Updating Knowledge and Skills of Practitioners in Rural Areas: A Web-based Model

Abstract

Technology-mediated distance education models have had a major impact on preservice and inservice preparation of special education and related services personnel over the last several decades. The increasing availability of Internet access and the multimedia capabilities of the World Wide Web have combined to spur the growth of online programs as a medium for both initial certification and continuing activities. This study reports the development, implementation, and evaluation of four courses designed as professional development activities for practicing personnel working in early intervention, early childhood special education, elementary and secondary special education, and adult disability services in rural areas of West Virginia and the surrounding Appalachian region. The article explains the process used to create learning materials and technology formats for presentation of content and interaction with learners, outlines the steps in developing and implementing the courses, and presents the results of evaluation activities conducted to assess learning outcomes and participant perceptions of the online learning experience. The findings of this study suggest that Web-based instruction is a viable mode for delivering staff development. Participants demonstrated the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, expressed satisfaction with most aspects of online teaching and learning, and reported specific applications of the information in their own classroom and intervention program settings.

Desktop Videoconferencing: Examples of Applications to Support Teacher Training in Rural Areas

“…Other states have similar systems, such as the EDNET system (Day & Sebastian, 2002). Web pages are typically set up to deliver class notes (Ludlow, Foshay, Brannan, Duff, & Dennison, 2002) and video clips of the professor teaching the class.…”

Conceptualizing and Measuring the Optimal Experience of the eLearning Environment*

“…Overall, the eLearning market is expected to be worth $23.7 billion by 2006 (CRM Today, 2003). “Emerging technologies, especially the World Wide Web, offer promising new avenues for providing staff development activities to update the knowledge and skills of practitioners, especially in rural and remote areas”(Ludlow, Foshay, Brannan, Duff, & Dennison, 2002, p. 33).…”

Preparing Early Childhood Special Educators in Appalachian Kentucky

“…Both asynchronous and synchronous modes are used for instruction, with Wimba Classroom™ or Blackboard Collaborate™ supporting the synchronous meetings. Activities and projects have been carefully selected to teach students to select and use technologies, thus expanding their knowledge of technologies available to support the needs of young children and families (Ludlow, Foshay, Brannan, Duff, & Dennison, 2002). Discussion board assignments have been designed to generate learning communities with colleagues and for students to practice collaborating with professionals and families using a variety of modern web-based technologies.…”