The virtual learning environment is one type of training, which importantly, is designed to fit with the time-pressured teacher's hectic workload. Online training portals such as Promethean Learning (www.prometheanlearning.com) for example, offer a range of courses from foundation programmes through to trainer level options, all of which are eligible as evidence of continual professional development (CPD).
While already providing a wide variety of courses for interactive classroom solutions, following its latest expansion, Promethean Learning now includes training programmes for the full breadth of Activclassroom technologies - from software to learner response systems.
The latest developments to Promethean Learning reflect new additions to the Activclassroom, including Activexpression, the world's first learner response system to offer full sentence and character texting. ‘Activexpression - Getting Started' is just one of the new courses available on Promethean Learning, which, as with all foundation level programmes, may be completed free of charge and at the user's own pace. Covering the registration of devices through to a quick start guide with teaching tips and flipcharts, this course provides Activexpression users with a fundamental introduction to the system's key operations, features and response modes.
While, as with interactive whiteboards, personal provider training is always recommended, online training enables teachers to obtain support quickly, easily and cost-effectively. This is perfect for occasions when a learner response system is only in use in a single class, such as through a pilot, or if the teacher is looking for a quick way to get started with this new technology.
Good foundations
Also new to Promethean's CPD portal is Level 1 Foundation Skills for Activprimary and Activstudio software for Mac users. Designed to provide teachers with an introduction to main features and functionality as operated from a Mac platform, these courses equip participants with the essential skills to use the software effectively in lessons.
As foundation skills courses such as this may be accessed by teachers at any time, they offer an ideal way for practitioners to virtually familiarise themselves with interactive technology prior to implementation and scheduled provider training, or if they simply wish to refresh their skills.
A further addition to Promethean Learning is Level 1 Advanced Skills course for Activprimary. Through fully interactive tutorials, videos and exemplar material, this new course demonstrates the more sophisticated features of Promethean's award-winning interactive whiteboard software. For more experienced technology users, the portal now also features a Level 3 Training and Resource Developer programme, which enables participants to effectively deliver training in their school or institution.
Learning communities
As well as training portals, online teaching communities are a further source of virtual support for teachers looking to enhance their skills. These online communities, such as Promethean Planet (www.prometheanplanet.com), feature literally thousands of interactive flipcharts and teaching resources, which help teachers in their lesson preparation and act as a catalyst for new ideas on ways collaborative technologies can be used in the classroom. Furthermore, Promethean Planet, with over 181,000 members, is also an ideal source for best practice and can greatly assist users in resource development.
These examples demonstrate just some of the training opportunities that are designed to support teachers in making effective use of interactive technologies in the classroom. Developed to provide practitioners with practical and flexible ways to complete training, these options make it easier to gain new, often time-saving skills, and help interactive solutions become an everyday part of teaching practice.
For more information on the training options available, call Promethean on 01254 298 598
