FAQ

What is e-Learning for Educators: Pennsylania?
e-Learning for Educators is a five-year, Ready to Teach program focused on high-quality teaching and professional development. The program involves public television stations and state departments of education in eight states creating and delivering Internet-based professional development courses for K-12 teachers. Pennsylvania's Department of Education, WLVT/PBS 39 Public Broadcasting Station and various institutions have formed a ground breaking partnership to bring e-Learning for Educators: Pennsylvania to our state's educators. e-Learning for Educators: Pennsylvania offers high-quality online professional development designed to increase teacher knowledge and skills that in turn improve student performance.

Who can take courses?
e-Learning for Educators: Pennsylvania is open to all Pennsylvania educators: public, private and parochial. These courses were selected and developed with Pennsylvania educators in mind; however, educators from other states are welcome to join us if there are courses that would be beneficial to them in their professional practice.

What are the benefits to taking and e-Learning for Educators: Pennsylvania course?
e-Learning for Educators is Web-based professional development that targets improved teacher content knowledge, improved teaching practices and increased student achievement.

Benefits include:

• Online courses can fit easily into a busy schedule
• Learn at home with no need to travel or purchase and install special software
• Act 48 hours are available, with CPE and Graduate Credits pending approval.
• Become a part of a community of learners
• Facilitators are experienced Pennsylvania educators
• Learn new skills in a supportive environment - assistance is just a phone call or e-mail away

What grade levels can participate?
All grade levels are encouraged to participate in the program.  Some courses are geared toward particular levels, but many are open to all grade levels.

What courses are available?
Find the list of courses offered for each term ....

Can we have a course for just our district or school?
This is currently under consideration by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  Please contact the project director, Stephanie Druckenmiller, for more information.

Can I take more than one course at a time?
This is really a personal decision.  Each course will require between 4 and 6 hours of work per week to complete assignments, readings and discussion postings.  If your schedule would permit more than one course at a time, you are more than welcome to register for additional courses.

How many Act 48 hours is each course worth?
The current courses that are offered are worth (30) Act 48 hours each.

Is online learning as good as face-to-face learning?
Most research studies on e-learning are based on higher education courses, with impact on learning measured by tests and grades (Phillips and Merisotis, 1999). The most common result of this research is to find no significant differences between student learning in face-to-face and online courses, and to find that those who take online versions of courses are as satisfied with the experience as those who attended classes (Russell, 1999). However, in some studies, such as Koory's (2003) comparison of an Introduction to Shakespeare course delivered online and face-to-face, and Harlen & Altobello's (2003) comparison of an online and face-to-face science education course, the results showed better learning outcomes online.

Survey data from participants in many online professional development programs show that when online courses are well-designed and implemented, participants report them to be valuable and enjoyable learning experiences that impact both knowledge and professional practice. For example, survey data from participants in online workshops about integrating technology into classroom practices provided by the EdTech Leaders Online program show that: 92% said they benefited from and enjoyed learning online and would be interested in online learning in the future; 91% reported increased understanding of how to use technology to support the curriculum; and 93% reported they used things they learned in the workshop in their work (Sucher and Engel, 2003). Similarly, an evaluation report of the Florida Online Reading Professional Development program found that over 90% of participants indicated that the program contributed to their knowledge of effective reading theory, research, and instructional practice, and over 87% indicated they would make changes to their classroom reading instruction as a result of the program (ITRC, 2001).

When do I pay fees to enroll in e-Learning courses for graduate credit?
The fees of $672/course to enroll in an e-Learning for Educators course must be paid at the time of registration with a credit card and is paid directly to DeSales University. 

How do I know if the graduate credits will be transferable to the college or university where I am currently enrolled in a degree program?
To make sure that the credit will transfer to a degree program you are currently enrolled in or plan to enroll in, contact your academic advisor. It will vary from institution to institution.

What format will the online courses use?
The e-Learning for Educators courses will use the Blackboard Learning Management System.

More answers will be added as questions are submitted.
Send additional questions to e-Learning for Educators: Pennsylvania.