Making the Link: Teacher Professional Development on the Internet

Looking for professional development opportunities that accommodate the messy realities of your teaching life? With Making the Link you need look no farther than your computer. Ron Owston will help you discover what a powerful tool the Internet can be for developing a continuous, collegial professional development experience--one that ideally suits your particular experiences, needs, and learning style.

Owston first explains the basic functions of Web browsers, e-mail, and search tools, and then shows how to use those tools to create a customized professional development action plan derived from two basic strategies: building virtual professional communities and conducting Internet based research. Readers will learn how to use mailing lists and newsgroups to share ideas and learn from colleagues around the globe and how to efficiently research websites and bibliographic databases for more specific information. Throughout the book, Owston offers useful strategies for focusing your research and keeping track of where you've been, what you've learned, and new directions you'd like to pursue.

Preservice and inservice teachers, school administrators, and professional development coordinators, regardless of level of Internet experience, will all benefit from the suggestions and strategies Owston provides.

Booknews

Provides advice, hints, and planning strategies to help teachers make the most of the Internet's potential. Owston (education, York U.) first explains the basic functions of Web browsers, email, and search tools, then shows how to use those tools to create a customized professional development action plan. The focus is on building virtual professional communities and conducting Internet- based research. Appends a list of further readings appropriately located online at Yahoo. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.