As staff developers consider online staff development as part of their total staff development program, here are questions that might be discussed before deciding to implement online staff development.

• What results can we expect from this form of staff development?
• Will student and teacher performance change as a result of this staff development program?

• What is the research base of the content?
• How well does the content align with the district’s curriculum and student achievement targets?

• How well do the district’s hardware, network, and Internet access meet the provider’s specifications?
• How well does the available technology support the type of learning included in the online staff development program?

• How user-friendly is the product?
• What level of skill is required to participate in the online staff development?
• To what degree do potential participants have the necessary skills and knowledge to participate?

• How cost effective is the online staff development program?
• How does the cost compare to the cost for similar face-to-face training?
• Is it worth the investment?
• What do we anticipate the return on our investment will be?

• How flexible is the content?
• To what degree can participants adjust the rate of learning, the depth of content, the timeframe for learning, etc.?

• To whom will learners be accountable?
• How will participation be monitored?
• How will participants demonstrate what they have learned?
• Who will be responsible for managing the online staff development program?

• How will credit be awarded?
• What type of credit will be awarded?

• What support are learners likely to need as they participate in l online staff development?
• Who will provide the support?
• How will the district support online staff development?

• How will we know that this online staff development program is successful?
• What evidence will demonstrate success?