Web Dialogue on emerging issues in Teacher Preparation

The House of Representatives Higher Education Committee to invite you to participate in an upcoming discussion about educating and supporting world class teachers. The discussion will take place on Thursday, May 1 via the World Wide Web. Policy makers, content experts, students, teachers, and the general public will all be provided an opportunity to have a frank and open discussion about emerging issues in teacher preparation.

The goal of the web dialogue is to explore new approaches and promising practices in teacher preparation programs to ensure that Washington institutions of higher education are educating world class-teachers in the right numbers and areas. A panel of experts will help frame the conversation and bring relevant information and perspectives to the discussion. Ultimately, policy makers expect to create better understanding of key issues related to teacher prep that will help inform the committee's efforts during the 2009 legislative session.

If you are not familiar with a web dialogue, attached is a link to a session that the House Higher Education Committee sponsored last year. The discussion does not take place in real time. Rather, the dialogue facilitator will launch the day's topic by posing a number of "Focus Point Discussions" in the morning. Participants can log on to the web site several times during the course of the day, read the discussion, and contribute if you choose.
http://archive.webdialogues.net/cs/wahousehe-access-home/view/di/119?x-t=home.view

In order to participate in the discussion, the only thing you must do is register on the web dialogue web site, included below. You can log on to the site any time to view the agenda, panel topics, and the types of questions that will be addressed. Specific information about the panelists will be added in the coming weeks. On the day of the dialog, simply log-in and join the discussion. As a dialogue participant, a summary of the day's discussion will be sent to you within a couple of days of the dialogue.

http://www.webdialogues.net/cs/wahousehe-teacherprep-home/view/di/156?x-t=home.view

The committee is sincerely looking forward to a rich and rewarding discussion. Contact info:

Andi Smith
Research Analyst
House Committee on Higher Education
360.786.7304
Smith.Andi@leg.wa.gov