Teaching and Learning Communities
Opportunities for Interpreting and ASL Educators

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Teaching and Learning Communities
Teaching and Learning communities are groups of professionals who want to explore the meaning of teaching and learning, for themselves and for their students. This is an opportunity to talk with like-minded colleagues about our philosophy of teaching, our goals as educators, and our hopes for our students. Members of this community can elect to participate in Part I only, or to participate in both Part I and Part II (Participation in Part I is required for participation in Part II).

Part I: September 1 - September 28, 2004
Part II: September 29, 2004 - April 30, 2005
Applications
Costs
Technology Requirements
Target Audience

Part I
Online discussions related to two topics identified as themes of interest for interpreting and ASL educators (see details below). These discussions will continue for 3 weeks and are open to anyone interested in our topics. We welcome those who want to participate in Part I only. This will be an exciting opportunity to join with like-minded colleagues to discuss the topics below.

Dates: September 1-28, 2004.

1. Community Building Interactions
2. Teaching Goals Inventory: this activity will begin discussions of teaching and learning goals among colleagues, including:
   • What are teaching and learning goals?
   • What does "success" mean to an educator? To a student?
   • What does "teaching" mean to an educator?
   • Do students "learn" what I teach?
   • What do students learn from each other?
3. Appreciative Inquiry
   • A positive approach to our work
   • A positive approach to our students

Part II
Part II of our Teaching and Learning Communities opportunities is intended for those interpreting and ASL educators who want to continue in-depth discussions and individual project development over a 6-8 month time period. There are two separate themes:

• Theme I: Identifying and Demonstrating Teaching Competencies

• Theme II: Planning and Presenting Short-term Educational Opportunities

Those who elect to participate in Parts I and II (long-term discussions and projects) of either theme will need to plan for:

1. Attendance at the Day of Community on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 in Washington, DC. This is the day before the CIT convention. Participants will come with ideas about potential projects and we can collaborate with each other.
2. Participation in six-eight months (October 1, 2004 - April 30, 2005 - approximate end date) of community collaboration and independent activities, including online discussions, project development and implementation.

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Theme 1: Identifying and Demonstrating Teaching Competencies

GOAL:
The goal of this community of educators is to investigate and demonstrate what we as interpreting or ASL teachers believe are the competencies of teaching in our programs. Details of this discussion will be developed through the discussions during Part one (online discussions) and thru the one day meeting prior to CIT in September.

OUTCOME:
Each participant will develop a project or product related to our theme. Examples might include a teaching portfolio or other demonstrations of identified competencies for teachers.

PROCESS:
Part I:
Ideas related to this theme will be discussed during an online discussion from September 1-28, 2004.

Part II:

• Participants accepted for ongoing participation in the discussions will attend the one-day workshop prior to CIT to discuss potential projects or products.
• Participants will collaborate in ongoing online discussions about their projects; the final project will be presented to the group during the final month of discussion.

Expectations for participants:

Upon acceptance to Part II of the discussion opportunities, participants will:

1. Attend the Day of Community meeting on Sept. 29, 2004 in Washington, DC.
2. Actively participate in online discussions throughout the duration of the community. It is predicted that this participation will need approx. 5 hrs every two weeks as you work on your project. This will include an estimated minimum of 3 online postings every two weeks, and the reading of others' postings, the investigation of questions, the collaboration with the community on our common goals, and the development of your individual project.
3. Present the final project to the community in a form that may also be shared with the field of interpreting educators in general.

Benefits for participants:

• Participants in learning communities benefit from the commitment of like-minded colleagues who actively investigate and discuss our topic, and who collaborate in the growth and enhancement of our understanding of our work.
• Participants who complete the entire project will receive an honorarium of $500.00 in recognition of their work and contribution to our field. The registration fee of $350.00 for Part II will also be refunded.

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THEME 2: Planning and Presenting Short-term Educational Opportunities

GOAL:
The goals of this community of educators are to:

1. investigate effective approaches to providing short-term educational opportunities such as workshops, roundtables, independent learning modules, etc.
2. develop and conduct a short-term educational opportunity for interpreters, interpreting educators, and/or ASL educators.  

Details of this discussion will be developed through the discussions during Part one (online discussions) and thru the one day meeting prior to CIT in September.

OUTCOME:
Each participant will conduct a short term educational opportunity sponsored by Project TIEM.Online.

PROCESS:
Part I: Ideas related to this theme will be discussed during an online discussion from September 1-28, 2004.

Part II:

• Participants accepted for ongoing participation in the discussions will attend the one-day workshop prior to CIT to discuss ideas for potential workshops, roundtables, or learning modules.
• Participants will collaborate in ongoing online discussions about their projects.
• Participants will develop a short-term project, including a detailed schedule, goals and objectives, detailed descriptions of intended audiences, level of skills required to participate, activities, the materials needed to conduct the activities, and approaches to evaluating effectiveness. The final project will synthesize the research and discussions from the online discussions and investigations and will be a total product ready to offer to the field.
• Participants will conduct their project through Project TIEM.Online. This may be conducted online, or face-to-face.
• Participants will provide feedback and collaborative support about the final projects.

Expectations of Participants:

Upon acceptance to Part II of the discussion opportunities, participants will:

1. Attend the Day of Community meeting in Washington, DC. on Sept. 29.
   1. Actively participate in online discussions throughout the duration of the community. It is predicted that this participation will need approx. 5 hrs every two weeks as you work on your project. This will include an estimated minimum of 3 online postings every two weeks, and the reading of others' postings, the investigation of questions, the collaboration with the community on our common goals, and the development of your individual project.
2. Conduct the event. Project TIEM.Online will provide some support for this (online meeting places, advertising support, registration.)

Benefits to Participants:

• Participants in learning communities benefit from the commitment of like-minded colleagues who actively investigate and discuss our topic, and who collaborate in the growth and enhancement of our understanding of our work.
• Participants who complete the project, collaborate regularly and frequently with the community, and who conduct their project will have the option of receiving an honorarium of $500.00 in recognition of their work and contribution to our field or a presenter's fee negotiated for the presentation of the workshop/project. The registration fee of $350.00 for Part II will also be refunded.

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APPLICATIONS:
Parts I & II: Deadline for applications is June 15, 2004.

Participation will be limited to 8-12 educators for each theme. Notification of Acceptance will be sent by July 31, 2004.

Part I only: Deadline for applications is August 30th, 2004.

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COSTS:
Part I only: $35.00 (due at Registration, beginning August 16, 2004)

Parts I & II: $75.00 due with application-to be refunded if application is not accepted. $275.00 due within 30 days of notification that you have been accepted for part II.

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TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:
In order to participate in Part I, participants must have internet access and an updated browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator with Java enabled.

In order to participate in Part II, participants must:

• Have internet access and technology as described for Part I;
• Have regular and frequent internet access throughout the 6-8 months of the project;
• Provide own transportation and expenses at the one-day workshop.

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• Interpreting and/or ASL educators who want to enhance their competence in presenting short-term events;
• Interpreters and consumers who want to learn more about creating effective short-term events in a collaborative and supportive community of colleagues.

We encourage those members of traditionally underserved communities to join in the discussions. These teaching and learning communities are supported in part by Department of Education RSA grant #H160C030001.

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