As a new media specialist, I have only been called upon to deliver one session of formal technology training. This involved instructing teachers on how to use School Center to design and update their classroom web pages. I designed a scaled down handout with step-by-step instructions for them to follow. I chose to demonstrate the steps using a data projector and screen while they watched. They did not have access to computers during this session. Sometimes having the computers in front of them is distracting and it’s difficult to keep everyone working on the same page. This initial session was designed to demonstrate the steps involved as they followed along in their handout and made notes. The handout would serve as their guide when they returned to their classroom to set up their pages. The session lasted 45 minutes. I was available for individual questions for an hour afterwards. I also invited teachers to come to me with questions as needed when they began working on their pages.
I think the main challenge with technology training is a lack of follow-up and ongoing training. I’ve only worked in two schools for six years, but my county has rolled out a lot of new technology during that time. Sometimes the training is done by other teachers, and sometimes by outside groups. The complaint I hear most often from teachers is that they receive training for new equipment/materials, and then the trainer leaves never to return. In the best case scenario, during the days and weeks following the training, teachers begin to attempt to use the new technology. It is during this hands-on application that they discover they have more questions. Unfortunately, follow-up support is very limited and sometimes non-existent at that time.
At my former school we had a regular classroom teacher who was also paid a stipend to be the master tech teacher. She would occasionally deliver tech training lessons during planning periods to follow up on earlier training. This proved to be very effective. She offered individual help along the way as needed, but she offered the follow-up courses on a monthly basis. I really like the idea of the media specialist and/or master tech teacher offering monthly training opportunities for teachers and staff, maybe something like “Tech Tidbits”. Finding time to piggyback initial training with some smaller follow-up training sessions would likely complete this process and help teachers use the new technology more effectively and with greater confidence.
I think that the master tech trainer is a good idea but during the time of "no money" it might be hard to justify. What my county has started doing, which has seemed to work very well, is to choose several teachers from each school (usually one per grade level) and provide training on new technology by the county and then they are to go back and re-teach the other teachers at their school. This was there is someone on hand that has first hand knowledge of the software and can answer questions when they arrise. They have help mini- tech trainings on how to set up and use the software/hardware and they have access to computers so the teachers can work through the steps as she is teaching them. Just like students it is best done in small group to help management.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the monthly workshops would improve teachers' use of technology resources in the classroom. The media specialist or master tech could teach the classroom teachers about technology tools and how to use these resources in the classroom. I also think that worksheets or outlines are appropriate tools that can be distributed to teachers. I also suggest that the media specialist could customize a worksheet for each subject area that includes websites or computer resources that could assist the teacher in informing students about the subject area. I agree with your writing about building workshops for teachers and motivating the teachers to use technology resources in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent point about follow-up training. When people learn to use new forms of technology (or technology that is new to them), there will inevitably be questions down the road when they are actually using that technology on their own. There is always a learning curve with new gadgets and software, and it is never useful to give an initial demonstration (even if it is hands-on) and then send individuals off to master these things without provision for further support. As we all know, it takes utilization of technology to really learn how to operate it successfully and fully grasp what it can do. Without follow-up tech support to foster this, the technology itself becomes useless. Why would you want to spend a large portion of your budget on new technology if no one knows how to use it, and there is no tech support available to assist? I think tech support should always be a priority for schools, even at the expense of newer technologies. If you don't have the support to fully use the technology you do have, it will prove worthless, along with any newer technology you want to incorporate into your collection.
ReplyDeleteFollow-up is essential to good training; whether initiated by the teacher or not. As the media specialist for the school that relationship between the teachers, administration, and other trainers is vital.
ReplyDeleteThe media specialist at one of our high schools was once the technology specialist. As she matriculated and earned her media degree she moved into the media position. She had training knowledge and technology skills that many others did not possess. She has not used those skills at the school because she has not been able to forge a relationship with administration.
Tech support, tech support....oh tech support. Whose responsibility is it? We train Teacher Support Personnel(TSP)each year to assist with front line technical issues. But the battle for time rages on. Many of the TSP report that time which should be used to assist with trouble shooting is spent on "duty". Lunch duty, hall duty, we all have a duty, but until administrators see technology as a necessity the battle will rage onward. There is no federal or state funding for technicians but there is for teacher, and instructional technologist, and media specialist.
The caveat to it all is districts must maintain "modern" technology as defined by the state. The Georgia DOE's technology plan (http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/technology/state/techplan.pdf) is the driving force behind many grant initiative and district decisions.