A former Teach for America recruit who completed her training in a university-based program compares the two approaches to teacher preparation. In Teach for America, she learned how to design units and prepare lesson plans; in her university-based program, she had the time to learn from master teachers and build valuable skills, then practice…

The goal is to provide highly qualified teachers to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse pool of students. The question is how to do that. Although there have been a number of variations in the path to a career in teaching, only a few paths typically exist at any point in time. The traditional route finds high school graduates attending four…

Screen capture (screen cast) software can be used to develop short videos for training purposes. Developing videos is quick and easy. This article describes how these videos are used as tools to reinforce face-to-face and interactive TV curriculum training in a nutrition education program. Advantages of developing these videos are shared.…

This article is based on the premise that face-to-face training can be augmented with cloud-based technology tools, to potentially extend viable training supports as higher education staff and faculty implement new content/skills in their jobs and classrooms. There are significant benefits to harnessing cloud-based tools that can facilitate both…

Considers the use of multimedia technology for training in business and industry. Topics include multimedia benefits, including organizational benefits, instructional benefits, learning effectiveness, and business efficiency; the accelerated rate of change; the mismatch between education and the economy; traditional instructor-led training; and…

Discusses blended learning strategies and reports results of a two-year empirical study that concludes that blended learning methods boosts employee productivity over single-delivery options. Highlights include examples from a variety of companies that included scenario-based exercises; realistic business situations; mentors; classroom…

Discussion of computer-based simulations focuses on the development of a coaching agent as an alternative to traditional feedback for a multimedia simulation that will help change training from traditional instructor-led courses to learn-by-doing simulations for point-of-need training. The limitations of traditional feedback are examined. (LRW)

Discussion of ways to blend onsite and online staff development training focuses on teachers' continuing education needs. Considers theory, modeling, and practice, and describes a collaborative program in a rural area in Ohio that offers a combination of online learning and live instruction that allows for peer interaction and practice. (LRW)

Describes a new model of advisement services for online learners that was developed at Capella University, a totally virtual campus. Discusses advisors' training, that included learning about the characteristics of adult learners and differences between online learning and traditional settings; and a course that teaches online learning strategies.…

Describes the development of an instructional technology-based training course for a Hewlett Packard manufacturing plant. The environment, an appropriately trained staff, and a development strategy with measurable goals are discussed; a comparison of conventional training with self-paced courseware is described; and learning effectiveness and…

This paper illustrates a 5-year case study (from 2001 to 2005) regarding a course in educational technology that involved from 100 to 150 student teachers per year for a total of more than 500 trainees. Since the first version of the course, which was entirely based on a face-to-face approach, computer mediated collaborative learning techniques…

Describes training for undergraduate student assistants working at the reference desk at the University of Northern Iowa library that changed from a traditional classroom format to one that combines worksheets, individualized instruction, hands-on learning, regular reviews, increased feedback, greater interaction with students and staff, and…