Online SI

Have we considered the creation of an online Summer Institute where the participants get the credit for the training but not the graduate credit?  This could be done through free software called Joomla.  The in-person SI participants can log-in at set times and use the discussion boards to discuss and collaborate with the online participants.  Those online can post their work in the discussion forum for sharing, and they could also download free software like Skype or the newest AOL IM which would allow them to participate occasionally in the discussion virtually with audio and/or video.  It would be easiest for those with high speed Internet, but it could be done without it as well.  Just a thought.  I know it would expand the reach of our group to areas like mine which is unserviced.

It would take some work to put together initially, but it would work.  Podcasts and vodcasts for presentations would be accessible for the online folks (and vice-versa).  Is this even a possibility with NWP?

By the way, I do have a student teacher on campus that says she is interested in the summer 07 SI.  I'll keep her contact info for future reference.

technorati tags:SI, TXBWP, Scott_S_Floyd, distance_education

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