FOR-PD Fundamentals of Facilitation (FFF) eNewsletter

January 2008, Issue # 59

What's New

Happy New Year!

We at FOR-PD are very excited to begin a new year and new semester!

Once again we begin with refreshing new updates to our course, publications, and policies. You certainly have noticed the new look to this FFF. Our other publications have similar new looks, so don’t miss them!

This edition of the FFF will outline many of the new updates so please read it carefully.

May the year ahead be prosperous and joyful for all of you!
The FOR-PD Staff

New FOR-PD Course Updates

As most of you already know, the FOR-PD course has a brand new look!

The new lessons are currently available in the For Facilitators Only (faconly2) section of WebCT. Many of you have provided feedback, which we very much appreciate.

If you haven’t had a chance to review the lessons, please take the time to do so and let us know what you think!

Updates made within the new spring sections are as follows:
1. A review of the course was completed and some of the text was deleted
or modified, so you will want to read the content of the lessons to
familiarize yourself with the current content.

2. Other sections of the content have now been removed and placed on separate pages. Links to these pages have been placed within the text. This was done in order to shorten some pages and limit the need to scroll.

3. Pay close attention to Lesson 1. Here you will find all the
information regarding navigation of the course, including new icons that
will assist participants in identifying the required readings,
assignments, audio and video from optional items.

4. The goals/tasks page, which is the first page of each lesson, now
includes the task list as a link to a printable PDF rather than the
tasks being listed. This should make it easy for participants to print
out the tasks to have in hand as they go through the course!

5. The assignment page has been reorganized to offer more specific
directions on the order in which the assignments should be accomplished.
Literacy Log is first, followed by the discussion, and finally the quiz.

6. The language in the menu now says “print lessons" instead of
"download lessons."

7. The Course Evaluation will be removed from the course quiz tool. The
evaluation will be sent to participants via email after the course closes.

8. The case studies now have a new format, including video.

New FOR-PD Policy Updates

Beginning with the spring 2008 semester, FOR-PD will be updating the "Seven Lessons Behind” policy for participants.

Until now, FOR-PD asked facilitators to count only the discussion posting assignments when determining if a participant was seven lessons behind and should be denied access to the course.

From now on the policy will be as follows:

If any participant falls behind by seven or more lessons, the facilitator will notify the participant and the FOR-PD office. The facilitator must then deny the participant access to the course and give the participant the option to enroll in FOR-PD in a future semester.

Please note that a “lesson” contains a literacy log entry, a discussion posting, and a quiz submission. If a participant does not complete each component of the lesson, they have not completed the lesson.

Clearly the participant has missed much learning in the course, the interaction of the course, and they have also missed a great deal of the communication within the discussion board. (The seven-week denied access is for Open Enrollment and District Sections ONLY. This policy does not apply to Community College and University participants.)

This policy is included in the Participant’s Expectations document available on our website, located within the course, and also sent to participants at the beginning of each semester. Further information for facilitators can also be found in the updated Facilitator’s Manual in the For Facilitator’s Only (facnly2) section of WebCT.

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