​National Distance Learning Week (NDLW), sponsored by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), runs this week from November 11– 15, 2013. This initiative promotes and celebrates the growth and accomplishments in distance learning programs offered by schools, businesses, and governmental agencies, while recognizing leaders and best practices in the field. Distance learning occurs at all levels of education including: Pre-K through grade 12, higher education, home school education, continuing education, corporate training, military and government training, and telemedicine. Through NDLW, the distance learning community can display the availability of competent, high-quality education at the click of a button.  

Those that will be participating in NDLW include professionals engaged in the day-to-day practice of distance learning, as well as individuals and organizations providing products and services that are distributed via online, video conferencing, and satellite technologies.  Throughout the week, USDLA will be offering sponsored webinars for anyone interested in learning more about distance learning:

• Tuesday, November 12, 2013: “Creating Essential Questions to Guide Student Inquiry Learning” (1-2 PM  ET)
• Wednesday, November 13, 2013: “World Fest 2013 - Florida Virtual School” (9-11 AM ET and 7-9 PM ET)
• Wednesday, November 14, 2013: “USDLA State Chapters Program Overview” (2–3 PM  ET)
• Thursday, November 14, 2013: “World Fest 2013 - Florida Virtual School” (9-11 AM ET and 7-9 PM ET)
• Thursday, November 14, 2013: “Promoting National Distance Learning Week – An Institution-Wide Initiative” (1-2 PM  ET)
• Friday, November 15, 2013: “Implementing Brick and Mortar Best Practices into the Virtual Classroom” (11-11:45 AM  ET)
  

Register for all webinars at: http://www.usdla.org/webinars.  

TRAIN, the nation’s premier learning management network for professionals who protect the public’s health, is a national distance learning collaborative comprising 25 affiliate states and 3 national organization affiliates. TRAIN, due to its size in partners and learners, represents a unique network within the distance learning community. Currently, over 29,000 trainings and courses are available to over 750,000,000 learners on TRAIN. In order to spread awareness of NDLW and its associated events, Public Health Foundation’s TRAIN Team has distributed information pertaining to NDLW to all 28 affiliates. TRAIN and its affiliates will continue to champion distance education not only during NDLW, but year-round, making quality competency-based  learning materials accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

One example of how TRAIN Affiliates are using distance learning is the Virginia Department of Health. They will be hosting the 2nd annual Virginia Interagency Distance Learning Summit will be held November 21, 2013 from 10am until 2pm at the Madison Building (109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219) and also live via webinar. Please review the schedule and register. If you plan to attend via webinar, access information is provided in the session details upon registering. 

Create a TRAIN account and register for courses today.