Original Post: Technology Staff Development (Roger Hall)

At the present time, my faculty’s technology skills consist of being able to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Dropbox, e-mail, and Infinite Campus. There are some other bits of technology that they use albeit on a limited basis by choice such as Kahoot and Edmodo. However, the skills dealing with technology have not been developed as much as they need to be in a 21^st century school environment.  Once upon a time, my school district would have the technology chair for the system come for one day of planning each month to instruct the school concerning a notable piece of technology which could assist instruction. Despite that fact, such things are not done anymore at all. In recent years, it was done after school by choice, and now it is totally non-existent.

 

Even though recent trends have reduced the interest level of technology integration, my current school have done things for staff development concerning the matter. Every once in a while, we will have a staff member present a technology tutorial in our weekly faculty meetings. However, this is strictly on a volunteer basis, but we are encourage to share our findings with our other colleagues. There are times that administration shares a website or application that we will be working with and explains how to use it. This is not a situation of what could be done, but it is a situation of what will be done. Therefore, this usage is not optional but a requirement.

 

Obviously, there are a few things that can be done to support productive technology staff development. In my opinion, there should be a lesson taught either every two weeks or once a month dealing with a new trend in technology that would be beneficial to use in the classroom. This can either be done in a staff meeting or this can be done electronically through the school website.  In addition, basic word of mouth could be orchestrated where teachers individually pass on great websites or technological tools to other teachers in the school. Lastly, attendance at conferences and seminars should be encouraged and supported which enable teachers to re-deliver to other teachers concerning something technology-based that can be used in the classroom.

 

Consequently, there can also be a few barriers to achieving productive technology staff development. For starters, the negative attitude of the faculty in general could be a stumbling block to consuming worth-while tools in technology. Also, basic technology skills of the staff may be missing to master higher-level technological skills which may be expected from administration. Finally, the use of outdated technology can restrict some from using the full spectrum of educational advantages from other more advanced forms (i.e. Myspace vs. Facebook).

 

If it were up to me, I would provide staff development to other teachers by using a weekly / monthly page on the school website for the media center. This could entail a tech tip or technological advancement in which I felt important to share with the whole staff. Also, I would visit some grade levels during their meetings and share with them any websites or applications that would help them teach their learners based on the standards. Last of all, I share my findings with the entire faculty at one time every-so-often during our school-level meetings.

 

I would include the following for my DO’s for tech staff development:

 

1.  Speak in a positive and encouraging tone

2.  Be patient with multi-step directions

3.  Listen to the comments / opinions of the audience

4.  Show how beneficial this technology can be for students in a classroom

 

I would include the following for my DON’Ts for tech staff development:

 

1.  Don’t tell them that what they have been doing is wrong

2.  Don’t tell them that this is the only way to do something

3.  Don’t be impatient when help is asked for

4.  Don’t get frustrated when teachers do not understand the purpose or importance of what you are trying to show them