Technology as a Tool for Online Professional Development
By Adrienna Mason Davis – Training Coordinator, NNPS
Soon, there will be a huge influx of technology in our schools. Using technology successfully to improve education requires the entire academic community be knowledgeable and proficient users of technology-related tools and telecommunications services. Professional development is critical when expanding the knowledge and skills of administrators, instructors and support staff, as well as increasing their confidence when utilizing these technology tools. Professional development encompasses the understanding and application of technology towards better teaching practices and more effective school management.
Online professional development or “just-in-time training” offers a fresh approach to the traditional, and yet sometimes-antiquated occupational training model. Administrators must find unique ways to encourage professional growth and propel adult learners to a mindset where they are as comfortable working with technology as our students, who dive-in and explore emerging technologies as they go.
Today’s online learning management systems create a more individualized learning environment, unlike conventional workshops where end-users of various expertises join for technology-based professional development that often display their areas of weaknesses. 21st century skills development must be cultivated at all levels of the educational system, if we are to be accountable for producing globally competitive students.
Keys to Successful Online Professional Development:
- Administrators must fully endorse and promote a virtual learning initiative.
- Participants (administrators, teachers, and educational support staff) must commit to utilizing all available online professional development resources.
- Design and adhere to a sound implementation plan to guard against hidden cost and learner isolation.
- Invest in a vehicle to track accountability and measurement of outcomes for online professional development.
Here are some questions to help begin the discussion, on what are the best ways to help develop the skills sets necessary, to better integrate new technologies into our curriculum:
Would you use “on-line” training resources to help master and integrate new technologies in your classroom?
How can we better use our internal communication processes to promote online staff development opportunities?
How do we best implement a self-assessment to determine what training resources are needed?
June 18th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Learning new technology is generally easier for professionals if there are opportunities for hands on practice. Most professional development opportunities for technology do not allow for extensive learning. It is too often only someone demonstrating what the technology can do, witjout the opportunity to do. If and when the technology does arrives, most teachers then are not confident enough or do not have the time necessary to adequately implement the new technology with any degree of confidence or expertise. The technology is then under-utilized. How will online professional development alleviate this?
June 18th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Both last week’s Thinking Thursday and this week’s Thinking Thursday touch on the same topic…. online learning. NNPS has online outstanding online resources with D2L, Nova.net, and Infosource.
Unfortunately we are not using the resources to their fullest capacity, especially with Desire 2 Learn. NNPS could be offering almost a full high school curriculum online as well as a wide variety of professional development offerings.
NNPS isn’t even close to the forefront with online learning. Several neighboring school divisions have significantly less technology in their schools, but they have a variety of online offerings for both students and staff.