Strong online learning starts with well-prepared teachers. Creating clear, engaging, and supportive courses takes training, practice, and ongoing support. At IDLA, this preparation is built into the process.
Each June, IDLA hosts its annual Summer Conference. This event helps instructors get ready for the upcoming school year. Like IDLA classes, the training is offered online. This gives teachers a chance to experience learning from a student’s point of view while improving their own teaching skills.
The Summer Conference is part of a larger training system. It focuses on both teaching methods and the day-to-day skills needed for online instruction. Teachers learn how to communicate clearly, give helpful feedback, and guide students in a digital space.
All instructors are required to attend the Summer Conference each year. They must also complete internal professional development to stay eligible for teaching assignments. This helps make sure that all teachers stay up to date and continue to improve.
New instructors complete additional training before they are assigned a course. This includes online training that takes place before, during, and after the Summer Conference. They are also expected to attend Just-In-Time training sessions and join meetings, either online or in person, as required. These steps help ensure that new teachers feel ready and supported.
School leaders are part of the process as well. New principals begin with an online orientation, attend the Summer Conference, and complete training focused on supervising online learning. Ongoing training is required to continue assigning and supporting IDLA instructors.
This approach helps create a consistent learning experience for students across Idaho. By supporting teachers with clear expectations and ongoing training, IDLA helps ensure that students receive high-quality online instruction.
The Summer Conference is just one part of that effort. It reflects a larger goal of preparing educators to support students in a strong and reliable way, no matter where learning takes place.
