ERIC Number: EJ836874
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1436-4522
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Innovative Web-Based Professional Development for Teachers of At-Risk Preschool Children
Kinzie, Mable B.; Whitaker, Stephen D.; Neesen, Kathy; Kelley, Michael; Matera, Michael; Pianta, Robert C.
Educational Technology & Society, v9 n4 p194-204 2006
Research suggests the importance of professional development for teachers of at-risk children, and while educational technologies can be harnessed to help support teaching practice in innovative ways, such programs are often limited in scale. "My Teaching Partner (MTP)" was designed to deliver a targeted program of professional development for teaching quality, integrated with early childhood curricula, to large numbers of teachers. It has been used by 235 teachers of at-risk preschool children across the commonwealth of Virginia. MTP links curricula with layers of web-based support, including an on-line consultant--a teaching expert who regularly observes, de-briefs, and extends teachers' educational practice. The research-based curricula support the needs of at-risk Pre-K students in language, literacy, and social relationships; numerous video clips demonstrate effective teaching practice. In this paper, we describe the user-centered design process used and the support services and curricula delivered. The dynamic nature of the website is emphasized, including development practices which enable non-developers to easily contribute and maintain website contents. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, and describe the field trial now underway, which includes examination of child outcomes, teaching quality, and teacher reflectivity. Evaluation data from the project are also summarized. (Contains 7 figures and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Teacher Effectiveness, Preschool Children, Educational Practices, Educational Technology, Internet, Teaching Methods, Curriculum Design, Faculty Development, Web Sites, At Risk Students, Web Based Instruction, Educational Innovation, Preschool Teachers, Preschool Curriculum, Language Skills, Emergent Literacy, Interpersonal Competence, Interpersonal Relationship, Child Development, Outcomes of Education
International Forum of Educational Technology & Society. Athabasca University, School of Computing & Information Systems, 1 University Drive, Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3, Canada. Tel: 780-675-6812; Fax: 780-675-6973; Web site: http://www.ifets.info
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Postsecondary Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A