MASA eLeader

While online courses can save districts money and open opportunities for teachers, administrators should choose such programs carefully, experts say.

"It's not free and it does have costs," says Barbara Treacy, the director of a nonprofit that offers online teacher training and helps districts build their own program. "But the upfront training costs are well worth it because then you can be on your way to having the capacity to manage your own program."

Variations in online professional development are wide, from their price tags to what they provide. Some state departments of education offer free online educator workshops, for example, while services from private companies can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But some school districts say online professional development is helping them save money, even if they’ve got to make a significant investment at first.
“Once a training course or a workshop is developed it can be reused multiple times and that’s where the cost savings come from,” says William R. Thomas, the director of educational technology for the Atlanta-based Southern Regional Education Board.

Industry Players

Source: Education Week, 3.13.09