NAF Online Professional Development

eCollege: How Does It Work?

What is eCollege?

Remember when you were in a classroom as a student…what did you do? Chances are, you received some instruction, engaged in class discussion, and perhaps completed an assignment or journal entry. Well, eCollege recreates this classroom experience…online!

What Does an eCollege Course Look Like?

Welcome to the first screen of an online course!On the left is our “navigation bar” where you move around within the lessons.On the top is our “toolbar” where you check grades and submit assignments.

The main image on the page is the content and direct instruction.

Features of Online Learning

ClassLive Sessions

(immersion course only)

Multimedia Presentations

Journal Entries

Assignments and Activities

Discussion Boards

(immersion course only)

Assignments and Activities

Assignment example from “Building an Advisory Board That Really Works” Short Module

Activity example from “Introduction to Academy Leadership” Immersion Course

Multimedia Presentations

All courses are media rich using Adobe Connect presentations, YouTube videos, and a variety of other audio/visual tools.

Journal Entries

Journal entries provide a space where participants reflect on the lesson and then connect lesson content to their academy experience. All

journal entries are private between the participant and the instructor.

Discussion Boards

Here’s what an in-progress Discussion Board looks like.

Think of a Discussion Board as a conversation in print: You “post” your

thoughts to a “board” that everyone in the course has access to. Other participants

respond to your post; likewise, you respond to other participants’ posts, and in this way

create a conversation centered around content for the Lesson. Discussion Boards

are part of the immersion courses.

ClassLive Sessions

ClassLive sessions are the dynamic, truly interactive aspect of immersion courses. Every other week, participants “meet” online to talk in real time. Participants ask questions, discuss lesson content, and network with other participants, creating long-term relationships with academy colleagues from around the country.

This is a snapshot of a ClassLive session from the

Leadership Immersion course.

Types of Online Courses

Immersion Courses

• Both synchronous and asynchronous learning• Live interactive sessions every other

week

• Approximately 35 to 45 hours over 14 weeks to complete

• Feels like “a course of professional development”

Short Modules

• Self-paced, asynchronous learning

• Approximately 6 hours to complete

• Feels like “a day of professional development”

All professional development courses provide certification letters upon completion. Additionally,

immersion courses provide a stipend for completion.

Short Modules

Short modules are self-paced and take approximately 6 hours to complete. Participants have a 30-day window in which to complete the course.

Basics of the NAF Curriculum

• This course serves as a broad, basic introduction to the NAF approach to curriculum. It covers the curricular elements that courses in the Academies of Finance, Information Technology, Health Sciences, and Hospitality & Tourism share. Topics include course structure, Project Based Learning, assessment, and strategies for engaging students.

Developing Your NAF Internship Program

• This course is for academy professionals who are responsible for any aspect of the work-based learning program at their academy.

Building an Advisory Board That Really Works

• This course is for academy leaders and site coordinators who are responsible for developing and sustaining an effective advisory board. The purpose of this course is to strengthen existing advisory boards and make them more effective.

Immersion Courses

Immersion courses take between 35 and 45 hours to complete over a whole semester. Most of the coursework is self-paced, but participants also engage in live interactive

online sessions every other week.

Teaching the NAF Curriculum

• Teachers from the Academies of Finance, Information Technology, Health Sciences, and Hospitality & Tourism take this intensive course while concurrently teaching a NAF course. Teachers explore the instructional design and teaching strategies that every NAF course is built upon as they practice using the NAF curriculum in their own classrooms. Their understanding and skill levels increase as they interact with other teachers and complete activities that augment their delivery of the curriculum.

Introduction to Academy Leadership

• This course gives academy leaders a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of their leadership role. It provides an ideal forum for learning from colleagues and benefitting from the experiences of other academy leaders.

• Participants examine their directorial responsibilities and commitments from a range of perspectives. These include building relationships with staff, students, and alumni; leading the development of strong internship programs and effective advisory boards; and becoming superb delegators and team facilitators.

Who Should Take an eCollege Short Module?

Short Module Audience Eligibility

Basics of the NAF Curriculum

Academy teachers, core subject teachers, academy

directors

Educator in a NAF academy (except AOE)

Building an Advisory Board That Really Works

Anyone in a teaching/leadership role or

in an Advisory Board Liaison role

Educator in a NAF academy

Developing Your NAF Internship Program

Anyone in a teaching/leadership role or in an Internship Liaison role

Educator in a NAF academy

Who Should Take an eCollege Immersion Course?

ImmersionCourse

Audience Eligibility

Teaching the NAF Curriculum

Academy teachers

Must be concurrently teaching a NAF course to students

(except AOE)

Introduction to Academy Leadership

Academy directors; lead

teachers

Must be in a leadership role in a NAF academy or preparing to

take on such a role in the following school year

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many hours do I need for a course?Short modules take approximately 6 hours to complete.Immersion courses take between 35 and 45 hours to complete.

• What equipment do I need?You will need a computer with a viable internet connection. A headset is recommended for participants in immersion courses.

• Is there an instructor?Yes. The instructor interacts with participants throughout the course and can be contacted via email anytime.

• Will my work be graded?The work in these courses is done on a pass/fail basis; if the work is completed satisfactorily, then participants receive a passing score.

• Do I receive anything for completing the courses?Everyone receives a letter of completion verifying the hours; immersion course participants receive a monetary stipend.

Where Can I Get More Information?

• For more information about NAF’s eCollege Professional Development Program, please contact Stacey Miller: staceymiller.naf@gmail.com

• To enroll in any of the eCollege courses, please contact Evan Watkins: ewatkins@naf.org

• Also contact Dr. Keisha Stephenson Taylor, Professional Development: ktaylor@naf.org

Thank you for your time!