me arts ed

Available courses for K-12 educators, fall 2014

The Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy is offering four great technology focused courses to K-12 educators. These courses were developed and are presented through a collaborative effort of the Department of Education and the ConnectME Authority, the agency charged with expanding and enhancing broadband internet availability across the state. Support for the course development was funded by the US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication and Information Administration through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Broadband Data and Development Grant.

The online courses are facilitated by a team of adult educators, most of whom have extensive experience in the K-12 classroom as well as using Moodle and a variety of web-based and video conferencing. Classes are taught in cohort groups of 8-10 and will be available in the fall and spring. Classes begin the week of September 29^th or as the cohorts fill. Most courses are 10 weeks in length and participants can expect to spend 2-3 hours each week completing assignments.

Registration and Cost

Course information is available at the Maine Adult Education PD Portal (pdportal.maineadulted.org) Search Keyword MARTI K-12. Registration for continuing education hours is through the PDPortal. A portal account is required and is available free of charge by clicking “PD Account” in the upper right hand corner of the portal homepage.

A course registration application is available on the PD Portal as well. Tuition cost is $250.00 for each course. Upon successful competition course credit will be posted to the participant’s PDPortal account. Send a completed application and payment by check or purchase order to Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0023

Technology Integration for Teaching and Learning

This ten-week introductory survey course will serve as an overview of some of the current technology applications and the multiple ways they can be used to enhance classroom instruction. This is a blended course which begins with an introductory face to face regional meeting, video conference or web conference. Participants will try out a variety of applications, some of which might find immediate application the classroom. As well as learning about digital tools, participants will participate in a professional learning community with other educators through the online discussion forums and real-time tools to investigate ways of enhancing instruction and learning. This course may be taken as a stand-alone course or as the first course of two for those who want to complete the MARTI certification program. If the intent is to take as a standalone course, registration here on the portal is sufficient for a completed application. 30 continuing education hours are awarded for successful completion.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction

The course explores the development and adaptation of curriculum to improve accessibility for learners of varying abilities. Participants in the UDL course must have successfully completed the Technology Integration course or participate in a short “Intro to Moodle course.” The UDL course provides a framework for preparing curriculum and instruction that meets the varied and diverse needs of students. A universal need of educators is to be both proactive and responsive to how students learn.  The course is a guide for differentiating instruction while, at the same time, addressing issues of access to learning that result from unique student needs, such as varying abilities, language, or culture. Within UDL, the use of technology is consistent with the research behind how people learn, as well as focused on individual student needs and preferences. The outcome and objectives of this course allow participants to begin using UDL in practice. This is the second semester course required for MARTI Certification. 30 continuing education hours are awarded for successful completion.

Teaching in the Blended Classroom

This course prepares educators to teach in blended classroom environments. Participants will learn effective strategies for managing and teaching students in blended environments and explore the ways blended learning can effectively support standards-based teaching and learning in all subject areas. Participants will learn techniques to foster student collaboration in an online learning community through online discussion and group projects and to assess student work. In addition, participants will learn to meet the learning needs of all students by selecting and using a variety of teaching strategies that aid in personalizing learning for students. During this course, participants will learn about and practice using tools to teach critical thinking skills, explore student academic integrity issues and the safe and legal use of online resources. Additionally, teachers will learn about and practice using instructor tools in a course management system. Course content includes online readings, web-based and multimedia activities, and facilitated online discussions. 30 continuing education hours are awarded for successful completion.

Teaching and Learning Through Video Conferencing

This course provides participants the skills and experience needed to identify, prepare, and provide effective, interactive instruction via real-time, interactive video conferencing.

By the end of the course participants will have had in-depth experience and peer feedback in the preparation and delivery of lessons. Participants will discuss how video conferencing can expand learning opportunities and increase student engagement, plus develop a site guide for available equipment. This is a blended course. Participants are expected to attend 4 face-to-face sessions connecting regional sites and participate in an asynchronous 4 week online Moodle course.20 continuing education hours are awarded for successful completion.

For more information contact Nancy Dionne by email at nancy.dionne@maine.gov or call 207-624-6780 or Bob Mcintire at bob.mcintire@maine.gov or call 207-624-6778.

MARTI K-12 Course Registration

Personal Contact Information – This information will not be shared.

Send registration application and payment of $250 per course to Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy – 23 State House Station – Augusta, ME 04333-0023 Development and presentation of MARTI courses is funded by the US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication and Information Administration through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program Award Number 23-50-M09062 in collaboration with the ConnectME Authority