Joan Vandervelde
Online Professional Development Coordinator
School of Education
University of Wisconsin-Stout
140E Voc Rehab Bldg
Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: (715) 642-0209
E-Mail: vanderveldej@uwstout.edu
Joan Vandervelde has written a series of online courses about integrating web-based resources with K-12 curriculum. She has developed extensive knowledge and experience in curriculum and program development, online instruction, learner-centered approaches, faculty development and training, and team management. At UW- Stout Joan focuses on the theoretical, pedagogical, technological, and administrative aspects of development and evaluation of online professional education courses.
What makes UW-Stout unique?
"UW-Stout online professional development students receive a rich blend of theory and real-world applications guided by committed and accessible faculty who put students first. The spirit of collaboration and focus on people make me proud to be part of the UW-Stout family."
What is the best part of my job?
"Connecting people to people, people to ideas and skills and people to opportunities. Every day I look forward to seeing my colleagues sharing ideas. Together we celebrate the successes of our students as classroom teachers and educational leaders."
What contributes to students receiving personalized attention in an online class?
"Students feel free to interact with faculty, and that's partially because of the small class sizes. Small class size is essential to learning, and you get an opportunity to know your students and help students realize their potential. "
A former staff development director and classroom teacher, Joan enjoys the instructional design aspects of creating unique Web-based learning experiences. She has developed and delivered online classes for the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, the University of Northern Iowa, and University of Wisconsin System.
Joan worked on a team creating the award winning children's Website, CampSilos. The project tells the unique story of Iowa agriculture and the significant role it played in the growth of American agriculture.
The CampSilos Website was selected as one of This Week's Five Coolest Sites by Yahooligans, Site of the Day by Technology and Learning Network, received a 5-star rating from BlueWeb'n, Pacific Bell's library of outstanding Blue Ribbon learning sites on the Web, and was selected for the U.S. Department of Education's Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM), Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cool Links for Kids.
The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) announced that the CampSilos website received second place in the Interpretive Media competition in the website category. The National Association for Interpretation is dedicated to the advancement of the profession of interpretation (on-site informal education programs at parks, zoos, nature centers, historic sites, museums, and aquaria). NAI currently serves 4,500 members in the United States, Canada, and thirty other nations.
The team's most recent project, CampSilos Excursions offers learning materials through virtual field trips to Iowa's historic and cultural resources in the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area.
Students become museum curators and explore historic photographs, letters, and artifacts depicting immigration, pioneer farm life, the development of agriculture, and early industrialization. Web-based research activities and pre- and post-field trip lesson plans are linked to national standards in the areas of language arts, social studies, and history.
Recently she worked on a project designed to support the Cedar Rapids Museum of Arts' efforts to restore American Realist Grant Wood's studio.
Joan received a B. A. in Elementary Education-Reading and an M. A. in Special Education from the University of Northern Iowa. For the first 12 years of her teaching career, she taught first and second grade and learning disabilities classes in Waterloo and Davenport, Iowa.
As an Area Education Agency 7 Staff Development consultant she designed and facilitated professional development classes for classroom teachers and taught methods courses at the University of Northern Iowa for ten summers.
Participants in Joan's courses have provided feedback saying: "down-to-earth, filled with practical ideas and techniques I can use in my classroom. I have learned far more than in most other graduate courses."
Another participant commented, "If you want to try an instructional environment that is convenient, you need to take an online course. It's the adult just-in-time learning environment. You'll love the flexibility. Just do it!!"
E-mail your comments or questions to Joan.