Announcing…

EDUCATORS CONFERENCE 2009!

July 28-29, 2009
TREEF Training Center
Tennessee Assn. of REALTORS
901 19th Avenue S., Nashville, TN

The theme of this Conference is “Creative Engagement” – how to involve students more creatively in the learning process! Sessions and workshops will cover a variety of topics for both classroom and distance learning instructors. The program includes an extended workshop in storytelling, as well as a hands-on workshop in coaching an E-Class (distance-learning) course …where coaching and education come together!

This Conference has become an annual event for instructors, and educators such as REALTOR association staff, who want to offer quality education to their members.  Formerly called the “Instructor Academy,” this Conference was renamed for 2009 to reflect the fact that instructors are not the only ones interested in better education!

The registration fee for this year’s Conference has been reduced to $95 and includes lunch on July 28th!  [Registration increases to $115 after July 23.] Dress is casual, and laptops (with wireless access) are strongly encouraged, for participants to take full advantage of sessions on the 28th and 29th! To register online, scroll down to “Events for Instructors & Educators” at: http://www.tarnet.com/main/education_information/

The Conference begins at 10AM on July 28 and ends at Noon on July 29.

SESSIONS INCLUDE:

“Resources for Courses!” – Elizabeth Hurd

Need an interesting photo or graphic for your PowerPoint presentation, but you don’t know where to find one? How about a short video to spark discussion in class? In this session, we’ll examine Creative Commons licensing and what it means. There are COUNTLESS resources on the Internet for you to use, and most of them are FREE! We’ll cover things like photos, graphics, and videos you can use – legitimately, without violating a copyright – AND we’ll look at the growing number of Web 2.0 tools and websites that you can use to build or enhance your courses of all types! Elizabeth Hurd has established herself as a prolific course developer in the real estate world, having developed both classroom and distance learning courses for many different state associations and real estate schools.

“The TED Commandments” – Pug Scoville

That’s not a typo. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out in 1984 as a national conference bringing together people from those three worlds or work. Since then it has become an internationally renowned event. The annual conference now brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives, about “ideas worth spreading”…in 18 minutes or less! Before a speaker arrives to give his/her talk, the speaker receives “The TED Commandments” – ten rules sent to every presenter, appropriately printed on parchment. We’ll cover all ten and how following them can improve your next class, whether live or online!

“A Storytelling Workshop for Instructors” – Steven James

Bestselling author Steven James is one of the nation’s most innovative storytellers. With a Master’s Degree in Storytelling, he has written more than twenty books – including several thrillers – and is a full-time speaker, having appeared more than 1,500 times throughout North America, Europe and Asia since 1996. Every instructor needs to teach and speak with greater impact. It’s a privilege to have Steven help us learn how to use the power of stories!

“Making the Transition from Instructor to Coach” – Pug Scoville

The E-Class format for distance learning is now several years old and has proven to be a valuable delivery system for coached and interactive instruction. Many GRI students in Tennessee now take at least one or two E-Class courses as they work toward their GRI designations. The success of the system, however, depends upon the skill – especially the coaching skill – of the Instructor-Coach who leads the class! In this hands-on session, we’ll cover:

• How to navigate and manage the Moodle platform used for E-Class instruction,
• Creative ways to enhance E-Class courses for better participation and interaction, and
• [MOST IMPORTANTLY] Constructive ways to give frequent, personalized feedback to E-Class students!

Join us on July 28-29!