experience design
innovation
Online professional develpment for K-12 teachers
cognog Principal, Phil Thompson, partnered with Marita Decker of Future Course Education to design, develop, market and operate this e-commerce-enabled content publishing and course delivery enterprise.
Learning design - Created by Marita Decker, MED
Teacher-Ed Learning to Action Model TM At Teacher-Ed, we blend the best practices of adult online learning with the specific needs of teachers to deliver an effective and convenient learning model. Key features of the model include: |
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We begin with clear and concise content about a critical issue impacting teaching and learning. Our modules are based on current, practical research into the issues, and how they affect the roles, responsibilities and perspectives of all members of the learning community: students, teachers, parents, administrators, specialists, etc. |
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Once the learner has digested the core concepts, they are asked to explore their ideas about the repercussions in their particular situations. They post answers to provocative questions on a web-bulletin-board to foster discussion with other students in the class. In some offerings, these postings become input to synchronous online discussions in which learners benefit from deeper pursuit of shared interests and experiences. In addition to these public postings, learners keep a reflective journal shared only between learner, mentor, and professor. Thus, exploration provides the means to discover both the personal and professional impact of current issues in the field of teaching and learning. |
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Success is achieved in the completion of a specially designed activity that demonstrates how to transfer these key concepts for personal benefit and/or the benefit of students. These activities are sent to an online facilitator for review and comment |
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At Teacher-Ed, we recognize that teachers are often asked to do so much with so little. We want to give them some help. Each of our modules includes ready-made materials that will support interactions with students, parents, administrators, other teachers, etc. Our hope is that these modules don't only increase what you know, they ease what you do --- while achieving high quality results. The Action features included are: - Technology Tips and Tutorials
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Functional design - a collaboration between Phil and Marita
Functional specifications and interface design- created by Phil
Software development - programmed by Brian Eagan of KidFu, managed by Phil
Marketing and business collateral - designed and created by Phil
Course content management and tech support operation by Phil
don't make me think
online professional development
Teacher-Ed online
This business was the brainchild of my business associate Marita Decker. After creating numerous digital media courses for business, we decided to apply our skills to the intersection of the web, educators, and students.
At the time, schools were struggling to get "wired", and techology education for teachers was at the level of learning PowerPoint for use in the classroom. We decided to create and offer higher-concept accredited courses such as:
- Internet Safety
- Online Bullying
- Chat & Netiquitte
- Copyright & Plagiarism
- The Digital Divide
- Online Discussions
- The Technology Enriched Learning Framework
- Technology & Collaboration
- Technology & Special Needs
- Evaluating Educational Websites