Creating Effective Technology Staff Development

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Creating Effective Technology Staff Development

• Amy Hiatt
• LIB 5050

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The Role of the SLMS

• The duty of technology trainer many times falls
  on the SLMS in our schools.
• Whether or not we agree with this, we must be
  prepared for it.
• How can we do this effectively and still maintain
  our sanity?

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Good Staff Development is

• Ongoing
• Designed by individuals
• Meaningful
• Realistic to teaching and learning situations
• Taking into account prior knowledge

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Good Staff Development also..

• Identifies strengths, needs, and learning styles
• Has ongoing support
• Is provided at times when teachers and
  administrators can focus on the task
• Is provided when needed

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Why is it important?

• Provides expertise to make our vision real
• Need both knowledge and skills to integrate as a
  learning tool
• Helps to motivate people to use

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Adult Learning

• Create a Culture Promoting Adult Learning by
• Providing activities that match the persons
  interests needs, style and developmental
  readiness
• Provide a varied menu of learning experiences
• Allowing learners to take responsibility for
  planning, acting, and growing

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We just dont have time for this

• Time is a huge problem for educators none of us
  have enough
• Effective Staff Development doesnt have to be an
  all day event
• We must think outside of the box in order to
  successfully integrate technology
• There are many strategies we could try

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Just-in-time Support

• Help teachers one on one or in small groups on
  programs that they need to know right then to
  integrate for a lesson or unit
• This could be just 10-15 min. before or after
  school

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Less Training and More Learning

• Real learning takes place when actually trying
  the new skills
• Must show how programs can be used in classrooms
• Have time to share successes and new ideas with
  one another

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Study Groups

• Every teacher joins one
• Three or more in a group
• People have common interests and common goals
• Get together weekly like a book club
• Briefly share ideas and questions with one another

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Coaches and Mentors

• Every teacher becomes proficient at something
• They are prepared to help others with this
• Can also pair teachers together in a mentor
  relationship

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Onsite Visits

• Seeing is believing
• Spend time observing successful integration

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Tutorials

• Try short bursts of learning
• Brief 10 to 15 minute lessons on simple tasks
• Could be one morning or afternoon per week

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Just Remember

• If we are to gain the many benefits technology
  offers our children in learning and their
  futures, our teachers must be provided with
  on-going opportunities to develop their
  understanding of the value of technology to
  themselves personally and professionally and
  effective uses in the classroom. Thus, training
  is a primary focus.
• - Sally Bowman Alden

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Bibliography

• Alden, Sally Bowman (2002). Effective Programs
  for Training Teachers On the Use of Technology.
  Retrieved January 26, 2004 from
  http//www.computerlearning.org/articles/Training/
  htm
• Bray, Barbara (1998). Ten Steps to Effective
  Technology Staff Development. Retrieved January
  21, 2004 from http//www.compstrategies.com/staffd
  evelopment/tensteps.html
• Butler, Jocelyn A. (2001). Staff Development.
  Retrieved January 21,2004 from http//www.nwrel.or
  g.scpd.sirs/6/cu12.html
• McKenzie, Jamie (1998). Creating Learning
  Cultures with Just-in-Time Support. Retrieved
  January 21, 2004 from http//staffdevelop.org
• McKenzie, Jamie. How Teachers Learn. Electronic
  Version. The Educational Technology Journal,
  Vol. 13, no. 5, January 2004.

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Bibliography Cont.

• McKenzie, Jamie (1998). Invention as Learning.
  Retrieved January 21, 2004 from
  http//staffdevelop.org
• McKenzie, Jamie (1998). Professional Development
  that Works. Retrieved January 21, 2004 from
  http//staffdevelop.org
• ORiordan, Karena (2004). Good TeachersHigh
  Academic Achievement. Retrieved January 26, 2004
  from http//www.mff.org/edtech/article.taf?_functi
  ondetailContent_uid1273
• Using Technology For Learning A Planning Guide.
  Retrieved January 23, 2004 from
  http//www.qesn.meq.gouv.qc.ca/sca-dpp/tftp/develo
  p/develop7.html
• Valdez, Gilbert (2001). Implementation
  Priorities and Strategies. Retrieved January 23,
  2004 from http//www.ncrel.org/tandl/implem1.htm