SET Connections - Professional Development - PD

Some online options:

1. Twitter – I always think of Twitter the quickest dose of professional development.  Create an account search by keyword i.e. special education and find a few people to follow. Find some topics to follow.  Read for even five minutes daily.  Take the time to select the recommended links that interest you and follow through to learn more.  Give it at least a month to see if it’s proving to be worthwhile for you.  You might start your follow list or add to it by following me @JudyOkazaki, @SETConnections @iPodsibilities,  @SFecich, @devinblack.  You might search for the following topics  #sped, #spedchat and #spedchat.  Note: If you are new to Twitter and want help getting started refer to the article written by James Gubbins in our September newsletter, page 3 “Come Tweet With Us”.
2. Webinars –are available on all subjects from how to write the best IEP, to the handling ofbehavior problems, to iPad apps ….  They also can vary in price from hundreds of dollars to being available for free.  If you are first getting acquainted, try a free webinar.  And if it isn’t the best don’t give up.  Just like on-site physical PD can be good or bad, of course so can online http://www.edweek.org/ew/marketplace/webinars/webinars.html .
3. Blogs – can be informative, inspirational or purely educational.  Depending on how much time you want to put in – subscribe to one. Lisa's Lingo -Lisa Parisi; Special Ed Change -Ira David Socol; Teaching All Students - Patrick Black (a blog focused on technology and its use in a special education classroom, Ed Tech Solutions: Teaching Every Student - Karen Janowski are just a few that are available.
4. Organization Sites – there are sites that post articles, videos, links to specific resources, problem solving suggestions.  Don’t overwhelm yourself.  Pick one site and read it regularly for a week or two, if you don’t find it helpful – don’t waste your time, drop it and find another one.  Council for Exceptional Children –CEC and NASET National Association for Special Education Teachers and
5. Groups to conversations these are message boards, where someone can pose a question and others can weigh in, http://www.classroom20.com/forum is the most comprehensive one.
6. Videos – how wonderful that videos are evolving.  Currently the biggest criticism of videos – would be the length and secondly the lack of editing.  Look for videos that have a high watched count and that are about two minutes in length.  If there is more to be said the topics can be broken into multiple videos.  We have made a list of recommendations for you at http://www.setconnections.org/EducationVideos.html
7. Podcasts can be downloaded to your cell phone, iPod, or mp3 player and to take with you in the car or to listen to while you are doing something else.
8. Online chats – formal conversations with experts in some area.  While it is usually preferred that you join in, don’t be afraid to attend your first chats by just logging in and “lurking” listen to what’s on in the chat and see how people participate.  Two examples are: http://live.classroom20.com/ and  http://edreach.us/
9. Online courses –as time goes on take more of an advantage of multimedia and offerings of the Internet.  There are companies that create courses exclusively for on-line learning, educational institutions and qualified individuals.  Two good programs to try for learning more about technology are Learn-Key and Atomic Learning.