How can we help teachers?
I’d like to brainstorm some creative ways we could help teachers learn or experience new technologies. We have to be creative because obviously one or two people can’t work with every teacher on campus. What are some creative, ingenious, time efficient, or streamlined ways we can get teachers to engage with new technology when we bring it into the school?
One idea I think would be great was if we had some sort of process in place–like “mini workshops” and then longer workshops, and we had a “name” for the different types.
I think having a routine, like brown bag lunch, or whatever, would get people interested and make it more of a process.
We could have a continuous schedule and a rotation of people teaching them too, so one person wouldn’t have to bear the brunt of it.
Some tools are online and aren’t really things we have to purchase, so its just a matter of helping people spend time with them. Of course time is always the problem, isn’t it?
Anyway, ideas anyone??
September 27, 2006 @ 10:42 am
I like this idea too. Its hard for me even to schedule a day of training for staff because I don’t get a good count of who will be coming. Some hours I have 4 with a mix of really strong users and then users who need the hour for hand-holding. So, the ones who come in with some really hard questions leave without getting the training they need.
Here’s some ideas – the three Ls:
1) Lunch – teachers will come to food. I hate to have to offer something for them to come in but I have to admit it works. Time is valuable for them but to say that their lunch will be in the room when they get there, I think that is what gets them there.
2) Limit – if you have a limited engagement for training and offered it up to say “5″ participants per lunch hour and that they had to come in and register for it – you may get a more committed group to attend. Often I offer training and get a large amount of people responding that they will be there only to have 3 or 4 show up. Plus the limit keeps down the numbers for number 1 up there if you do provide snacks or food.
3) Lessons – I am really seeing the difference between offering them hands-on computer free-for-all vs. a 20 minute engagement showing a lesson. Often in the lab setting, I am asked questions about all sorts of other tech stuff from Groupwise to home folders and it really doesn’t help the rest of the class when I am stuck trying to answer one person’s very specific question.
Perhaps by providing a 20-minute presentation, showcase, lesson where they are restricted from being on the computer may help better.
Just my ideas!
September 27, 2006 @ 11:10 am
What if we pitched in and did it together? We could alternate weeks–the library being responsible one week, and technology the other week. We could both have guest presenters as well, but that way we could coordinate what we are doing and not have two programs with two different names!
I agree about the lessons. I think if we do a show and tell that would be good.
The other thing I have been thinking about is how to have “followup” and also how to allow teachers to share their success stories so we know that there is an impact to what we are doing. So maybe we should do ” a more advanced workshop a few weeks after the initial one for each topic? Or maybe we can use a blog or wiki as an open forum for followup and support, like your techblog? Or offer house calls, or something?
Or start some “study groups” to meet and discuss?
I think this could be a very beneficial outcome of our committee, too!
October 2, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
I am for that! We are so meshed anyway that I think if separately, we would walk on each others’ messages.
I always enjoyed Wylie ISD’s implementation of technology and how they “celebrated” teachers’ use of technology. When a teacher would learn from their academy and then use it in a classroom, the entire tech integration department for the district would take balloons to the teacher and have a mini-party.
Each time they would film and interview the kids and ask them how the project went and what they enjoyed about the class. The videos then went into their presentations, convocation, online communications, etc. showcasing students and teachers using technology. Plus, the teachers were recognized for doing something different in their classes! Its was a party.
Followup is extremely important too because it would help us. Especially if they could keep track of what worked or what didn’t so each year we could improve it.