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1-to-1 Series: Staff Development Ideas that Work!. By Sally Garza Director of Technology Lawrence Upper School. About ME. Sally Garza Director of Technology Lawrence Upper School. About ME.
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1-to-1 Series: Staff Development Ideas that Work! By Sally Garza Director of Technology Lawrence Upper School
About ME • Sally Garza • Director of Technology • Lawrence Upper School
About ME • Lawrence School is an independent school in Sagamore Hills and Broadview Heights, Ohio that specializes in teaching students with learning differences.
Philosophy of Technology Professional Development • Purpose is to assist teachers in integrating technology seamlessly into their curriculum • Technology should = E2 • Efficient & Effective
Major Steps inTechnology Professional Development • Step 1: • Make teachers aware of what technology and training are available • Step 2: • Make teachers comfortable in using technology including how to troubleshoot technology issues • Step 3: • Help teachers in being comfortable in assisting students with technology
Lawrence School’s Technology • Grades 1-6 at Lower School Campus • Computer Labs • Teachers with laptops • AlphaSmart NEO’s available for checkout for 5-6th graders as needed (dsygraphia, written expression issues, ADHD…) • 2-3 laptops available in each classroom for use in class • SmartBoards in all classrooms (just this year)
Lawrence School’s Technology • Grades 7-12 at Upper School Campus • Tablet PC 1-1 program at high school grades • Student/parent purchased at 9th grade • Laptop 1-1 program at middle school grades • School owned computers • Teachers = tablet computers w/docks
Whole Group Instruction • Theater/conference type setting gaining information through a lecture-style format • Topics range from: • Overviews of new policy, procedure, software, services, hardware • Not recommended for step-by-step instruction, unless they are very basic instructions and teachers all have computers with them • Tips: • Keep relatively short (10-30 minutes) • Use lots of pictures or visuals if available • Try to get audience participation if applicable
Whole Group Instruction • Pros: • Usually best for introduction to new service, policy, software, hardware • Great for generating ideas amongst staff members on how to utilize technology • Cons: • Hard to make sure everyone understands new concepts • Not good for step-by-step instruction of tech skills • May need to do individual review with individuals lacking tech savviness
Tuesdays Tech Tips of the Week • Tips: • Keep 1-2 pages long • Use lots of pictures and screenshots • Use simple steps • Distribute: • Email as text or attachment • Word/PDF ii • Post to blog, bulletin board and/or a website • Weekly mini-lesson sent to all faculty on a quick technology tip • Topics range from: • Online grade book tips • How to use comment feature in Word • How to create a Photo Album in Power Point • How to add a printer to their computer
Tuesdays Tech Tips of the Week • Cons: • Must be short and simple skills • Surprisingly, some faculty members prefer not to read and will not want to figure out tasks on their own • Pros: • Allows simple instruction to be shared with faculty • Creates a library of skill/knowledge that builds over time • Is something tangible that faculty can refer to later on their own • Reduces questions about simple tasks
Individualized / Small-Group Specific Instruction • Training for 1-5 faculty members on a specific step-by-step skill/tasks • Topics: • Learning specific software, hardware, or service • Learning how to integrate technology into specific subject area/type lesson • Tips: • Group by subject area or grade level • Have specific goals for individual or small group • Have them bring their needs for training to you • Keep short and specific; usually 45 minutes, longer if they are working on a specific project
Individualized / Small-Group Specific Instruction • Pros: • Training becomes more meaningful because they are bringing needs to you • Smaller groups for instruction = less distracting • More specific training • Cons: • Time in the annual schedule • Need technology staff to fulfill training needs • $$$ - need a budget and an administration that supports the need for this type of training
Individualized / Small-Group Specific Instruction • Lawrence Upper School had a rotating 1-1 training schedule for all staff members during the first 2 years of our 1-to-1 program • Each staff member received 1-1 tech training for 1 class period (45 minutes) once every two weeks • Topics vary each time based on Tech Director and staff member needs • Specific websites that might be useful for specific lessons • Specific software that can be implemented for a lesson • Specific instruction on how to use software, hardware, or services
Optional Summer Workshops • Tips: • Make it worth making the trip to school over the summer (include snacks, incentives like computer upgrades….) • 2-3 hour sessions to make attendance worthwhile • Have faculty sign up for specific times; give them at least a few options for times/days of week; be flexible with the summer training schedule • Training for 1-10 faculty members on a specific step-by-step tech skills during summer months • Topics range from: • Learning a new piece of software, hardware, or service that is crucial for every day productivity
Optional Summer Workshops • Pros: • Don’t waste training time during school year • Make sure everyone is trained on specific skills before next school year • Use small groups vs. large group training • Cons: • Resistant teachers • Time-consuming for tech training staff over summer • Won’t work unless you have total support of administrative staff
Optional Summer Workshops • Look for collaborative workshops in your area • CCIS (Cleveland Council of Independent Schools) has been coordinating a ½ day technology showcase as a way for teachers to share technology ideas with each other
Effective Strategies • Need Administrative Support for Technology Professional Development including: • Time in the School Calendar • Funding • Staffing • Clearly Stated Expectations • Incentives
Looking Forward • Distance learning • Online classes • Expert staff as technology trainers • Cloud computing in a 1-to-1 environment
Questions? Sally Garza • Director of Technology • Lawrence Upper School • sgarza@lawrenceschool.org • www.lawrenceschool.org • Twitter: smg421girl • Technology blog at msgarza.wordpress.com • Handouts available at www.slideshare.net/smg421