The Directors' Institutes offer continued learning using technology.

“Since Head Start and Early Head Start programs face many challenges, they need the best trained and most capable staff available. Establishing learning environments that support continuous improvement and expand the collective knowledge of members is a great way to offer professional development,” explains Muriel Richardson, Management and Program Specialist at the Office of Head Start.

The Innovative Directors’ Institute Continued Learning (DICL) Series

Feedback received from participants at the Directors’ Institutes over the years indicated they were interested in continuing to share their knowledge. Program Executive Directors and Directors wanted to:

• Bring their own real-world experiences to colleagues
• Hold in-depth discussions
• Resolve problems

In 2004, a feature was added to the Institute follow-up to respond to this interest and to broaden and sustain learning—Directors’ Institute Continued Learning (DICL). This series of events uses technology to enable geographically dispersed Head Start and Early Head Start programs to exchange information and share experiences and builds on the momentum of the Institutes. DICL has expanded and improved since its inception.

The 2005 Directors’ Institute offered new approaches to support learning and professional development: Expanded time for synthesis groups A planner for Directors based on the Head Star Program Performance Standards A CD-ROM including materials prepared by speakers Once participants returned home, they received a notification of the Institute’s official Web site and were invited to register for the Institute listserv. Using the Web site, participants could take advantage of major new innovations by Viewing video segments Downloading workshop handouts Locating marketplace vendors Accessing new resources

Photo by S. Crecelius. Participants have continued their learning long after they walked out the Institute doors using a structured online process that supports sustained collaboration and information sharing.

The Directors’ Institute listserv or discussion forum is a direct communications channel. It alerts subscribers to scheduled teleconferences, video conferences, and Webinars that build on the Institute topics. Participant interactions have been promising and the listserv now functions as a discussion space for exchanging ideas, asking questions, and sharing resources.

Online Community Strategies

Motivation and relevance have been key elements to building a sustained learning environment to follow the Institute. Success has required scheduling and facilitating useful post-Institute events that engage participants in r relevant and timely discussions likely to impact their programs. For example, the DICL hosted three well-attended teleconferences on the annual Program Information Report (PIR). Each event offered professional guidance and an opportunity for participants to discuss and reflect. These timely events also helped focus attention on who is responsible for pulling together the report data. At the conclusion of the PIR series, participants were invited to continue discussions with colleagues online by posting to the listserv.

DICL succeeded in building an online community on a second topic of interest to participants—management skills training. The DICL series posed discussion questions to the listserv community: How do they

• Motivate staff?
• Handle conflict resolution?
• Delegate responsibilities?

The result was an exchange of practical recommendations and noteworthy resources that added value to peer-to-peer discussions and extended learning. This interaction also supported the online community by identifying shared interests and soliciting personal experiences.

Photo by S. Crecelius. Directors’ Institute Continued Learning succeeded in building an online community.

Benefits The DICL model leverages technology to advance training beyond a one-time learning event. The model is effective because it reinforces the knowledge acquired during an Institute, offers encouragement as the knowledge is applied in real-world settings, and supports interactive exchanges as learners share experiences and insights. A structured continued learning process is a powerfultraining solution that adds extraordinary value to a learning experience. It builds competence through community and creates sustainable learning.

Web Resources

2006 Head Start and Early Head Start Financial Pre-Institute and Directors' Institute Web site:http://www.hsnrc.org/findir2006//

2005 Directors’ Institute Web site:http://www.hsnrc.org/DirInst2005/

Muriel Richardson is the Management and Program Specialist for the Office of Head Start. T: 202-205-8009; E: muriel.richardson@acf.hhs.gov