Opportunity for complementary school education directors to take a course on web tools for professional development

Chevre,

Wendly Light, Director of Integrated Education at the USCJ, and principal author of a PELIE grant, authorized me to share this invitation to you. Kindly disseminate this notice to education directors of complementary schools who might be interested in this web course.

 Dear Educator,

I am writing to you today to offer you a Chanukah gift.  Through a grant from PELIE (Partnership for Effective Learning and Innovative Education) our schools have been given a unique opportunity to participate in a workshop entitled:

“Toolbox 2.0-3 or Toolbox 2.0-4: Introduction to Web Technology for Professional Development in Complimentary Schools”

This is a practical and engaging online course covering the application of specific web 2.0 technology tools that can facilitate and enhance Judaic instruction and teacher training within the context of complementary Jewish education. The course will take place in real time through nine live webinars and through professional collaboration projects done in between the live seminars. There will be two sections of this course offered.

Course A (Toolbox 2.0-3): The webinars will take place on nine Tuesdays from January 19 to March 21, 2013 for 1 ½ hours starting at 10:00 AM Pacific Time and

Course B (Toolbox 2.0-4): The webinars will be on nine Thursdays from January 21 to March 23, 2013. 

Note: Course A (Toolbox 2.0-3) and Course B (Toolbox 2.0-4) are identical except for the day.

During the course the participants will learn how to use these web tools:  *Gmail: *Facebook; *Google Docs:  *Skype;  *Moodle online course management system for Jewish educational engagement. 

Course participants will work together in pairs, and other small group configurations discussing the use of the above web tools (i.e. Gmail, Facebook, Google Docs, Skype, etc.) and these educational constructs: backward design lesson planning, teacher-directed and student-engaged models of teaching, differentiated, individualized and integrated instruction, methods to transform the traditional classroom into a Jewish community of cooperative learners as they apply to complementary education and staff development.

This is a course where you as an education leader will gain the skills to then teach and train your faculty.

Education directors and other professionals accepted into this program should understand these six expectations:

1. In addition to the nine 90 minute webinars, participants  are expected to spend 1-5  hours a week working on the assignments (i.e. readings, forum discussions, reflections, projects including the final project).

2. Participants are expected to complete the weekly assignments (i.e. readings, forum discussions, reflections and projects), the web tools group assignment, and send your projects (i.e. if assigned) through one of the different web tools such as Gmail or Skype. 

3. Participants will begin to implement what they have learned in this class through teaching, training or mentoring your staff.

4. Participants will reflect on their learning during the week through using the reflection forum on Jewish-education.org.

5. Participants will attend (or listen to the recordings) all the live video sessions. Those who cannot attend the live webinars are expected to listen to the recording of the video session, write and submit a one page summary of the webinar and a reflection narrative on how to apply what was discussed (in the recording) in your educational setting.

6. This program, a $3,000 value,  is being offered to each participant free as part of the PELIE grant.  Since space is so limited, and we rely upon each person to complete the program, dropping out of the program deprives another participant of a space. Participants accepted into this program who do not complete the program will be assessed an administrative fee of $300 due within 10 days of the withdrawal.

Participants who fulfill all of these expectations of the course will receive a Certificate of Completion for attending and completing the requirements of Toolbox 2.0-3/4: Introduction to Web Technology for Professional Development in Complementary Schools. This certificate will indicate that the participant earned 60 hours of continuing education credit through Jewish-education.org.

The first orientation WebEx webinar will take place on (Course A) Tuesday, January 19^th, 2013 at 10:00 AM (Pacific Time) and (Course B) on Thursday January 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM (Pacific Time)

Subscription is limited to the first 25 applicants in each course:

Please note that submitting this application does not assure acceptance in the program.

To enroll return this application to light@uscj.org

                   before January 2, 2013.

Name:_____________________________________________

Check One:

Course A (Toolbox 2.0-3):(Tuesdays)_______________________

Course B:  (Toolbox 2.0-4) (Thursday)______________________

Either Course A or B:__________________________________

Congregation:________________________________________

School Address:______________________________________

                         _______________________________________

School Telephone Number:_______________________________

School Email Address:__________________________________

Home Address:________________________________________

                         ________________________________________

Home Telephone Number:_______________________________

Home Email Address:___________________________________

I understand and agree that I am legally obligated to pay a $300 fee if I do not complete the course.

Signature:_____________________________________________

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at

215-869-1830.

Looking forward to getting to know you and learning on line together.

B’ Shalom,

Wendy

Wendy S. Light
Director of Integrated Education
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

6400 Moore Drive
Los Angeles, California 90048
215-869-1830     light@uscj.org

Our Vision: Together with the other Regional Arms of the Movement, The Pacific Southwest Region of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism seeks to promote and facilitate the understanding and observance of all aspects of Conservative Judaism by strengthening the bond among, and providing direction, guidance, resources and training to, all affiliated kehillot in the Region.