What is AETN PBS TeacherLine?

AETN PBS TeacherLine provides professional development using online courses. The courses are scheduled asynchronous, are facilitator-led, and typically last 6 weeks. Courses are available for 1, 2, or 3 graduate credit hours.

How long do courses last?

Courses last anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks.

When do classes meet?

The courses are scheduled asynchronous. ‘Asynchronous’ because there is no set time for the class to meet, and ‘scheduled’ meaning learners need to participate on a regular weekly basis to complete the weekly assignments. Being asynchronous allows for flexibility on the learner’s part so the courses can fit almost anyone’s schedule, but it is not ‘at your own pace’. Please note: Expectations for TeacherLine courses are high. Deadlines for weekly course material are real and assignments are graded according to rubrics with point scales. Points will be deducted for work that is not turned in on time according to the weekly schedule. Please inform your facilitator beforehand if you will be away from your computer and s/he will advise you if the work can be made up or completed beforehand as an exception.

How much time would I need to spend online per week?

A brief survey indicated that learners report time investment of about 3-8 hours a week. You need to log into your course at least three (3) times a week to read assignments and respond to discussion boards. Failure to complete assignments and/or participate in weekly discussion board topics will result in a failing grade.

Will I need to purchase materials for the course?

Courses are taught entirely online and since the courses take place in a self-contained environment, you will not have to purchase additional books or software.

How many people will be enrolled in each course?

We recommend limiting course enrollment to no less than 10 and no more than 20 learners at a time. We enroll 25 learners at a maximum.

Can I take the course anywhere?

As long as you have access to the internet, weekly assignments can be completed whenever and wherever it’s convenient (no scheduled log-in times).

Can I take more than one course per term?

The Arkansas Department of Education and Arkansas Educational Television Network will pay for one course per term. Since we offer four (4) terms, a learner can take four (4) free courses per year.

Can I take more than one course per term, if I pay for it?

Yes. You will need to submit payment by credit card directly to PBS TeacherLine for each additional course. We do not recommend taking more than two (2) courses at a time if you have not previously taken a TeacherLine course.

Can I attend class in my pajamas?

Yes!

How much input does the facilitator actually have in a course?

Facilitators run the entire course from beginning to end. They wear many hats: teacher, assistant, leader, help desk attendant, tech trouble-shooter, coach, etc. They create all e mails related to the course, as well as announcements and discussion board forums. They review and assess all learner work.

Who decides which courses are offered?

The Arkansas Department of Education and Arkansas Educational Television Network have established twenty-four (24) courses that are available at no charge to Arkansas Licensed teachers. Go to the Course Offerings.

Can I access the course before it begins?

You may access your course two days before it is scheduled to begin. During this “orientation period,” you may access the course to familiarize yourself with the course structure and environment. The discussion board, however, will not be available until the first day of the course.

Should I take the Free Orientation Course?

We encourage anyone new to online learning or to TeacherLine courses to take the free “TECH101: Free Orientation Course” before their actual course begins. This course does not offer any credit and serves only as a way for learners to familiarize themselves with the TeacherLine course environment. You do not need to be enrolled in an actual course to take the free orientation course, however you will need to create a username and password on the Arkansas IDEAS portal to register for a free course.

Where can we get a list of the courses being offered?

The Arkansas IDEAS Portal and PBS TeacherLine official website has a list of courses being offered free of charge in Arkansas per term. Go to the Course Offerings.

How much does a course cost?

If you are a current licensed teacher in Arkansas with a 10-digit State Teacher Identification Number, the course is free. The Arkansas Department of Education and Arkansas Educational Television Network are offering these courses at no cost to Arkansas teachers.

Will I be enrolled in a class facilitated by a nationally or locally trained facilitator?

It is our overall objective to have every course facilitated by a trained Arkansas facilitator. However, depending on enrollment it is possible a national level trained facilitator will facilitate the course in which you enroll.

What’s the difference between a national course (PBS) and one being offered in my state?

When a course is offered in Arkansas, most other participants will live in the same area and discussions and assignments will be more likely to address local standards and issues. Also, local facilitators are used to lead the courses. In a national course, you will be working with learners from all over the country. The course content is identical in both though.

What does AETN PBS TeacherLine offer that no one else in the field does?

Our courses are delivered by facilitators who have had training in online content delivery and online community building. Many online instructors and facilitators have not. We offer content specifically targeted to mathematics, technology integration, and language arts which is created by experts in their field.

How can I help promote AETN PBS TeacherLine courses?

One of the best recruitment tools so far has been in promoting courses to other teachers by word of mouth—both by facilitators and teachers who have taken other AETN PBS TeacherLine courses.

How are learners evaluated? Are grades given?

Each learner work is assessed by facilitators according to a performance-based rubric, and is graded with letter grades. Your facilitator will give you constructive and timely feedback on your assignments, and post your grades for review.

Can we print the readings or do we have to read everything “online”?

You will be able to print out any information within the course.

What if I am shy? Will this hinder my abilities as a learner?

No. Many people who feel they are shy in face-to-face settings find the online environment very appealing because it allows for time to reflect and compose one’s thoughts before sharing them with others. Shy and hesitant learners often thrive in online learning environments – facilitators and learners alike!

I am not a “techie” person. Are AETN PBS TeacherLine courses appropriate for me?

You do not need to be a “techie.” The free two-hour online training orientation program will teach you everything that you need to know. You should be, however, very comfortable using e-mail on a regular basis, and doing things online such as surfing the Internet. Having excellent writing skills is also a very important skill to have as an online learner.

Should I get DSL or a cable modem to be a learner?

This is not necessary, but if you were already considering it, then this would be a great time to make the leap!

Does it matter which platform you use?

No, both PC and Mac users can access AETN PBS TeacherLine.

What are the hardware and software requirements for using AETN PBS TeacherLine?

Basically, PBS TeacherLine supports Windows95, 98, NT, 2000 or Macintosh 8.6 to 9.X. It seems to work well with OSX as well, but we have not been able to do official testing. Be sure to use PBS TeacherLine “Check Your Computer” program and find out more about PBS TeacherLine technical requirements on their official website help pages. This will check your computer for all the necessary components and give you a status report along with links for downloads of any needed applications.

Mac users: There are some issues with Mac’s OSX and IE. If you experience difficulties, use a different browser such as Safari or Firefox.

The IDEAS Learn Now! system uses pop-up browser windows when displaying certain content. If your browser has a pop-up blocker, please disable it while using Arkansas IDEAS. Please run Arkansas IDEAS Learn Now! System Test to check if your browser has pop-ups enabled.

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