County’s intermediate unit gives Moodle to its new teachers
New teachers and staff at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) are using their noodles through a teacher induction computer program called Moodle.
The Web-based Moodle software program, which stands for “Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment,” is aimed at keeping new teachers and staff connected throughout the first two years of their employment with the intermediate unit, much like a limited access social networking site. New staff also complete and submit at-home assignments related to the teacher induction program through Moodle.
Access to Moodle was purchased by the BCIU for use with the induction program and was not developed by the intermediate unit. This year’s new teacher induction program was held Aug. 10 to 14 at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit located in Doylestown. Additional follow-up group sessions will be held throughout the year.
Through a special intermediate unit password, Moodle inductees can access intermediate unit staff to ask human resources questions, set goals for evaluations, communicate and receive feedback from intermediate unit supervisors, collaborate with mentors and other new intermediate unit teachers and upload assignments digitally.
The BCIU requires new staff members to take part in the two-year teacher induction program.
During first year of the induction program, teachers spend five days over the summer and the equivalent of three days throughout the school year learning about intermediate unit professionalism, state curriculum standards, new technology applications in their individual fields and effective parent communication methods, and document their successes and goals throughout the school year on Moodle.
In addition to communicating online and at the induction sessions, the new staff members meet with individual field-specific mentors in person.
In the second year of the induction program, staff continue to use Moodle and meet for an equivalent of two days throughout the year.
The entire second year is devoted to developing a pre-approved project related to their needs as a teacher and would like to improve or accomplish professionally in their classroom. At the close of the year, the teachers present their project results to intermediate unit supervisors.
BCIU teachers are employees of the intermediate unit. However they work in positions in geographically diverse school districts throughout the county.
New staff inductees include guidance counselors and teachers who work in the fields of the deaf and hard of hearing, visually impaired, emotional or autistic support, early intervention programs, life skills, speech and language assistance and multiple disability support. So far this year there are about 30 new intermediate unit staff members.
BCIU director of professional education Daniel Vorhis is involved in the overall planning of the induction program. Vorhis feels the addition of the Moodle program this year has helped address the different sets of needs among new staff and has created an added method of communication.
“We view Moodle as having a main purpose of professional development and ongoing support. When you can’t have instant face-to-face interaction, Moodle is there to offer support,” he said.
Vorhis is happy to offer the program as a way of helping to develop the professional relationships and to address a nationwide trend of high teacher turnover rates.
According to Vorhis, one out of every 10 new teachers nationwide leave the profession within the first year and one out of every five teachers nationwide leave teaching within the first three years.
Vorhis said the intermediate unit has a high retention rate that induction programs are designed to help maintain. Induction programs have been held at the BCIU for about 15 years.
“That is a huge reason why we need induction programs. We are certainly aware at the intermediate unit that our greatest resource is our community of staff members so they need to be offered support,” Vorhis said.
The Web-based Moodle software program, which stands for “Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment,” is aimed at keeping new teachers and staff connected throughout the first two years of their employment with the intermediate unit, much like a limited access social networking site. New staff also complete and submit at-home assignments related to the teacher induction program through Moodle.
Access to Moodle was purchased by the BCIU for use with the induction program and was not developed by the intermediate unit. This year’s new teacher induction program was held Aug. 10 to 14 at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit located in Doylestown. Additional follow-up group sessions will be held throughout the year.
Through a special intermediate unit password, Moodle inductees can access intermediate unit staff to ask human resources questions, set goals for evaluations, communicate and receive feedback from intermediate unit supervisors, collaborate with mentors and other new intermediate unit teachers and upload assignments digitally.
The BCIU requires new staff members to take part in the two-year teacher induction program.
During first year of the induction program, teachers spend five days over the summer and the equivalent of three days throughout the school year learning about intermediate unit professionalism, state curriculum standards, new technology applications in their individual fields and effective parent communication methods, and document their successes and goals throughout the school year on Moodle.
In addition to communicating online and at the induction sessions, the new staff members meet with individual field-specific mentors in person.
In the second year of the induction program, staff continue to use Moodle and meet for an equivalent of two days throughout the year.
The entire second year is devoted to developing a pre-approved project related to their needs as a teacher and would like to improve or accomplish professionally in their classroom. At the close of the year, the teachers present their project results to intermediate unit supervisors.
BCIU teachers are employees of the intermediate unit. However they work in positions in geographically diverse school districts throughout the county.
New staff inductees include guidance counselors and teachers who work in the fields of the deaf and hard of hearing, visually impaired, emotional or autistic support, early intervention programs, life skills, speech and language assistance and multiple disability support. So far this year there are about 30 new intermediate unit staff members.
BCIU director of professional education Daniel Vorhis is involved in the overall planning of the induction program. Vorhis feels the addition of the Moodle program this year has helped address the different sets of needs among new staff and has created an added method of communication.
“We view Moodle as having a main purpose of professional development and ongoing support. When you can’t have instant face-to-face interaction, Moodle is there to offer support,” he said.
Vorhis is happy to offer the program as a way of helping to develop the professional relationships and to address a nationwide trend of high teacher turnover rates.
According to Vorhis, one out of every 10 new teachers nationwide leave the profession within the first year and one out of every five teachers nationwide leave teaching within the first three years.
Vorhis said the intermediate unit has a high retention rate that induction programs are designed to help maintain. Induction programs have been held at the BCIU for about 15 years.
“That is a huge reason why we need induction programs. We are certainly aware at the intermediate unit that our greatest resource is our community of staff members so they need to be offered support,” Vorhis said.
