Our School has an advantage in the use of technology. Each classroom has an ActivBoard to use when teaching. Over the last few years, I've seen the staff's technology awareness and knowledge grow. One reason that I feel that this has occurred is the fact that there are training sessions and people available to assist with technological needs. Our county's technology department offers monthly and often bi-monthly technology instruction. There are always a wide variety of topics and the topics are geared to different levels. These classes are not mandatory, but there is usually a pretty good turn out because the classes address needs that are relevent to our teachers. WE also have trainings on occasion for new programs that are being implemented in the school and/or county. These trainings are usually mandatory, but they are beneficial. These trainings are usually, filled with lots of information and are sometimes overwhelming.
The only problem that I see with the trainings is that they are always at the end of the day, and sometimes people just want to leave as soon as they can. I'm not sure what the alternatives would be to this situation.
If I were in charge of technology training within the school, one thing that I feel I would change would be that I would send out surveys to see what the needs of staff are. I might also make it a requirement that at teachers attend at least one training session throughout the year.
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6 comments:
Jill,
At my school we all have Activboards as well. We have trainings for the Activboards during the summer. These are optional trainings and people do usually participate in these trainings. However, I know you said your trainings are at the end of the school day and people are tired and ready to leave. Summer is not really the best time either for workshops, so I don't know what a good answer to this would be as far as a good time for training. Like you said it would be good to give the teachers a survey to see when trainings would be the best.
Jill is an Activboard like a Smart Board? WE don't have anthing like that in our classroom. The only thing I have is one small TV hooked up to my computer so at least I can show United Streaming videos, and put a website up on my TV. But it is so small and the children have a hard time seeing. It seems like we are the last to get things in my district at the elementary level. It would be nice to have mor options. Krista
Many of the elementary schools that I sub in also have active boards. In one school the teachers are banded from using the white paper flip charts. It is mandatory that they use the white board. At this school even the kindergarten students participate in using the active boards. Most of the teachers I have observed are very fluent at using the active board.
Alecia
Hi Jill - This is just what I was noting in my posting. We unfortunately seem woefully behind the eight ball with technology as all rooms are not equipped with ActivBoards; some not even with overhead projectors. Though I am in the majority and blessed with a Promethean Board (same as ActivBoard), I feel students are deprived of 360 degree learning. My consolation is our inability to provide consistency in technological instruction works to enstill character, flexibility, and adapatability in each of our students.
However, I can't helping resorting back to my initial thought..."how sad". My board allows me to train students in ways never before imagined. I shudder to think what my classroom environment would be like without it!
I agree with your assessment that often times the training is given after school when everyone just wants to go home. We have tried to have some of ours during the common planning periods, but the issue with that is we have to use their planning time and they don't want to give that up either. Our county does offer technology classes during the year, but again these are after school and not all teachers are motivated to take the classes unless they just need the PLU's. We have recently gotten new technology at our school, but the training time has just not been enough especially for those teachers who feel intimidated by the new stuff. I suppose the answer is to create some training aids with the hope that the teachers will use them.
You are very lucky to have the ActivBoard in each classroom. I think that simply having the technology available does force many people to learn how to use it. Our county also offers a variety of technology courses that are availble for anyone to take if interested. End of the day training sessions are difficult. A lot of times refreshments are provided at our training meetings.
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