Professional Development Planning

Below is an article I wrote in 2005 for the California Association of Independent Schools Faculty Newsletter while at Chadwick School as Director of Educational Technology. While the outcomes were technology related, it was focused on an ongoing model of professional development to reach our goal of supporting teachers to integrate technology into the classroom. We were working to move away from the Computer Lab model to a more authentic approach.

A new look at tech integration
The Academy Model: Linking Initiatives through Professional Development

So many initiatives, so little time. Finding time to invest in school improvement initiatives can be a challenge. The Academy model is one way to link initiatives such as technology integration and curriculum design. The Academy model provides opportunities for teachers to initiate professional growth with the intent of being used in the classroom. This model also fosters collegiality, cross-divisional collaboration and leadership within the faculty.

Research suggests that technology can enhance student learning and related skills are necessary to function in today’s world. Teachers should be empowered to make decisions to use technology in ways that make curricula and student learning seamless. While some schools may measure their success by the number of technology related projects their students complete, effective use of technology is about curriculum, content, instructional strategies and student learning.

This usually requires a shift in teaching style. read more...

How do you know if you are using technology effectively?

Ask yourself...

• How does the use of technology enhance the learning goal?
  
• Is the technology providing students with more immediate access to information in a way that allows more time to be spent on deepening the learning?
• Is the technology providing an engaging component to an other- wise dry topic that will motivate students to dive into the content you want them to learn?
• Does the technology allow students to create a product that is of professional quality, there- fore creating a sense of pride in presenting it to their classmates?
• Is the option of using technology a choice for students who may thrive in that environment and help build self-esteem?
• Does the use of the technology provide a time saving element for students to spend less time editing, rethinking or reconceptualizing?
• Does the technology allow students to sort data faster and more efficiently, thus using the results and creating more time for higher level analysis?
• Does the technology allow students the access to more rapidly communicate with experts and people all over the world to gather information?
• Does the technology allow you to organize the data for your students more efficiently to focus their energy on the content?
• Does teaching the content with technology require more class time than traditional instruction and if so, is the content a significant part of your curriculum and worthwhile of the time?