquire knowledge of the process to qualify a student under Section 504.

WEA also plans to repeat the IEP class in March that it launched last month.

For registration information about these and other classes visit WEA Online.

Free assessment forum March 1-8

Also next month, WEA members can join an online discussion on assessment for school practitioners. This will be a free discussion forum without credit or clock hours, so there is no need to pre-register. The forum will focus on designing, understanding and responding to assessments of all kinds. Issues include: In what ways can I design and use assessment data to know how to address the immediate and long-term needs of my classroom? How will assessment help me know what to do?

The moderator, Steve Tellari, is a WEA Assessment Cadre trainer with 40 years of experience as a public school practitioner at all grade levels. He knows the state assessment system inside and out. Better still, he knows how to gather, frame and organize student data to truly guide learning in very practical ways. Tellari's focus throughout his 20+ years in assessment has always been what is best for students and what works for the classroom teachers.

Participants in the discussion who write a short article or a lesson plan for posting on WEA Online from the materials discussed in the forum will receive a small stipend -- or at least enough to buy a latte! By sharing the information with your peers, you can help Washington's online education community grow.

Reach WEA Editor Linda Woo at lwoo@WashingtonEA.org, via postal mail at WEA, PO Box 9100, Federal Way, WA 98063-9100; phone 253-765-7027 (or toll-free outside Seattle-Tacoma: 800-622-3393 ext. 7027); or fax 253-946-7612. We welcome story ideas, letters to the editor and suggestions for improving WE-Washington Education, or WEA Online.