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Transition Coalition provides effective online professional development in secondary special education and transition This spring, Transition Coalition's online short courses were recognized with the 2008 Award for Excellence from the Midwest Division of the Association of Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) and are in the running for national ACHE honors. See related article. The Transition Coalition was conceptualized during the mid-1990s as a means to offer coursework from the Department’s long-standing Master’s program in transition education and services in more than just a traditional classroom environment. It was designed to offer a comprehensive approach to professional development that went beyond a one-shot in-service session. Over the years and as technology has advanced, the Transition Coalition has expanded its scope and impact from local courses and skills development opportunities to one that impacts practitioners across the country. Provided here are some of the innovative approaches that have been implemented on the site. Online professional development modules The Transition Coalition provides research-based online professional development modules for practitioners involved in transition planning. Using current research in transition and professional development, the developers created stand-alone modules that are used by practitioners, state departments of education and university faculty across the country. These modules are non-instructor led and are free to the general public. The site’s accessibility allows anyone to log on and in three to five hours users receive advanced inservice instruction and coaching. Instructors from across the country are also incorporating these modules within their classes. Mary Morningstar, associate professor of special education, and a team of researchers from the Transition Coalition recently presented the results of a national study regarding the impact of these professional preparation modules at the Division of Career Development and Transition national conference in Orlando, Fla. This research found that online instruction is a highly effective method for learning new knowledge and skills (see presentation at http://www.transitioncoalition.org/). Online continuing education courses Five online transition short courses are designed to provide novice and veteran professionals the tools and collaboration necessary to improve transition planning and services for students with disabilities. Each course includes four week-long sessions with research-based articles, Web sites, videos and discussions. It is for these online short courses that the Transition Coalition received ACHE's 2008 Regional Award for Excellence mentioned above. (See related article.) This model of professional development is now being used by two states—with more interested—as a way to systematically equip special educators throughout the state. The KU Transition Certificate Program (KU TransCert) KU TransCert is a project supporting an online graduate certificate program for secondary special education professionals. The KU TransCert program consists of four KU transition courses, which are now available online, as well as a three-credit culminating experience for a total of 15 graduate credit hours. The KU TransCert Program provides specific knowledge, skills and competencies that help to increase instructional strategies and opportunities that will more likely lead to increased and successful adult outcomes for students with disabilities. Over the past three years, the program has supported intensive professional development for more than 60 graduate students from across the country. Data from the first group of graduates indicates an increased level of knowledge and skills. Each student’s newfound expertise has impacted his or her programs, schools and students. Transition Summer Institute The 2008 Transition Summer Institute will be the 11th anniversary for this week-long event. It was started as a way to extend skills development and information to practitioners across Kansas. The institute, geared toward professionals and family members involved with secondary transition for students with disabilities, provides an opportunity for intensive emersion in critical issues and professional development. Offered every other year in Lawrence, Kan., the institute provides information and effective practices in transition and related topics. The 11th installment of the institute will be June 23-27, 2008. (See Save-the-Date in this issue of the Special Education Connection for more details and other special education professional development opportunities.) Publications The Transition Coalition offers a variety of free publications for download. All materials are current and easy to read. Some items available include:
Resources The Transition Coalition Web site is full of resources and materials that focus on transition-related topics. These include:
Support to states The Transition Coalition contracts with state departments of education to support their state professional development grants. Transition Coalition has created state-specific tools and resources for these states and has designed tailored service plans—courses, online tools and resources, policy analysis, program evaluation, and directed technical assistance—to enhance state professional development systems. The Transition Coalition also provides instructional coaching and technical assistance to support states in developing a system of local transition councils or teams. For additional information about any of the Transition Coalition services, contact Mary Morningstar, director of the Transition Coalition. ~Mary E. Morningstar, Transition Coalition |
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Contact Special Education Joseph R. Pearson Hall, Rm. 521 1122 West Campus Rd. University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66045 3101 phone: (785) 864-0556 Related Info 2007 was an outstanding year and 2008 looks even better KU CRL and Vanderbilt University team up on LD resource kit New online program blends instruction with state assessments Beach Center launches online Community of Practice |
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