Role of Facilitators for the 21st Century Teaching and Learning Series

21st Century Teaching and Learning Professional Development Requirement

Districts participating in the 2007-08 school year of 21st Century Teaching and Learning must complete 30 hours of professional development (or the graduate credit equivalent) by August 08. The building administrator and teachers involved in or impacted by 21st Century Teaching and Learning including teachers who will be getting fully equipped rooms (teacher laptop, projector, cart with student laptops, white board, all other equipment), and teachers who receive some equipment (fully equipped rooms, but not student laptops) are required to take a 30-hour course per year.

The eMBEDDED LEARNING Academy brought to you by Learning Sciences International provides districts with a powerful professional development platform to determine course beginning and ending times, enroll their teachers in the series, manage the learning, facilitate online study groups, monitor coursework, and view data in reports. Plus, it automatically reports Act 48 professional education hours to PDE for all learners. Teachers may elect to take all the courses for graduate credit and enroll in the Master's program MSEd: 21st Century Teaching & Learning, offered through Wilkes University.

Learning Sciences International will hold six required one-day statewide technical trainings to provide districts the professional development platform, training on how to use the tools and features, training on how to facilitate study groups, and tools for district administrators to plan for implementation with sample models.

Facilitators

The role of the facilitator is to guide and support an online study group of 5-10 learners through the activities with the goal of improving instructional practice for all participants.

• Support learner progress throughout the online course.
• Provide feedback as learners complete activities and apply the concepts in their instruction.
• Facilitate online or in-person end of unit (sync point) discussions for each study group.
• Be positive and supportive of the program and support teachers through the change process.
• Be positive, enthusiastic, and supportive of the program. Be supportive of teachers and do what's necessary to help them be successful.

Supports for Facilitators

As your district beings to plan for the implementation of the series, please remember that there are already supports in place and available to you to aid in the planning process.

21st Century Website

• Registration for all trainings
• Series information
• FAQS regarding courses, Learning Management System, and the professional development requirement for facilitators, principals/central office, interested graduate learners and general.
• Source for training materials
• Access to LMS login page
• News articles featuring districts and highlights of the grant
• Graduate degree and credit information

Customer Service and Support

Email Us or Call: 724-459-3180

• Aid in Learning Management System issues
• Implementation Support
• Facilitation and other LMS roles questions