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e-Communities
An e-Community is an online
learning environment that is made available to a group of
people who are working together for a common purpose or
goal. This environment uses an Learning Management System
(LMS) as a tool to allow members of the group to collaborate,
share ideas, and access electronic resources.
All e-Communities function under the guidance
of a facilitator. This facilitator is reponsible for bringing
thought-provoking discussion topics and content-related
electronic resources to the group in order to meet a common
need for collaboration. Participants in an e-Community are
actively involved in discussions that reinforce and extend
their professional practices.
As the Maryland Teacher Professional Development
Standards indicate:
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Professional development is most effective
when it takes place in vibrant professional learning
communities. These learning communities take various
forms, but they all value ongoing learning by teachers
and students. They encourage individual and collaborative
experimentation, practice, and reflection. They foster
collegiality and problem solving, and they emphasize
continuous improvement in classrooms and schools.
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Professional development relies on information
technologies to provide more extensive and diverse content,
and it also relies on communication technologies to
expand access and participation and to create virtual
professional learning communities.
e-Communities extend and enhance traditional
learning by providing a vehicle for continuous support.
An e-Community is a vibrant environment allowing for the
exchange of ideas, sharing of successes and challenges,
and provision of support to one another.
The Office of Instructional Technology
works in collaboration with curriculum offices, support
service offices, and local schools to facilitate the successful
implementation of an e-Community. OIT is committed to providing
the following services :
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Creating facilitator and participant
accounts.
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Providing facilitator training and support
for the LMS.
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Notifying facilitators of login procedures.
Site facilitators are responsible for sharing participant
account information with their participants.
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Creating e-Community
sites for facilitators.
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Providing assistance with the design
of the site, as necessary.
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Managing LMS features in e-Community
sites which may include disabling features that are
not in compliance with the Baltimore County Public
Schools Telecommunications Acceptable Use Policy for
Students and/or the Baltimore County Public
Schools Telecommunications Acceptable Use Policy
for Employees.
The project coordinator
is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the
e-Community. The project coordinator will lead the project
by:
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Submitting the Proposal for an
e-Learning Project form to OIT.
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Selecting an appropriate facilitator
as outlined in Appendix B: Facilitator Expectations.
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Evaluating the successful implementation
of the project.
Communicating with OIT about training
needs, support, and administration from OIT.
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Ensuring compliance with the Baltimore
County Public Schools Telecommunications Acceptable
Use Policy for Students and/or the Baltimore
County Public Schools Telecommunications Acceptable
Use Policy for Employees.
The project facilitator
is responsible for organizing and implementing the e-Community
site. Under the supervision of the project coordinator,
the facilitator is:
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Enrolling and providing training for
participants.
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Managing site-based collaboration tools
including the Chat and the Discussion areas.
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Supervising all content-related materials
including the electronic gradebook, surveys, course
resources, the dropbox, and communication tools.
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Monitoring and maintaining accountability
for participant use of the tools and resources during
and following the site availability dates.
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Ensuring compliance with the Baltimore
County Public Schools Telecommunications Acceptable
Use Policy for Students and/or the Baltimore
County Public Schools Telecommunications Acceptable
Use Policy for Employees.
The participant in an e-Community is
expected to maintain a high level of involvement to keep
the community vibrant and meaningful for all. Under the
facilitator's guidance, participants are:
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Regularly interacting in discussion
topics.
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Providing feedback to their colleagues.
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Introducing new ideas and resources
that can be shared by all members of the community.
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Utilizing tools and resources to enhance
academic or professional growth.
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Complying with the Baltimore County
Public Schools Telecommunications Acceptable Use Policy
for Students and/or the Baltimore County Public
Schools Telecommunications Acceptable Use Policy
for Employees.
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| For more information about e-Learning initiatives in BCPS, contact:
Judy Campf,
e-Learning Specialist
jcampf@bcps.org
Thea Jones, Supervisor tjones@bcps.org
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