March 1, 2013
Belinda Louie: Bringing training to busy working teachers
“If they cannot come to me, I will bring the training to them.”
Belinda Louie
Professor, Education, UW Tacoma
Dr. Louie, a professor in the Education department at UW Tacoma, was a 2012 UW Tacoma Tech Fellow and developed “Methods and Curricula in Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners” (TEDUC 564) into an online course. It is one of five required courses for teachers who would like to be certified in English as a Second Language in Washington state.
Access: “Online courses allow teachers flexibility and increase their access to muchneeded professional development. If they cannot come to me, I will bring the training to them.”
Efficacy of online instruction: “I see online courses as an alternate form of course delivery, neither superior nor inferior to face-to-face classes, just different.”
Benefits for students: “Teachers need the professional development; however, it is difficult for them to come to campus to take courses after a long day of work at school. Teachers in smaller districts, such as the Yakima Valley, have limited professional development opportunities.”
Advice: “Have clear goals for converting a face-to-face class to online. It takes much mental energy and hard work to launch the first online course.”
Links: One of the videos Dr. Louie uses in TEDUC 564, in which she interviews a local expert on teaching English as a second language http://vimeo.com/46115791
Learn More
Read the full Provost report on how UW faculty are enhancing teaching with technology.