Frequently Asked Questions

Why engaged learning?
Why did I need to apply as part of a team?
Why do we hold chats?
Why write a scenario?
Why must we have a plan for staff development?
 
 
 
 
Course Materials and Tool
 
Where can we share URLs and ideas?
Can we use COW, chat and listserv for additional tasks?
Why do I feel so frustrated?
How do I look at my pages?

 
Why must we have a plan for staff development?
LInC is essentially an instructional leadership course. We know that the typical participant to the LInC program is a leader in their own school building or district. One of the LInC project's objectives is to disseminate a shared vision of engaged learning. We realize that in order to make this a reality, we need to ask participants to create a plan for sharing their LInC experience. This plan greatly increases the likelihood that sharing will take place.
 
 
Why is it beneficial to apply as part of a team?
Although some LInC participants enjoy working alone, a LInC team can be formed to support each other in learning the course material, in troubleshooting local technical difficulties, and in conducting staff development in their home district. In addition, the team can be critical in supplying emotional support and encouragement throughout the course. Your team can also support one another as you implement your project and the staff development you will facilitate after you finish this course.
 
Why write a scenario?
The scenario is a very effective way of sharing your vision of your project. Some find the scenario a challenge to write, but in the process of telling the story of your project you are compelled to picture all the indicators of engaged learning and best use of technology in your project.
 
Why engaged learning?
Engaged learning allows students to direct and assess their own learning. It allows the teacher to facilitate, co-learn, coach, and continually assess the students. Research shows that students retain more information when they are directing their own learning than when the teacher is the disseminator of knowledge. We are trying to model engaged learning in this LInC course.
 
Why do we hold discussions/chats?
Weekly discussions/chats are a very important part of the LInC course. The weekly session is our version of the typical course class meeting. The instructor or the participants have selected a focus for that evening's discussion. The instructor will use this opportunity to discuss with participants their progress and roadblocks encountered. Announcements will often be made during the discussions/chats that our of great importance to participants. It is a great time for participants to share with one another and offer feedback on their ideas.Your attendance and participation at the sessions is part of your overall course grade.
 
 
What is a chat tool (real-time discussion tool), and what is it used for?
The chat tool that your facilitator has instructed you to use in this course has been developed for you to communicate with your facilitator and other participants in real time - (meaning, everyone reading and typing responses to each other during the same period of time). This tool helps you to get immediate feedback to questions, but it does require others to be online at the same time you are. It is most like a phone conversation.
 
 
What is a listserv, and what is it used for?
The listserv that your facilitator has created for your class is an automatic e-mailing system. It allows the sender of a message to type one message and have it sent automatically to all of the people who have subscribed to the listserv. You will probably get most listserv messages from the facilitator of the course. The listserv will frequently be used for course announcements. You may also use the listserv to send messages to all of the participants. Be sure that your message is of importance to all participants. This is not the place to send a message to only one or two participants.
 
 
What are the LInC Online Web pages, and what are they used for?
The LInC Online Web Pages are our version of the class text. These pages contain a great deal of information. Our course index is much like a table of contents that lists the various sections of your online text. Although you may not need to read every page of the LInC materials you will need to read most of them. If you have a question about engaged learning, best use of technology, technical problems, Web design issues, or assignments, this is the first place to look.
 
 
What is an electronic bulletin board and what is it used for?
This is a communication tool that is designed for participants to post messages for others to read at a time that is convenient to them. The messages are arranged by topic and subtopic so that you can follow the flow of conversations and find things when you need them later. In many cases this tool will also have a search feature. There are topics for conversations which contain a series of postings and responses from participants to each other. 
 
 
Where can we share URLs and ideas?
Sharing ideas, URLs, and questions is the perfect type of material to place in the asynchronous discussion tool. Look over the index of topics and conversations to see if there is an appropriate place for you to post your comment. If there is no appropriate place, go ahead and create your own area. If you are not sure where to place your comment, you might e-mail your facilitator for advice.
 
 
Can we use the bulletin board, chat or listserv used within this course for other things?
These tools have been provided to help you be successful in this course. In most cases if you wish to use these tools for related work on projects, engaged learning, or staff development planning, it would be appropriate. It is a good idea to clear it with your facilitator beforehand.
 
Why do I feel so frustrated?
Feelings of frustration are very normal and probably to be expected. The course is asking a lot of you both intellectually and emotionally. If you do not feel challenged in the course, you either already know the material or you are not opening yourself to the opportunity for change. We all know very well that change is difficult and emotionally exhausting.  In the LInC project you are being asked to change your style of instruction. Add to this the challenge of creating an original project, and you have a first-rate recipe for frustration. The good news is that none of the participants have died or been harmed from the course.  On the contrary, participants have been extremely positive about their participation in the course and feel they have learned a great deal from creating their project.  Remember, if the pressure becomes too much, just take a break and e-mail your facilitator in the morning. Your facilitator is there to help you through the process.
 
How do I look at my pages?
Once you have transferred your files to the server, you can view them using your browser. In fact, this is a good idea because it will help you find any mistakes you may have made in writing links and images. It is possible that your pages will look perfect on your computer, but show broken links or images on the Web server. To view your pages you need to type in the absolute URL. In other words, type in the server name, any folders, and the file names. If your URL is correct, the page should load into your Web browser. Follow the file naming guidelines provided when creating your pages to avoid trouble when viewing your pages.