2021 Weekly Webinar Archives

“Leaning In” with Resiliency in Mind (Maintaining Continuity in Chaos)
Presented by: Jenell Paul, Director of Learning Resource Network (LRN), Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

In this conversation with Jenell Paul, we will discuss leading teams virtually during chaos (unprecedented times), reviewing and adopting new technology, managing new spacing needs/requirements, examining hosting solutions/platforms, classroom conversion realities, government purchasing, and more. These topics can benefit us all, so come join Jenell and USDLA to talk about how we move forward in these times!

Archive coming soon
Taming Twitter: Customize Your Information Flow to Personalize Your Learning Network.

Jeff Dungan Ed.D currently serves as a Professional Development Specialist at Michigan Virtual, the statewide K-12 virtual school serving the state of Michigan. Jeff also serves on the USDLA Advisory Board, is an adjunct Instructional Designer at Global Online Academy, and an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University.

Twitter is an unbelievable tool for professionals, regardless of the field you are in, to leverage for their own professional learning. However, many people eschew Twitter as “another social media platform”. Many users do not understand how to customize the flow of information in Twitter using simple tools like Tweetdeck. With some simple techniques, Twitter can be used as a platform to develop your professional interests, reach a broader audience, develop a professional learning network and even develop communities of practice. In this session, USDLA Advisory Board member

Jeff will take you through Twitter basics from setting up your account to customizing the flow of information you receive on Twitter to participating in your first Twitter Chat. The session will conclude with examples form on online course using Twitter as a core element of the course design to promote communities of practice that are intended to persist beyond semester timeframes.

RECORDING
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
Grant Update 2021: A Great Year for Telehealth Grants & More!
Janet Major, USDLA Chair and Associate Director for Education & Facilities Arizona Telemedicine Program/Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
Dana Satterwhite, Sr Director Poly/Zoom Grants Partnership
Victoria Fine, Regional Grants Manager Learn Design Apply, Inc.
Michael Nieliwocki, Sr Account Mgr, and Scott Simmons, Healthcare Specialist for Poly

Our USDLA 2021 Grant Update will include:
Funding RUS-DLT, FCC COVID-19 Telehealth, K-12 and higher education stimulus funding, Technology offerings and use case examples in the field  including healthcare and education
as well as  an opportunity for Q&A.

We will share USDLA resources and introduce the Poly Grant Assistance Program (PGAP), the grant services that they offer and include an overview of the RUS-DLT program and how PGAP can assist in putting together a winning application for this excellent grant opportunity – and others.   
Our panel will also include USDLA Board Members who are experienced grant writers and collaborators to represent some of our USDLA constituencies. Please join us!

RECORDING
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
Join PADLA for
From Room to Zoom
Lou Stricoff – PADLA Executive Director and Chair NE USDLA SIG

With the COVID-19 restrictions, PADLA.org (the PA/DE/NJ & NE SIG Distance Learning Association) was faced with the task of converting our in-person 18th Annual Conference & Expo to a Virtual Event. Starting with minimal virtual meeting experience/expertise, we managed to pull off a successful and satisfying virtual event for our Attendees, Presenters, and Exhibitor/Sponsors. You can do it too as we all adapt to this new reality. Attendees are invited to give their feedback and input as we collectively evolve our best practices going “From Room to Zoom”.

RECORDING

“In Celebration of Black History Month”
USDLA Board Member CEO – Oiada International, Eric Jones,
Papa Williams, Director – Oiada International
Sebastian Kwamena Tettey, Sr. Cape Coast Castle Tour Guide

For Black History Month, Oiada in partnership with USDLA is presenting a “LIVE” Tour of the Cape Coast Slave Dungeon and an “Eye Opener” video conference connection with Ghana, Africa. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a piece of Ghana’s history as the premier tour guide in Ghana, Sebastian Kwamena Tettey takes you on a “LIVE” tour of the historic Slave Dungeons. In the Eye Opener section, Oiada Director Papa Williams will dispel myths and misconceptions about Africa so the true beauty of Africa can be revealed. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the presenters. We look forward to you joining us on this virtual trip to Africa!

RECORDING
“Future-Engage-Deliver: A framework for Leading and Learning”
Presenter: Michael Eales, BA(Hons.), MA, PGCEA, Dip.Hum.Psych., is a leading provider of Leadership Development and Facilitator Training
in the UK.

How do we bring our vision and passion to what we do, and help others find theirs? How do we develop how we communicate to be constantly practicing engagement? For that to happen, two things need to put into place – speaking of the future in a way that creates possibilities for others, and also working on being engaging ourselves, and being someone who others want to follow. It is important to explore what we stand for, what our values and non-negotiable principles are, and how this can help us create the resilience to sustain ourselves and our students emotionally and morally when times are tough. What is your inspiring story about what shapes you as a educator? This is an interactive session, including some
self-exploration exercises.

RECORDING

Inspiring the Next Generation of Writers, Virtually
Presenter: Carey Cranston, President American Writers Museum

During this session, we’ll explore how the American Writer’s Museum (AWM) in Chicago is engaging teachers and students virtually to foster conversations about complex issues and encourage the next generation of writers via their new Online Education Program. The museum’s president, Carey Cranston, will discuss how the Online Education Program was developed with input from teachers. He’ll also share real feedback received from both students and teachers across the country who have participated in the program, and how the museum has pivoted their approach during the pandemic. While many cultural institutions are offering virtual programming, what makes AWM’s program unique is that not only is AWM the only national museum dedicated to American writers and their works, but also their field trips focus on immigrant, refugee and other diverse writers and explore social issues.

Recording

Peer to Peer Engagement in Remote Learning with Padlet & Flipgrid
Presenters: Stephen Gilman Executive Director, MakerStateDestinee Marino, Tech Ed Maker Fellow, MakerState

In this webinar, we’ll go from introduction to working knowledge of how to use Padlet and Flipgrid to create engaging, interactive, and rigorous live and asynchronous learning experiences and assignments. This introduction session is for beginning users of Padlet and Flipgrid, with mini-lessons and applied learning exercises in navigating the platform and setting up student learning experiences for live and asynchronous learning.

RECORDING

State Chapter Highlights: Nebraska Digital Learning Association
Presenter: Linda Dickeson, Executive Liaison

Learn how the strategies used by the Nebraska Digital Learning Association (NDLA), a State Chapter of USDLA, have helped to make it a thriving organization that serves members in Nebraska and beyond. The topics will include:
• Development and growth of NDLA
• Events—including the annual two-day conference, a virtual conference,
and the annual Virtual Field Trip workshop for VFT program providers
• Collaboration, organization, and document archiving using Google Drive
• Nebraska’s high-speed statewide network and early adoption of Zoom for successful Distance Learning, even before the pandemic.