Professional Professional Development and Development and TechnologyTechnologyGetting Teachers Into the GameGetting Teachers Into the Game

The Problem:The Problem:

Districts can provide all the Districts can provide all the technology in the world, but it technology in the world, but it the staff doesn’t feel the staff doesn’t feel competent it won’t get used.competent it won’t get used.

The Solution:The Solution:

Provide training for staff that Provide training for staff that allows them to master the allows them to master the materialmaterial

Source: Source: http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2011/11/team-efforthttp://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2011/11/team-effort

Source: Source: http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2011/11/team-efforthttp://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2011/11/team-effort

We MUST provide opportunities for our We MUST provide opportunities for our teachers to truly be the students when it teachers to truly be the students when it comes to their own professional learning.comes to their own professional learning.

Instead of offering 3-6 hour workshops (do we teach k-12 Instead of offering 3-6 hour workshops (do we teach k-12 students in 3 and 6 hour sessions?), offer 30-45 minute sessions students in 3 and 6 hour sessions?), offer 30-45 minute sessions where teachers learn one or two new things with immediate where teachers learn one or two new things with immediate application in a hands-on and relevant way.application in a hands-on and relevant way.

Encourage teachers to walk away with something that they can Encourage teachers to walk away with something that they can use with their students in the next week.use with their students in the next week.

Allow time for teachers to collaborate and learn together during Allow time for teachers to collaborate and learn together during professional development.professional development.

Provide resources in print and video format for teachers to review Provide resources in print and video format for teachers to review what was learned on their own time, and in their own way.what was learned on their own time, and in their own way.

Source: Source: http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design/http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design/

Coaching will help you improve.Coaching will help you improve.

With an instructional technology coach in place, not With an instructional technology coach in place, not only do the teachers receive professional only do the teachers receive professional development and training sessions throughout the development and training sessions throughout the school year, but they have the opportunities to put school year, but they have the opportunities to put into practice what they’ve learned at those trainings into practice what they’ve learned at those trainings with the support and guidance they need to take with the support and guidance they need to take risks and try new things.  In an ideal model, the risks and try new things.  In an ideal model, the coach provides support for the teachers in the coach provides support for the teachers in the following ways:following ways:

Source: Source: http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-designhttp://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design//

Before - Before - The coach is there to plan The coach is there to plan

technology-rich and content-technology-rich and content-specific learning activities and specific learning activities and projects with the teachers.  Higher-projects with the teachers.  Higher-order tasks, 21st century skills and order tasks, 21st century skills and relevant standards are discussed relevant standards are discussed and implemented in the plan.and implemented in the plan.

Source: Source: http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-developmenthttp://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design/-by-design/

During - During - The coach is in the classroom with The coach is in the classroom with the teacher and students when a the teacher and students when a new activity involving technology new activity involving technology takes place to provide both takes place to provide both instructional and technological instructional and technological support, in a co-teaching capacity support, in a co-teaching capacity in some cases.in some cases.

Source: Source: http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design/by-design/

After - After - The coach reflects with the teacher The coach reflects with the teacher after the project or activity is after the project or activity is complete on the effectiveness of the complete on the effectiveness of the activity, changes for next time, and activity, changes for next time, and the comfort of the teacher to the comfort of the teacher to implement this type of technology implement this type of technology infusion in the future. infusion in the future.

Source: Source: http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-byhttp://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design/-design/

This type of professional development This type of professional development through coaching provides not only through coaching provides not only professional development when it is professional development when it is needed most, in the classroom with needed most, in the classroom with the teacher, but because the teacher the teacher, but because the teacher is truly learning how to integrate is truly learning how to integrate technology in a true project or activity technology in a true project or activity with students, it is immediately with students, it is immediately relevant and meaningful.relevant and meaningful.

Source: Source: http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design/http://educationismylife.com/instructional-technology-professional-development-by-design/

The 5 J ApproachThe 5 J Approach job-relatedjob-related, focused on the core competencies of the , focused on the core competencies of the

classroom, not technologyclassroom, not technology just enoughjust enough, emphasizing increased comfort, not , emphasizing increased comfort, not

proficiency, with computers and management of limited proficiency, with computers and management of limited technology resourcestechnology resources

just in timejust in time, meaning teacher are provided with skills as , meaning teacher are provided with skills as and when neededand when needed

just in casejust in case teachers need to plan for contingencies teachers need to plan for contingencies accompanied by a "accompanied by a "just try itjust try it" attitude, wherein instructors " attitude, wherein instructors

apply both pressure and support to compel teachers to use apply both pressure and support to compel teachers to use what they've learned.what they've learned.

