TxVSN Teacher Professional Development

TxVSN Professional Development Overview 

Online courses provided through the TxVSN must be taught by teachers with Texas certification in the course subject area and grade level. In addition, Texas Education Code Chapter 30A requires that any teacher providing instruction for an online course delivered via TxVSN must complete professional development.

Quality professional development for online teachers is important to ensure quality teaching and learning. Research demonstrates that a teacher’s skill in face-to-face teaching does not necessarily transfer to an online environment. In online instruction the teacher must combine both instructional and subject-area knowledge with a working knowledge of rapidly evolving online tools for communication and collaboration, content management, and assessment.

For this reason TxVSN professional development for new or experienced online instructors emphasizes the iNACOL National Standards of Quality for Online Teaching. Based on the original Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Standards for Quality Online Teaching, the iNACOL standards serve as a comprehensive set of criteria for online instructors. Participants in this standards-based professional development learn research-based strategies for online course content development and adaptation, instructional design, technology tools, assessment strategies, and course management. In the rapidly changing world of online learning, this combination of subject area knowledge and standards-based training provides Texas students with a quality interactive online earning experience. The TxVSN Central Operations has reviewed and identified providers of standards-based professional development. Providers of TxVSN approved professional development are noted on the next page.

Providers of TxVSN Approved Professional Development

How can I get TxVSN certification?
The successful completion of TxVSN approved professional development does not confer a Texas endorsement or certification from the State Board of Educator Certification, but does fulfills a TxVSN professional development requirement as articulated by TEC Chapter 30A.

Where can I find the iNACOL National Standards of Quality for Online Teaching?
First, direct your internet browser www.nacol.orgthen select Resources on the horizontal navigation bar. Select the National Standards link.

Once TxVSN professional development is completed, when can I teach an online course over the network?
After successful completion of TxVSN approved professional development, an online instructor could be available to teach a course if he/she is employed or contracting with a TxVSN course provider district. This is contingent on the provider district having a need for an instructor matching an individual’s subject area certification.

What documentation of TxVSN professional development is needed?
Each provider of TxVSN approved professional development will supply a “document of completion” noting an individual’s successful completion of training. Each participant should retain a copy of the “document of completion” as well as give a copy to the course provider district upon request.

Do I get SBEC Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours for completing TxVSN professional development?
Some providers of TxVSN approved professional development do offer CPE hours.

The timeline, pacing, and cost for TxVSN approved professional development is not the same for each provider. Why?
Each provider of TxVSN professional development establishes its own course cost, pacing, and timeline allowing districts or participants the flexibility to select the program best meeting their needs.

Who pays for TxVSN professional development?
It varies. Some course provider districts may pay professional development fees for instructors while others do not.

Can a course provider district specify the provider of TxVSN professional development a teacher must use?
A course provider district may specify a preferred provider of TxVSN approved professional development for its online instructors.

I am an experienced online instructor. Do I need TxVSN professional development?
All teachers need professional development to remain current in the rapidly changing world of online teaching and learning. However, online teachers with two or more years of experience teaching online academic courses for high school students and/or have a graduate degree in online or distance learning, do not have to take the TxVSN approved professional development. Prospective online teachers should be aware that a course provider district may still require experienced teachers to complete TxVSN professional development as well as have additional policies and requirements for its’ online teachers.

Once I have completed professional development, is that all I am required to do?
All teachers must have continuing professional development every three years to continue to meet the requirements to teach via TxVSN.

TxVSN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY

Questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions should be sent to the TxVSN mailbox at: TxVSNCentral@txvsn.org .