MEDT+7475

**THE DISTANCE EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL** During this last of three courses in the sequence, I participated in three projects that each gave me unique and valuable skills in pursuit of my Instructional Technology degree and ultimately a job in the field. Below is a brief description of each of the projects and artifacts from each that serve as evidence of the work that was put into the successful completion of the course.

This semester we piloted an online course review project in partnership with the Georgia Virtual School. This was an authentic, field-based, online learning experience that gave us valuable insight into the work that goes into facilitating an online course. This project was beneficial to me in that it provided more practical experience with navigating an online course and determinining what makes an effective course that meets the needs of all students. The project was broken down into three phases as follows:
 * PROJECT 3.1: Georgia Virtual School Online Course Review Project **
 * Phase 1- This was a two week phase in which we explored the online Georgia Virtual Course that we were assigned and reviewed it independently using the Quality Matters Grades 6-12 Rubric (QM6-12). I was part of the team that reviewed "Food and Nutrition Through the Lifespan". Once I completed my review using the Quality Matters rubric, I posted it to my group's Course Review Page.


 * Phase 2- During this one week phase, my review team met synchronously in Wimba Live Classroom to complete our master QM6-12 Rubric in a Google Doc and begin discussing plans for your final presentation of our review. This final review rubric was completed through much discussion and thoughtful consideration.


 * Phase 3- During this two week phase my review team worked on our individual audio-visual presentations using Jing. These video walk-throughs, when put together, complemented the formal review document that we completed in Phase 2. The entire set of video walk-throughs can be accessed on my team's course review page, but mine can be directly assessed through the following link:Heather North- Video Walk-through for GAVS course review.

During this project, I was given the opportunity to particpate in a 9th Grade Literature course through the Georgia Virtual School. The course was taught by Kelly Gardner. As my virtual mentor, she was very willing to talk with me and answer any questions that I had along the way. I was able to observe her online course and gain valuable insight into what it means to be an online teacher.
 * PROJECT 3.2: Virtual Mentorship **
 * [|JOURNAL REFLECTIONS.pdf]
 * [|MENTOR MEETING DATES AND NOTES.pdf]

The virtual mentorship gave me the opportunity to have questions answered and view a course in progress. I was able to learn how classes are assigned, how teachers are trained, and how students with disabilities are accommodated. In addition I was able to talk with my mentor about the logistics of managing a virtual class.

This project involved several steps including conducting a needs assessment and creating a professional development module in the learning management platform our choice for distance delivery to an audience in our chosen field. Upon completing the module, it was delivered to the intended audience and then assessed for it effectiveness. I believe this project very effectively demonstrated the steps necessary to successfully create and implement a professional development module. Because the steps to the project were distributed throughout the semester, it was very manageable to accomplish. I received great feedback from those that reviewed the module, but my greatest success was seen when the teachers were able to implement the information that was presented to them through my module.
 * PROJECT 3.3: Hands-on Creation and Delivery of a Professional Development Module **
 * Needs Assessment Survey
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Professional Development Module
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL REFLECTIONS.pdf]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|How Do You Lasso a Wild Horse.pdf]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">FORMAL OP-ED **