Source: http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=1865476 Source: http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=1865476

Source: http://www.techknowlogia.com/TKL_Articles/PDF/435.pdf

Most teachers want to learn to use educational technology effectively, but they lack the conceptual framework, time, computer access and support necessary to do so.4 A well planned, ongoing professional development program, based in a theoretical model, linked to curricular objectives, incorporating formative evaluation activities, and sustained by sufficient financial and staff support is essential if teachers are to use technology effectively to improve student learning.

Source: http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/03/14/getting-teachers-up-to-speed-with-technology.aspx?=THE21

Develop better training.Develop better training.Historically the district conducted a one-day session Historically the district conducted a one-day session where teachers were trained on how to use the where teachers were trained on how to use the technology. To beef up that program Race and her technology. To beef up that program Race and her team worked together with the school's IT department team worked together with the school's IT department to develop a district-wide training model. It was broken to develop a district-wide training model. It was broken up into four sessions that were two to three hours long up into four sessions that were two to three hours long and centered on a specific piece of technology (such and centered on a specific piece of technology (such as a smart board or class responder system). The as a smart board or class responder system). The sessions comprised live lectures, Q&A sessions, online sessions comprised live lectures, Q&A sessions, online videos, homework assignments, and even tests that videos, homework assignments, and even tests that teachers had to take before proceeding to the next teachers had to take before proceeding to the next segment. segment.

Make technology the Make technology the incentive.incentive.

Before Western Heights School District handed Before Western Heights School District handed out Mobi mobile interactive whiteboards to out Mobi mobile interactive whiteboards to teachers the latter had to sign up for and attend teachers the latter had to sign up for and attend at least one related training session. During the at least one related training session. During the training teachers learned how to use the training teachers learned how to use the technology, which allows them to operate their technology, which allows them to operate their screens while moving around their classrooms. screens while moving around their classrooms. The training was handled by a technology The training was handled by a technology coordinator who used live video streaming and coordinator who used live video streaming and other tools to demonstrate the whiteboards' other tools to demonstrate the whiteboards' usefulness in the classroom. usefulness in the classroom.

Take teachers out of their comfort Take teachers out of their comfort zones.zones.

Sometimes you have to treat teachers like Sometimes you have to treat teachers like students to get them to use technology students to get them to use technology effectively. At Westville Community District effectively. At Westville Community District II in Westville, IL, new technology initiatives II in Westville, IL, new technology initiatives always include ample professional always include ample professional development. That training typically finds development. That training typically finds teachers pushing outside of their comfort teachers pushing outside of their comfort zones to learn how to maximize the tools.zones to learn how to maximize the tools.

Don’t try to force it.Don’t try to force it.Understand that teachers are at different stages Understand that teachers are at different stages when it comes to technology and that not all of when it comes to technology and that not all of them will be quick to embrace and integrate the them will be quick to embrace and integrate the new tools that you're handing them. To break new tools that you're handing them. To break through that barrier, Race said, her district has through that barrier, Race said, her district has cultivated a handful of "innovators"--tech-savvy cultivated a handful of "innovators"--tech-savvy educators who can spread the gospel of educators who can spread the gospel of technology and its value in the classroom.technology and its value in the classroom.

"Teachers can be very challenging to teach," said "Teachers can be very challenging to teach," said Race. "Don't force anything too fast on them; and Race. "Don't force anything too fast on them; and rely on a few innovators to create the envy and rely on a few innovators to create the envy and interest necessary to get everybody else on interest necessary to get everybody else on board."board."

Let teachers decide if they want it, or not.Let teachers decide if they want it, or not.

Heather Borowski, instructional technology Heather Borowski, instructional technology coordinator, said the district learned that while coordinator, said the district learned that while some teachers were enamored by the technology, some teachers were enamored by the technology, others thought that creating the associated others thought that creating the associated materials would eat up too much of their time. To materials would eat up too much of their time. To address the issue and get more teachers onboard, address the issue and get more teachers onboard, the district held day-long instructional sessions on the district held day-long instructional sessions on how to use the equipment and build lessons how to use the equipment and build lessons around it. It also invested in a cloud-based around it. It also invested in a cloud-based software program that allows teachers to prepare software program that allows teachers to prepare lessons and collaborate with one another and lessons and collaborate with one another and formed mentoring groups lead by those instructors formed mentoring groups lead by those instructors who have successfully adopted the technology in who have successfully adopted the technology in their classrooms.their classrooms.