Training for Online Teaching
Cluster Responsibilities
The Utah Valley Central Region is organized by clusters, each cluster being managed by a principal and assistant principal(s) and more than 20 high schools, junior high schools, and private academies. Transcripts of students enrolled in the online program remain in their respective schools. The online coordinator and instructors must maintain organized communication with program administrators. The chart to the right outlines the responsibilities of each online instructor including the programs and administrators they are assigned to oversee.
Training Survey
In an online teaching environment it's crucial that instructors are capable of using multiple forms of instructional technology. As the instructional designer and trainer of the online seminary program in the Utah Central Region, I frequently trained teachers on how to use relevant programs such as Canvas Instructure, Zoom, iMovie, and Windows Movie Maker. I also trained teachers on how to use organization specific programs called WISE and the mySeminary app.
The images to the left include training surveys on the technology that teachers are required to use as online instructors.
Talking Points - Online Principles for Principals
Many of the program administrators in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion have little or no experience with online education. I created this document of talking points called "Online Seminary: A Principal's Guide to Enrollment" so that program administrators and administrative assistants have a clear understanding of the nature and expectations of online seminary as they work with students who wish to enroll in the course.
Principal's Guide.pdfTeaching Effectively Via Zoom
It can be frustrating to teach in a virtual classroom when an instructor is inexperienced with Zoom. This artifact to the right contains a list of suggested tools and resources that can be used to enhance student involvement when teaching Zoom classes.
Helpful Tools and Links to Use with Zoom.pptxHow to Use Zoom Breakout Rooms
The Zoom breakout room function is an effective tool to use when an instructor wants to encourage group discussions during class. The presentation included to the right includes detailed instructions on how to enable and effectively use Zoom Breakout Rooms.
Using Zoom Breakout Rooms (1).pptxAsking Effective Questions
Well prepared and effective questions often motivate learners to participate during class. Well crafted questions can also lead to in depth class discussions which in turn encourage learners to take responsibility for their by being active in the learning process.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has provided multiple teacher-training resources on how to ask effective questions. Relevant and effective information is scattered throughout the training material so I created this summarized document as an all-in-one resource for essential principles and practices to asking effective questions.
Asking Effective Questions Training Handout.docxLesson Plan Overview and Template
Teaching truly is an art, but there are fundamental elements that should be included in each lesson. The "Lesson Plan Overview" is a reference guide to aid instructors during their lesson preparation.
Lesson Plan Template.docxOverview of Online Seminary for Principals
Face-to-face instruction has been a part of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion for over one-hundred years. The growing relevance and interest that students and parents are taking in online seminary is revealing the laggards of elearning within the S&I workforce. The majority of these administrators and instructors innocently are from a generation that hasn't yet acquired the knowledge and understanding of the efficacy of elearning.
This is a document provided for program administrators for the purpose of educating administrators and their instructors who have a limited understanding on the scope of online learning. Necessary elements on how to build a successful online seminary program are included in the document.
Email to Cluster Principals and Assistant Principals.docx