Literacy Links

Professional Development

PROJECT IDEA CORNER

by Barbara Baird and Rebecca Davis

What is Project IDEA?

Project IDEA was created as a collaborative effort by the Adult Education Professional Development Consortium (AEPDC) to give teachers throughout Texas a new option for professional development. This TEA-funded program provides teachers with opportunities for professional growth through networking and on-going training designed to develop new knowledge and skills related specifically to their programs and classrooms. Teachers who are nominated by their local programs to participate in this statewide initiative, are guided through a process of facilitating student-generated projects. These projects serve as the catalyst for the teachers to begin identifying questions and conducting inquiry into their teaching. Past participants have indicated that this helped them to upgrade their instructional skills, renew their job satisfaction, and become more active professionally. Four major components are woven into the IDEA initiative:

• Professional Development Institutes - Teachers participate in two multi-day training sessions, attend regional cluster meetings, participate on an IDEA listserv, discuss professional readings, and present at a TETN teleconference;
• Project-based Teaching - Teachers guide the learner group through the design, implementation, and evaluation of a project that resonates with the learners and allows the results to be shared by others;
• Action Research - Teachers serve as researchers by conducting systematic inquiry in their own teaching environment by identifying questions, seeking answers, providing interpretations, and applying knowledge;
• Peer and Facilitator Mentoring - IDEA participants and AEPDC members work together to explore issues and provide guidance, advice, support, and feedback to expand the network of literacy professionals.

Congratulations IDEA Cohort
1998-99
Cohort BASES
Completed June 1999

• Dolores Allen, Region 20 ESC
• Kelly Dixon, Harris County Department of Education
• Marilyn Goeters, Harris County Department of Education
• Anson Green, Northside ISD
• Nona Kean, Austin Community College
• Jane Maler, Austin Community College
• Pam Martin, Victoria College
• Laura Molina, Socorro ISD
• Maggie Moreno, Harris County Department of Education
• Jennifer Swoyer, Northside ISD
• Lisa Synder, Southwest Texas State University/Ten County Co-op
• Tamara Thornton, Austin Learning Academy/Austin Community College
• Janice Williamson, Southwest Texas State University/Ten County Co-op

*This is the third cohort that has completed Project IDEA. A new cohort forms each fall semester. Members of Cohort BASES were recognized at the TALAE Awards Luncheon on Saturday, February 19, at the Houston Marriott Westside.

The New Project IDEA Cohort
1999-2000
Delta 2000

• Robert Anchondo, Southwest Texas State University/Ten County Co-op
• Arlene Boyer, Southwest Texas State University/Ten County Co-op
• Karmen Chavez, Ysleta ISD
• Jane Huntington, Harris County Department of Education
• Karyn Nemeth, Northside ISD
• Lori Northrop, Cleburne ISD
• Ursula Parker, Austin Learning Academy/Austin Community College
• Jeanni Pruitt, Northeast Texas Community College
• Irene Ramos, Region 20 ESC
• Vonnye Rice-Gardner, Austin Community College
• Louise Sanders, Region 17 ESC
• Troy Thomas, San Antonio ISD
• Jorge Villarreal, El Paso ISD
• Tina Washco, North Harris College

Are YOU interested in hearing more about Project IDEA? If so, please call or contact either:

Coming to the next IDEA Corner
Voices of IDEA - Writings from the participants of Project IDEA that portray their stories of how this initiative has impacted their life-long learning, their classroom style, and how they now approach professional development.