Monday, November 8, 2010
Technology Training in Schools
At Walnut Creek Elementary, technology is thoroughly present throughout the building. Our faculty is blessed with many different technology pieces such as Activslates, document cameras, clickr systems and laptop carts for every grade level. In order to properly and productively use these technologies, our staff is provided with technology training once a month. Overall, the faculty at Walnut Creek Elementary is technology savvy, but there are still a few teachers who began teaching before computers entered the classroom that is still not on board yet. However, Trude Hinson, the media specialist, provides in-service on one piece of technology each month. Our staff has had training on the clickr systems, Educationcity.com, OPAC, and on all the technology that comes on the technology carts for each grade level. Not only are we trained at professional development meetings, but Trude then posts power points to our teacher drive on the network of our computers for future reference. While the technology support exists in our school on how to use programs and technology equipment, there is no support within the building for technology difficulties. Trude can fix basic problems, but more difficult issues have to wait for the county to respond to. Work orders have to be placed, and they are filled based on the severity of the problems. So there is not a lot of help when it comes to sick technology. Outside of school, Trude provides access to on-line technology such as the OPAC system and email through our school website. If I was the media specialist, I would also provide power points, and technology training through professional development meetings. I would also provide additional training in a small group setting for teachers that need help outside of meetings. These small training sessions would be held once a month for teachers to come with any questions about any of the technology equipment. As far as staff development training do’s and don’ts go, I would make sure that the training provided is beneficial to the teachers, and that it is a piece of technology that they will use. I won’t provide technology training on equipment that is not useful to teachers, or on technology that is not readily available for teacher use. Teachers are already confined to limited work time in their classroom, much less the time spent in meetings, so the staff development meetings would be useful and conducted in a timely manner with support inside and outside the classroom.
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Hi Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of having small group staff development sessions for teacher who need to learn or want to learn about a specific technology available for them to use. Having the teachers go through a staff development class on technology that is inappropriate for them to use in their classroom is very frustrating and a waste of the media specialist's time and the teacher's time. If I or when I'm a media specialist I would introduce new technology to the teachers, but then offer training to those who need or want the training. Far too often a new technology is introduced that many teachers already know how to use. However, the introduction to the new technology could give the teacher's meaningful ways to use the technology to enhance the learning of the students.
My husband sat through training on graphing calculators once (the whole staff was required to do so) and he is a Social Studies teacher. Teachers do not feel like they are being treated professionally when their time is obviously wasted like this example. I like the idea of once a month training, especially if it is voluntary. Training on technology can make all the difference in how well, if at all, a teacher uses the equipment. And today's equipment is much more complicated than an overhead projector.
ReplyDeleteRachel has given a perfect example of training that was a waste of the teacher's time. The training must be useful and relevant because a teacher's time is valuable and limited.
ReplyDeleteI like the steps listed in our text for planning a successful in-service session (and recognize it from MEDT 7461!)
1. Assess yourself and your audience. Make sure that the training will be worthwhile for those attending.
2. Analyse the learner. Remember that you are training other adults.
3. Be specific when identifying the instructional objectives so the teachers know what they can expect to gain from attending the session.
4. Provide incentives like food during attendance and special recognition afterwards.
5. Plan materials and activities that are useful and practical.
6. Provide an opportunity for teachers to practice while they are at the training so you can provide help and give additional instruction as needed.
7. Small groups work best and attendance really should be optional. Don't force teachers to sit through something they don't need.
8. Evaluate the training after it is over. Get feedback from the attendees.
9. Be available to help teachers even after the inservice is over.