The Importance of Ongoing Training

Make and Take Technology days were created during the 2017-2018 school year at both of Northeastern’s intermediate buildings when 6th grade began 1:1 with Chromebooks in an effort to implement the devices as learning tools. One Monday a month, teachers had the choice to attend the technology professional development that focused on the integration of one technology tool. Throughout that month, teachers would experience the tool with their students and utilize my support if needed. I was not going to continue the Make and Take Technology days at the intermediate level this school year, however, several teacher inquired about it. As a result, Make and Take Tech days are continuing at both buildings. This year we are focusing on the technology that can be used in each building’s Makerspace as well as a training on the student monitoring program used at Northeastern.

The ISTE Essential Conditions state that ongoing training is necessary to keep up to date with ever-changing technology in education and Bryan Nixon, of the Whitby School in Greenwich, CT, describes four reasons why teacher development is so important. When ongoing training is offered, educators go above and beyond subject area knowledge and improves student outcomes. In addition to this, ISTE says that offering ongoing professional development helps educators implement new knowledge and skills and allows them to focus on both learning to use technology and using technology to learn. Nixon goes on to explain that ongoing professional development should include new technology. ISTE piggybacks that statement that a professional development learning plan should be continually updated to reflect current trends in technology. Nixon and ISTE both continue to discuss that ongoing training help educators become better educators by learning from one another and working together to create students who become successful in a digital and competitive world.

Although I facilitated Make & Take Technology Days last year, there are several differences between this year and last. This year I am offering gift card giveaways and technology swag from different companies. Last year, I used a badging system. At each session, participants received badges that they hung in the hallways outside their classroom door. This was used as a way to collaborate using technology tools by knowing that teacher attending a particular training. The ISTE Essential Conditions supports this effort by stating that developing incentives structures that encourages participation is something school districts and leaders can do to support professional learning. As an added incentive, all participants at both building levels do receive Act 48 credit for their attendance.

When some of the intermediate teachers approached me asking about continuing Make & Take Technology at that level, I was elated! Although attendance at one building remains high at one building and low at the other, I will continue to offer professional development each month for those who wish to participate. If a teacher is thirsty for knowledge, I'll give it to them!

References

Essential Conditions. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/standards/essential-conditions/ongoing-professional-learning

ISTE Essential Conditions | ISTE Standards. (2015, December 14). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/-YZ46DzHmk4

Nixon, B. (n.d.). 4 Reasons Teacher Development Matters. Retrieved from https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/4-reasons-teacher-development-matters