A.P.P.L.E.

Lietuviškai

Regional and Special Education seminars

Special Education seminars

July 4 – July 22

Regional seminars

Computer Science I: Online Teaching & Learning

1.     Title: Online Teaching & Learning

2.     Host: Vilnius, PPRC

3.     Dates: July 4-8, 2005

4.     Audience:  Invited participants, who have worked with Amanda Muliolis through the whole year and are preparing to teach distance learning during the Vilnius and Klaipeda Computer Science seminars.

5.     Description: There are fundamental differences between being an effective “traditional” classroom teacher and an effective “online” teacher. In this program, participants will learn how to transfer traditional teaching skills and methods into the online environment. They will learn methods to develop positive online relationships that will ensure success as an online teacher. Participants will learn to use the Blackboard program for creating and conducting on-line lessons. Equally important, they will establish a network of support from peers in the virtual learning community. Lesson will include didactic materials; activities that emphasize social aspects of learning, such as collaboration; an online discussion topic; and a list of resources.

6.     Primary Lecturers:

• Amanda Muliolis, Technology Coordinator and Teacher (Retired), St. Augustine Academy, Lakewood, Ohio, USA
• Sue Kohfeldt, Course Designer and Instructor, Michigan Virtual High School; English Teacher, Milan Area Schools, Michigan, USA
• Sarah Paliulis, (from home) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Computer Science II: Distance Education

1.     Title: An Introduction to Distance Learning

2.     Host: Joniškis region teacher center

3.     Dates: July 25-29, 2005

4.     Target Audience: This is a basic, introductory course for 20 classroom teachers of all grade levels. Participants should have a basic understanding of computers, email, and the Internet. (The number of participants will depend on the number of computers available on site.)

5.     Brief Description: The Internet offers new opportunities for distance education, and this one-week seminar provides an introduction to online teaching and learning. Topics include navigating online software, transferring classroom delivered curriculum to the online platform while maintaining a meaningful learning environment, creating effective online discussions, and using digital resources effectively. Demonstrations and hands-on activities prepare participants for the online teaching environment. As the Ministry of Education opens doors exploring this method of course delivery, participants will find themselves on the cutting edge of the future of Lithuania.

6.     Presenter:

• Sue Kohfeldt, Course Designer and Instructor, Michigan Virtual High School; English Teacher, Milan Area Schools, Michigan, USA

• Kristin Fontichiaro, Arts Education Consultant; Media Specialist, Brighton Area Schools, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

Computer Science III: An Introduction for School Personnel

1.     Title: Computer Science for School Personnel

2.     Host: Akmenės region adult education center

3.     Dates: July 25-29, 2005

4.     Audience: 12 teachers, administrators, social workers, and special education teachers

5.     Description: This program provides a one-week introductory course in computer science. Participants will learn to use personal computers for business applications, correspondence, Internet research, and curriculum development. They will use Microsoft Word to create, save, copy, and print documents; and they will import graphics, develop tests, and prepare business correspondence such as the business letter, a letter of reference, a resume, memos, and a report based on data. Participants will also use the Internet for research and course development.

6.   Presenters: Algirdas and Amanda Muliolis

Elementary Education: Reading

1.     Title: Remedial Reading

2.     Host: Lazdijai region teacher center

3.     Dates: July 25-29, 2005

4.     Target Audience: 25 elementary school teachers, special education teachers, supervisors, and tutors

5.     Description: This course will address the basic academic field of remedial reading within the framework of Education for Sustainable Development. The course will build on the theme of acceptance and will enable reflective teachers to adopt behaviors and practices, which will enhance learning for students with mild learning disabilities. Innovative methodologies will be presented in a framework that includes integrated knowledge of student characteristics, evaluation methods, and research-based multi-sensory instructional strategies. Topics include critical dimensions of instruction, designing and managing environments and materials, individualized curriculum-based assessment, hands-on activities, and skill and strategy instruction specifically for students that do not respond to traditionally effective methods of reading instruction. Activities will include creating materials to be used in the classroom.

6.     Presenter:

• Pledger Fedora, Teacher, The Hill School, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Doctoral Candidate, Educational Psychology, Measurement & Evaluation Department, School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Pupil Support I: Enhancing Student Achievement

1.     Title: Enhancing Student Achievement

2.     Host: Tauragnai Boarding School, Utena Region

3.     Dates: July 11-22, 2005

4.     Audience: School teams consisting of the administrator, teachers, support personnel, and parents

5.     Description: School teams will examine their schools, student bodies, and faculty and develop specific criteria for school improvement. These criteria will be defined by the Four Circles Model in which everything educators do to help their students learn must be based on what educators want (school, regional, or national goals), believe (values and principles), and know (research). Teams will evaluate current assessment methodologies. They will plan for their sites, developing rubrics that can be used to gauge the needs of their schools, and evaluate how change is progressing during the upcoming academic year.

6.     Presenters:

• Dr. JoAnn Hammer, Professor, National University, Sacramento, California, USA

• Dr. Lynn Anderson, Chair, Teacher Education, National University, Sacramento, California, USA

• Dr. Carol Shepherd, Assistant Professor, School of Education, National University, Sacramento, California, USA

• Dr. Clara Amador-Watson, Assistant Professor, National University, Sacramento, California, USA
   

Pupil Support II: Research and Best Practices

1.     Title: Research and Best Practices

2.     Host: Biržai region education center

3.     Dates: July 25-29, 2005

4.     Audience: 25 teachers, special education teachers, social workers, administrators, psychologists, and school personnel

5.     Description: This workshop will integrate research from the Effective Teacher Traits study, brain research related to teaching and learning, and the Best Instructional Practices strategies. The first three days will feature the research and practices basic to the elementary/secondary classroom. There will be demonstrations and activities provided that can be replicated to the classroom. Participants will become familiar with traits of teacher behavior that they can use with their students to stimulate motivation and joy of learning. The last two days will provide further practice with traits and instructional practices with additional activities. A major focus for this workshop will be to explore alternative forms of assessment. This assessment data will then be used to illustrate how teachers can use it to inform their lesson planning.

6.     Presenter:

• JoAnn Hammer, EdD, Professor, National University, Sacramento, California, USA

Secondary Education: Integrated History and Language Arts

1.     Title: Integrated History and Language Arts

2.     Host: Varėna teacher center

3.     Dates: July 25-29, 2005

4.     Audience: 25 history, language arts, and theater teachers

5.     Description: The Integrated History and Language Arts strand will combine historical topics with public speaking and theatre exercises. The historical component will include a comparison of medieval Lithuanian history with modern culture through an essay exercise. Theatre exercises used in these presentations will include improvisation, an examination of Shakespeare, Round Table techniques and Role Playing.

6.     Presenters:

• Sandra Dollinger, English Adjunct Professor, College of St. Rose, Albany, New York, USA
• Jurate Mohen, Upper School History Teacher, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, Connecticut USA; Associate Lecturer, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA