A Professional Learning Community
February 10, 2010 at 8:34 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Craig Roland, in his article published this month, talks about preparing teachers to use Web 2.0 tools and services: ”blogs, wikis, podcasts, media-sharing sites, micro-blogging, social networks, and virtual worlds are now used daily by millions of people around the globe to connect, communicate, collaborate, create, and share with others.” My goal is to bridge the gap between traditional yoga instruction and 21st century learning.
“The potential for the internet as an innovative learning tool for students to post their work to the Web for feedback, design their own websites, explore virtual worlds, engage in socially responsive projects, or exchange work and collaborate with students in other (ashrams) or countries, has yet to be realized”. So many yoga teachers have specialized programs and wisdom into the practice of yoga, but yet their influence and inspiration largely remains local, when it could easily be global.
By always teaching as we were taught, we’re missing out on a rich, diverse, global student base; and potential students have unequal access to great teaching because of financial, time, and/or geographic constraints.
Now, more than ever, there are free, open-source software and online tools for us to take advantage of. Create an online class that is password protected. Create a daily journal of your work and reflections on your practice. Create a gallery of your retreat. Post weekly blogs about yoga philosophy and practice. Explore connections with other like-minded yogis. The possibilities are endless. I would love to help you bring your work to a larger student base. Give me a call at 413.221.1695.
Namaste,
Julie
February 7, 2010 at 9:53 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I’m nearly finished with Sherri Baptiste’s online class. I’m getting ready for a new project — I’ll give a great discount to the first person who commits to creating an online class or an online component of their teacher training. Call me and I’ll give you a tour of one of my online classes — 413.221.1695.
January 24, 2010 at 3:51 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
From an educational point of view, it is clear that the new read/write web will transform how we teach and learn. We are no longer limited to being “consumers” of information — students today will expect to be collaborators in their learning; to respond and participate. One of the things I’ve learned from teaching online over the last 6 years, is that my students help me expand my thinking about the content of my classes; and my classes become richer and more interesting over time as a result of this collaboration. The reason for this is because today’s students are all over the internet and bring back all kinds of interesting links, images, videos etc. It would be impossible for me, as one person, to find all of the things they bring back to the collaborative discussion. Today’s students are always connected, “always on”, and that is a new expectation of theirs in learning. Creating online classes and allowing students to collaborate is one of the best ways to engage today’s learners. One of the ways I “raise the bar” of student work, too, is to make it available, on our class blog, to a global audience.
Will Richardson (Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, copyright 2008) states, “this is a hugely challenging time to be an educator. The world is changing around us, yet as a system, we have been very, very slow to react. Our students’ realities in terms of the way they communicate and learn are very different from our own.” I know, as yoga instructors and wholistic practitioners, we sometimes don’t see the need to work online, but as younger clients come through our doors, they will expect online resources, networks, and tech savvy teachers.
It is my hope to help you navigate these waters and give you simple resources to get you started. Join our professional online learning community! We’ll share tools that will help you reach a wider audience by offering online classes and resources.
Namaste,
Julie
January 3, 2010 at 10:29 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
8 Week Classes Starting January 13th:
Creating Online Classes: The purpose of this course is to demonstrate to yoga teachers, wholistic practitioners, and others some of the many ways to enrich their current classes with technology. We will explore wikis, blogs, podcasts and other web 2.0 applications that can enhance, or replace, traditional face-to-face classes. By using technology, teachers can expand their student base to a global audience, thereby expanding the opportunities their studios, classrooms, and practices can offer. Students and teachers can collaborate with like-minded professionals world-wide; and this collaboration has the potential to enrich each teacher’s instructional practice. This course will demonstrate how to reach 21st century students and their learning styles.
Journey Inward: This 8 week interactive online class helps one to expand self-awareness and healing. Whether it is weight loss, detoxification, depression, anxiety, curiosity, or dis-ease, the Journey Inward is a method of mindfulness that allows for manifestation. Each week students are asked to complete surveys and questions that reveal the current state of their health, physically, mentally and spiritually. There are weekly reading assignments on nutrition, energy and mindfulness. Diets, strategies, breathwork, audiovisualization, exercises and recipes are provided as tools to encourage a blissful Journey Inward.
