Hi and welcome to the 2021/22 DL 102: Instructional Issues cohort application!
This form must be completed by October 15, 2021. It will take approximately 15-20 minutes to read and complete. Adam Kieffer will contact you after the application cutoff date to confirm your participation.
Please read all of this section before starting the application. Make sure to click the Submit button at the end when you've completed this application. If you encounter a required question that isn't applicable for you/your program, just write 'N/A' or 'None' in the response box.
The purpose of this professional development (PD) initiative is to build the capacity of MN ABE consortia to offer quality distance learning (DL) opportunities for their ABE learners based on established best practices. This year's cohort will be focused on questions around best practices for instruction in an online environment, distance education, blended/hybrid learning, and DL platform integration.
This PD initiative is supported by Literacy Minnesota's DL Supplemental Services grant for 2021-2022. Any questions regarding the eligibility requirements or application and review process should be sent to Kirsten Collins (Literacy MN) at
kcollins@literacymn.org or 651-251-9068.
DL 102 eligibility requirements:
1) Anyone who has completed the Distance and Blended Learning Basics for Minnesota Adult Education online course or a DL 101 cohort (in any previous year). *If you participated in DL 102 before, you are still welcome to apply again, though priority may be given to first time participants. Space in the cohort is limited.
2) Commitment to full participation and completion of online work which includes reading and responding to weekly questions and discussion from your peers and the facilitator in the online course, participating in a couple webinars, and implementing suggestions from peers with your blended and distance learners.
3) Attend the online cohort kickoff on Friday October 29th, 9:30am-12:00pm
DL 102 Application and Review Process:
The DL Supplemental Services Grant Team will review all applications and notify all applicants and selected participants before Friday October 22nd. Space in the cohort is limited.
Distance Learning 102: Instructional Issues Content:
Distance or blended/hybrid learning teachers who have some experience teaching online or working in their DL program will spend several weeks with their cohort members in a supportive online environment focusing on how to best support their blended and distance learners. Each participant writes a case study describing a current instructional or programmatic challenge. Together the cohort discusses each of the case studies, suggests solutions, provide resources and advice, and builds an online "community of practice" that remains available as a resource after the course is done. Through the discussion, each participant arrives at a few ideas to pilot and implement. After a month (or more) of implementation, each participant reports on their success/challenges in a final webinar. There may be an additional check-in/support webinar mid-course. CEUs awarded for this course will be 2.5 for the kickoff and about 10-12 for the rest of the course, depending on the number of participants.
Examples of potential DL 102 participants' issues:
Communication in a blended environment: Google Voice, Email, Remind, Whats App, etc.
Integrating approved DL platforms into synchronous instruction
Teaching learners technology and digital literacy skills to participate in blended and DL classes
Prioritizing and setting expectations for hybrid/blended teacher tasks and workload
Setting up a online website or course in an LMS
Best practices using instructional tech tools
Timeline:
• Kick-Off Online Meeting - morning of Friday October 29th. Discuss our common instructional issues/questions. Bring, talk through or brainstorm possible case studies based on our questions or issues. Begin writing case studies in the online course. Explore and get comfortable with the online course. Calendar online case study discussions and webinars.
• Mid November - Webinar to share and review case studies topics and stay connected.
• Late November - Begin weekly discussions in the online course, focusing on a single case study per week. (This will be shortened or lengthened depending on how many participants we have.)
• December/January - Webinar to discuss strategies and piloting priorities.
• November through February - Participants try out the strategies that emerged from case study discussion and suggestions. Complete a report on results.
• Early March - Presentation webinar - Cohort participants share results/successes/challenges from their implementation. Course is complete; complete course evaluation; award CEUs.