What makes this experience different from other PD experiences?
NCTE’s Pathways is not a one-size-fits-all program and much more dynamic than an online course. There are multiple pathways to pursue based on upon your local needs. Additionally, the Pathways community features provide continual opportunities to share your thoughts or questions with colleagues and leading literacy scholars via the team and national discussion forums. All experiences are grounded in NCTE's Principles of Professional Development.
Why have schools chosen to participate in Pathways?
- Integrates easily into existing professional development structures and priorities
- Offers sustained professional development that continues beyond the one-day workshop model
- Includes tools to assess teacher and student learning
- Creates a professional community for teachers across the disciplines and a national network of educators who value professional learning and collaboration
- Provides access to a variety of multimodal resources in an online environment
Team or individual?
The Individual enrollment option is intended for those educators who wish to engage in a deep professional learning experience but do not have such opportunities offered through their school.
The Team enrollment option supports the collaborative needs of teams with added features including Site Facilitator training, a team discussion forum, a common location for shared team files, team voucher for supplemental PD resources from NCTE, and a coupon for one web seminar from our ELL series. Teams might consist of educators from a school or district, state groups such as affiliates or language arts coordinators, or any other group that wishes to engage with professional resources in an online environment that promotes collaboration and communication.
What level teachers does it support?
Grades 6-12. Watch for a version for elementary teachers in the future!
How much does it cost to participate?
Pathways Pricing | Individual Enrollment | Team Enrollment |
|---|
Adolescent Literacy
English Language Learners
21st Century Literacies | $149 member
$199 nonmember | $500+$175 per team member* |
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| | *Discount for teams of 10 or more |
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Do I have to enroll at a certain time of year?
No! Because of the self-paced, self-directed format of Pathways, participants can enroll at any time during the year. You will receive one full year of access from the date that you enroll.
Why choose online professional development vs. face to face?
NCTE’s Pathways supports professional learning communities who operate face-to-face and/or in an online environment. Local school-based study groups can continue to interact in face-to-face meetings and enhance their learning by expanding their conversations to a national audience of peers. The online environment also allows schools to engage with a wider range of resources at an affordable price. For teams such as affiliates of professional organizations that are not centrally located, Pathways offers the ability to communicate and share team files in one central location.
Who serves as site facilitators?
Typically school districts identify a potential Site Facilitator from within their staff, e.g., reading specialist, literacy coach, curriculum coordinator, instructional resource teacher. Site Facilitators should demonstrate qualities such as:
- experience in mentoring adults and facilitating professional learning
- involvement in learning from their own practice and ability to support colleagues in the same process
- knowledge in the field of literacy and literacy research consistent with NCTE and Initiative goals and philosophies
- knowledge of language development theory, practice, and research
- ability to work with the educational change process in a skilled and humane way
What if we do not have someone who is able to serve in the site facilitator role?
NCTE’s Professional Development Consulting Network offers a range of experienced consultants who can serve as your site facilitator remotely and/or lead on-site professional development experiences in your school/district. Contact NCTE Professional Development staff to learn more.
What are the minimum technical requirements to participate in Pathways?
Participants must have internet access. Minimum operating system requirements: Microsoft Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4.x or Windows 2000, Windows XP, Macintosh System 7 or current version of UNIX/Linux. Web Browser: The preferred web browser is Internet Explorer (available as free download if you don't already have it). Mac users may also elect to use Firefox as their browser, but if you are not able to view the Pathways videos it is likely that you are operating on an older version of Firefox that doesn’t include a required java plug-in, and you'll need to download the plug-in. Pathways is not compatible with Safari. Media Player: The preferred media player is Windows Media Player (available as free download). Detailed list of minimum technical requirements.
What research base informs the experiences?
The Pathways experiences and resources draw on multiple research bases including the social construction of knowledge, funds of knowledge (Moll, ), and the role that oral language development plays on reading and writing. The contents of this experience are drawn from decades worth of work on effective instruction for English language learners, including differentiated instruction, sheltered instruction, high expectations, clear purpose, and authentic experiences.
What steps should I take to join?
Visit xx to enroll.
Questions on Pathways or other NCTE PD opportunities?
Contact NCTE’s E-Learning Coordinator at pathways@ncte.org or call 800/369-6283 x3627.