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What do Practicing Educators say about Professional
Learning Associates?
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- Feedback from PLA Workshop Participant
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October 1, 2006 - Teacher Magazine
By Folwell Dunbar
Consultant, Collaborative Learning Inc.
Former middle school teacher, 6 years
New Orleans, Louisiana
Having worked in education, especially middle schools, for more than 10
years, I’ve accumulated a list of the 10 best ways to use the Internet.
- Conduct research via the Web. Find quotations, primary documents, and
statistics to support theses; ask experts questions; tap into resources from
distant libraries, schools, and museums.
- Increase productivity. Check grades and
attendance online; build tests, lessons, and
projects; post assignments on class Web pages;
communicate efficiently with colleagues, parents,
and students.
- Motivate and inspire. Use streaming video and
photos for writing prompts and guided instruction; take kids on virtual field
trips, allowing them to interact with students abroad.
- Access and use real-time data. Participate in online polls, chats, and
teleprojects, and then use the results to complete hands-on performance
tasks.
- Participate in educational simulations. Your students can dissect frogs,
design roller coasters, play the stock market, and fight historic battles.
- Assess online. Practice for the big test, and review chapters and units.
Survey digital portfolios, and track student achievement without wasting
paper.
- Publish student work. Expand the writing process by reaching an
audience beyond the classroom; review other authors’ works; participate in
virtual book clubs.
- Take online courses. From the comfort of home or classroom, learn
about the latest instructional practices and accumulate continuing education
credits.
- Collaborate with colleagues. Participate in study groups; provide
feedback on peers’ lesson plans; share best practices without having to
schedule meetings.
- Learn Web design. Graphics, layout, desktop publishing, HTML,
marketing—you name it; it’s all part of creating and maintaining your own
site.
© 2006 Editorial Projects in Education
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