Initial+and+Extra+info

Recommended Readings

 * [|Building Faculty Learning Communities: New Directions for Teaching and Learning] (2004) Milton D. Cox and Laurie Richlin (eds).
 * [|Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies for the Virtual Classroom] (2007), Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt.
 * [|Managing Online Forums] (2008) Patrick O'Keefe.
 * [|Getting Started: Reculturing Schools to Become Professional Learning Communities] (2002), Robert Eaker, Richard DuFour and Rebecca DuFour.

Recommended Websites

 * [|Developing Faculty and Professional Learning Communities (FLCs)]
 * [|Community of Inquiry homepage]

Presentation references also included:
Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T. & Archer, W. (2000). A Theory of Critical Inquiry in a Text Based Environment: Computer Conferencing in Higher Education. //The Internet and Higher Education//, 2(3), 87-105.

**Objectives and content including implications for improved practice**
Participants will:
 * Understand the benefits to building faculty learning communities in general and the expanded benefits to building them beyond college walls in a virtual environment.
 * Experience an actual Elluminate meeting to dissolve any inhibitions they may have about using technology to meet and collaborate because they will be able to listen to other community member’s experiences.

**How you plan to make the session interactive**

 * First, short small group problem solving actitivity to show that combining our problem solving efforts is better than problem solving in isolated groups. (Especially with the Angel Learning Community where we are all problem solving similar issues in isolation)
 * Second present the background in Faculty Learning Groups processes, procedures, and benefits; along with using Elluminate to facilitate these. In addition we will show the similarities and differences in the planning process for both of the Elluminate instructional design community and the Angel Learning Community facilitated by Eric and Lesley Ann, showing an Elluminate room and some of the tools we use.
 * Next, running examples or snippets of our recordings.
 * Last, the session will hold a short Elluminate meeting to listen to other members feelings about their membership in the two communities.

**Level of experience/background needed for those attending your session**
Basic familiarity with computers in the classroom and online learning.

**Strand-**eLearning and Instructional Technologies
60 to 90 minutes- internet connection (we can show pieces of our recordings) and other things. Flip charts and pens