The impact of technical barriers on the effectiveness of professional development as related to a distance education system-based course: A case study in the Web World Wonders environmental science learning community.

This study reports and discusses the impact of technical barriers on the effectiveness of professional development as related to a distance education system based course: a case study of the web world wonders environmental science learning community in Florida. The project involved 4th through 12th grade public school teachers learning how to use GPS readers, digital cameras, and Arc View software for the purpose of utilizing a Website that enabled remote Internet camera access in Florida State Parks. Under the supervision of Florida State University and the Florida Department of Education those teachers received professional development in techniques for developing lesson plans utilizing the equipment and software as stated above. Using the Concept Based Adoption Model, a description of the teacher's demographics, Levels of Use and Stages of Concern with relation to gender, age, teaching experience, and technological experience was examined. Technical barriers were identified and an explanation of how they were overcome in the process of receiving the professional development is reported.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2003

Author dc:creator

• Dawson, John L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mortensen, Mark
• Allen, Jeff M.
• Camp, Bill

• Distance education -- Florida.
• Web-based instruction -- Florida.
• Environmental sciences -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) -- Florida.
• Science teachers -- Training of -- Florida.
• distance education
• impact
• technical barriers
• effectiveness
• professional development

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Dawson, Jr., John L.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 54407282
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4426/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc4426

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc4426