Creating Staff Development Programs that Work

1. Creating Staff Development Programs that Work Connected Classroom Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach snbeach@mail.aquik.net

2. Cathy Berlinger-Gustafson • Defines Staff Development as... • “The implementation of a systematic program of adult learning experiences that result in changing the attitude, skills, knowledge, of school employees toward the goal of improved instruction.”

3. Ian Jukes • Mistaken belief that skills will flow from areas of high concentration (technology device) to areas of lower concentration (staff member) Proximal Osmosis

4. Research Shows • In 1989 six percent of elementary schools and three percent of secondary schools had a full time tech support person with no teaching duties… 1992 percentages have not changed. (Office of Technology Assessment, 1995)

5. Obstacles to Staff Development • Time • Actual time spent on staff development has decreased • Money • Average teacher makes $160 per day. If you multiply that times the number of teachers in a state…Several million dollars for just one day!

6. Design Staff Development • In Context of Improving overall Quality of School Programs • So that the Technology Activities Compliment and Enhance other School Improvement Activities

7. Create Staff Development Programs • Around District and Schools Technology Plan/Vision/Mission/Goals • So that all Professional Development Activities are Placed within the Context of Exemplary Practice • In Ways that Move Learners Along a Continuum from Non Users to Integrators and Appliers of Technology

8. Apple Classroom of Tomorrow Project (ACOT) Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) Levels of Tech Implementation (LoTi) Modified Four Stage (Watertown Public Schools) Teacher Techno Development Continuum (W.T. Cooke Elementary) Models of Teacher Technology Continuum

13. Indicators of Successful Staff Development • Well Trained Teachers that Understand how to Make Use of Tools Available to them and How that Relates to the Learning Environment. • Provisions for Transitional Activities Designed to Move Learners along Continuum.

14. What Now? • Survey Needs/Developmental Levels/Concerns • Analyze to Determine Level • Plan Training Activities To Move Learners to Next Level • Who Will Train? • Design Workshops

15. Trainer Cadre • Train your Trainers Teach them to incorporate principles of cooperative learning,curriculum integration,active learning, and authentic assessment • Model Seamless Integration • Continual Recruitment For fresh ideas, energy and areas of expertise

16. Instructional Technology Office Budget Use a portion of Tech Support funding earmarked for stipends, training, and other tech support issues From a portion of tuition fees (district) for those taking course for credit Grant Sources (TitleVI, Eisenhower, Businesses) ECPI, Manpower Possible Compensation Sources

17. Incentives to Participate • Voluntary Better than Mandated • Meet Personal Goals • Days Off for Technology Productivity • Tech Upgrades to the Proficent • Certification Points • Prizes and Freebies • Keepers of the Tech Toys for Grade Level • Recognition

18. Basic to Intermediate Transition Activities • Open Lab times to work on projects, share ideas, learn from peers • Certificate of Completion • Sponsor Variety of Roundtable Discussions • SAM (Skill of the Month) Club • Buddy System

19. Intermediate to Advanced Show and Tell • Bulletin Boards • List Serves • Web Pages • Tech Fairs showing off class projects Peer Coaching Release Time to Observe in Other Schools Collaboration Time • design and complete a project • several schools work together

20. Transition to Trainers of Trainers • Provide Time for Discussion of Issues, Ideas, Problems • Offer a Challenge with a Reward What school can have 100% teachers adept at word processing by a set time • Send to Training • Numerous and Varied Methods of Recognition

21. Involvement in Planning Involve Administration District Level Support Clear Expectations Opportunities for Sharing Allow for Choice Recognize - Affirm-Praise Opportunities for Practice Presenter Enthusiasm and Delivery Continuity Follow-up Characteristics of Effective Staff Development

22. Presenters Should: • Teach with Authority • Confess to Growing and Learning • Can’t Lead if They Won’t Follow…Be Worth Following • Treat Individuals Individually • Facilitate Change One Person at a Time • Work with an End in Mind • Take and Provide Calculated Risks for the Sake of Learning and Growing • Be Creative

23. Guidelines for Reaching the Reluctant • Convince them Goal is Increased Student Performance • Deliver a Complete Package • Speak their Language • Offer Continual Support • Provide Rewards and Incentives • Eliminate Risk and Surprise

24. Interesting Ideas for Workshops • Learning Center Software Preview • Circus Format • Game Show Style Review • Bait and Switch • Gadgets and Toys • How to Buy a Computer • Cereal Box Learning • Boot Camp

25. URLs Not in Handout • www.essdack.org • www.techtamers.com • www.sonoma.k12.ca.us/phelan/staffdev.htm • www.ultranet.com • www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/plan/train/train.html

26. Bernice McCarthy “Instruction based on learning styles and brain dominance applies to the education of teachers as well as students.”