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In the spirit of community and in an effort to help educators, all over the nation, provide alternative instructional methods or online education, Â鶹ÊÓƵ online educational experts will be offering a free webinar. The webinar, “Going Viral: 3 Steps to Online Education Startup,” likely the first in a series, will be offered today, March 19 at 7 p.m.  for any educator who is transitioning from a face-to-face classroom to an online virtual classroom.

The interactive webinar will last for approximately an hour, give tips, showcase online materials, tools and teaching techniques as well as provide an opportunity for questions and answers. The webinar is designed for teachers and administrators who are gearing up to provide online classes in the coming weeks.

“Â鶹ÊÓƵ online masters programs is one of the largest online programs in the nation,” said Krystal Hinerman, clinical assistant professor of educational research for the Center for Doctoral Studies in the College of Education at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. “The training we have received and the years of experience teaching online has prepared us for providing support in these unique times. We have had experience building the plane while flying it and want to share what we’ve learned if it will help others.”
 
During the webinar, Hinerman, and Dr. Ken Young, associate professor of educational leadership, will demonstrate how to teach online using streaming video tools and provide tips on how to set-up and conduct instruction with students in an interactive format. This will include some tips for organizing content and ADA compliance considerations.

“We’re looking at this as a community effort in response to needs, but are willing to address specific request also,” said Hinerman. “We’re offering our services to school districts specifically, and all of this we can do remotely.”

Based on need and interest, Hinerman and Young are expecting this webinar to be the first in a series, and anticipate offering webinars to parents who now find themselves homeschooling their children. Those interested in such webinars can sign up at www.lamar.edu/edsupportsignup.

“I’ve been on both sides of this equation,” said Hinerman. “I’ve homeschooled my children using online tools and I’ve been an educator teaching online in K-12 and now at the master’s degree and doctoral level.”[KY1] 

Hinerman and Young are leading an effort to mobilize online education experts to volunteer in assisting those in the community – school districts and individuals. Hinerman said more than 10 educators have agreed to help and the list is growing.

“One of the outstanding characteristics of educators is that they function similarly to first responders and run toward any crisis or challenge. They do what they need to on behalf of the students and their families, not because they want to make a name for themselves, and definitely not because of the money. They do it because they care,” said Young. “It is in this spirit that Dr. Hinerman and I felt compelled to do what we could to support them in a manner that would not burden them or their institutions financially or otherwise. We’re not doing this as consultants for money or notoriety, but because we care about them and the success of the students they teach. In our opinion, it is a practical way to bridge the university and communities we serve to make a positive difference in our state and beyond.”

Attend the webinar March 19, at 7 p.m. by going to: /goingviral. If you are unable to attend the webinar, it will be recorded and made available.