Textbooks
Courses I, II, & III:
- Edmunds, N. A., & Smith, C. L. (2001). Learning to teach: A quick-start guide for career and technical education teachers. Alexandria, VA: Association for Career and Technical Education.
- Smith, C. L., & Edmunds, N. A. (1999). Career and technical educator's survival guide. Alexandria, VA: Association for Career and Technical Education.
These two books can be ordered from:
Course VI only:
- Asselin, S. B. (2000). Teaching strategies for diverse learners. Richmond: Virginia Department of Education, CTE Resource Center.
This book can be ordered from the Career and Technical Education Resource Center. Select "CTE Resource Center Online Ordering System," then "Browse the Online Catalog." In the frame on the left, select "Career Connections" and scroll down to publication number 5.00.01, Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners. Public school teachers and administrators in Virginia may order a copy of this publication at no charge. The cost for others is less than $15.00. Log on as indicated and follow the directions to order a copy online or by phone, fax, e-mail, or mail.
CD-ROMs (optional):
Each of the six courses has an optional CD-ROM that contains all of the recorded lectures. Each lesson includes a recorded lecture with an accompanying PowerPoint slide presentation. You will have to make a choice as to how you will view and listen to the lecture. You can view and listen to the lecture by use of video-streaming technology either online or offline. Remember, you do not use PowerPoint software to view the lecture.
Online. Most teachers enrolled in these courses who use this approach, find that they listen to the lectures at home using a modem. The lectures run from 15 minutes to over an hour in length. Downloads usually run smoothly, but a 60 minute lecture will tie up a telephone line for at least 65 to 70 minutes for a modem connecting at speeds of 56 KBS. Occasionally downloads take much longer and sometimes, connections are lost. This can be very frustrating, particularly if your connection is at a slower speed or if you try to listen to the lectures at times when the Virginia Tech servers are very busy. If connection speed is no problem for you and if you do not mind tying up your telephone line, you may want to use the online option.
Offline. Most of the teachers in our field tests indicated they became very frustrated trying to listen to the lectures online and preferred to use CD-ROMs instead. All of the lectures for each 1-hour course are recorded on a CD-ROM that you may purchase from the University Bookstore. Using the offline approach permits you to view the lectures without tying up your telephone line and without running into download delays and disruptions that occur when the server becomes heavily used or when other problems occur. You may decide to order the CDs from the beginning or you may decide to try the online approach first and see if you have problems. You can order the CDs from the Virginia Tech University Bookstore. |