Call 413.221.1695 to register or email yogateachersonline@gmail.com
December 5, 2009 at 10:28 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Friend us on Facebook to find a valuable coupon towards tuition!
“Creating Online Classes” begins again on January 13th.
Course Objectives and Goals — Students in this course will learn how to:
- create simple blogs, podcasts, and collaborative wikis
- engage students online
- transfer their curriculum to an online format
- improve their curriculum
- set up collaborative spaces online for the benefit of both teacher and student
- upload images, video and audio to their class
- create a voki avatar
- find online resources, widgets and RSS feeds
- enroll students, set up user permissions, and protect intellectual property
- check for student understanding
- clone the wiki, prepare for new classes, market new offerings
Call me with your questions at 413.221.1695; or email me at yogateachersonline@gmail.com
All the best to you during the holidays!
Namaste,
Julie Sawyer, M.Ed., RYT 500
November 27, 2009 at 1:13 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Friend us on FB and receive a $100 coupon good towards tuition for our “Creating Online Classes” which starts again in January!
November 23, 2009 at 9:33 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I’m about to finish our first online course and I have time to upload a teacher training between Thanksgiving and New Years Day. Usually I charge $50/hour for this service, but I will charge $25/hour to the first person who commits to this timeframe.
Give me a call! 413.221.1695
Namaste,
Julie Sawyer, M.Ed., RYT 500
November 15, 2009 at 8:32 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Smart business owners know when it’s time to diversify their economic base. Is it time for you to think of other ways to reach students? Good teachers know there are many ways to engage students. Offering your content online might be the best way for you to diversify your studio’s offerings and reach out to newer students. Online classes might be a “feeder” for your Yoga Teacher Training programs. Give us a call to see how we can help you extend your reach and expand your student base.
Julie Sawyer, RYT 500
413.221.1695
October 18, 2009 at 9:56 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Are your classes available to your students when they need them? Is your curriculum easily accessible? Could you be reaching a wider audience? Let us help you expand your student base by putting your course content online. If your Yoga Teacher Training binders were online, you could go paperless. Go green — give us a call today!
Namaste,
Julie Sawyer, RYT 500
413.221.1695
October 17, 2009 at 8:05 am · Filed under Uncategorized
The following 8-week courses will be available in January for $475 each ($425 if payment is received by December 15th):
Creating Online Classes: The purpose of this course is to demonstrate to yoga teachers, wholistic practitioners, and others some of the many ways to enrich their current classes with technology. We will explore wikis, blogs, podcasts and other web 2.0 applications that can enhance, or replace, traditional face-to-face classes. By using technology, teachers can expand their student base to a global audience, thereby expanding the opportunities their studios, classrooms, and practices can offer. Students and teachers can collaborate with like-minded professionals world-wide; and this collaboration has the potential to enrich each teacher’s instructional practice. This course will demonstrate how to reach 21st century students and their learning styles.
Philosophy of Yoga: Yoga teachers can use this curriculum as part of their teacher training programs. Teachers may also find that yoga students who are ready to move from asana practice to an in-depth yoga study or yoga teacher training, might be interested in beginning with this online class. Your studio could offer this to your students as part of our cohort program, or you could purchase a copy of the course with your studio’s name on it.
Intermediate yoga students will deepen their knowledge of traditional practices through this course; thereby improving their own personal yoga and meditation practices. Students will gain an introductory knowledge of the history of yoga; the various spiritual paths of yoga (action, devotion, meditation, and knowledge); and the goals of asana, pranayama, and meditation in steadying the senses and mind.
Journey Inward: This 8 week interactive online class helps one to expand self-awareness and healing. Whether it is weight loss, detoxification, depression, anxiety, curiosity, or dis-ease, the Journey Inward is a method of mindfulness that allows for manifestation. Each week students are asked to complete surveys and questions that reveal the current state of their health, physically, mentally and spiritually. There are weekly reading assignments on nutrition, energy and mindfulness. Diets, strategies, breathwork, audiovisualization, exercises and recipes are provided as tools to encourage a blissful Journey Inward.
Please call 413.221.1695 to register or email yogateachersonline@gmail.com with questions.
Namaste,
Julie Sawyer, RYT 500
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