integrating technology: a professional development priority

Technology Training Needs - Overview:

My campus has the wonderful resource of school-assigned laptops issued to each middle school student. Unfortunately, the teachers have not been given enough time or training to effectively incorporate the laptops into daily instruction. The faculty would benefit from targeted training and staff development time focused on utilizing technology. Technology trainings in the past have provided brief overviews of software available and data management tools. While these are helpful, our teachers need specific tools and ideas for use in the classroom. Teachers who are tech savvy need to mentor teachers who may be intimidated or overwhelmed by technology. Teachers need to come away from staff development trainings with specific tools and ideas that they can use in their classrooms. Also, our curriculum needs to be reworked to provide ways to integrate technology in student learning.

Monthly Department Meetings – Technology focus

Session Purpose: To improve student learning and TAKS scores by analyzing the current Teaching and Learning Plan and ensuring technology integration and learner-centered focus.
Learning Objective to Be Addressed: Ensuring alignment of curriculum with TEKS / TAKS objectives, targeting instructional strategies to address weakest areas of student achievement, and integrating technology into instruction to enhance student engagement and facilitate student inquiry.
Purpose	Description	Steps
Teachers will analyze AEIS data, TAKS data, TEKS, and technology plan to identify current instructional deficiencies.	The teachers will choose specific lessons, units, or instructional objectives which need extra focus.	1. Provide teachers with AEIS data, TAKS results, TEKS, technology plan, and CIP. 2. Teachers will decide – based on the data – what areas need improvement.
Teachers will identify weaknesses in the curriculum with regards to meeting the TEKS / TAKS objectives, technology objectives, and CIP goals.	Analyze the current curriculum, specifically identifying the lessons that appear weak or do not meet the stated objectives.	1. Provide the teachers with the curriculum scope and sequence and the TEKS. 2. Identify lessons that do not adequately address the TEKS / TAKS objectives and do not utilize student-centered learning strategies or technology integration.
Teachers will learn about different technology options and ideas for integration in the classroom instruction. Ex: blogging, web exploration, data management, presentation options, research tools, simulation tools, etc.	During monthly meetings, teachers will discuss / learn about technology tools and options available in the district.	1. The district instructional specialist and technology specialists will meet with teachers to suggest technology tools, websites, and other ways to integrate technology into student learning.
Teachers will revamp specific lessons or units to increase TEKS alignment, integrate technology into instruction, include student-centered activities, and engage students’ higher order thinking skills.	Teachers who are not as computer literate will be partnered with teachers who are more comfortable with technology. The mentoring pairs will work together to revamp identified lessons or units to include more opportunities for students to utilize technology and engage in inquiry-based learning.	1. Technology mentoring partnerships will be identified. 2. Partners will choose one of the lessons/units that were identified for improvement. 3. Teachers will work together to improve their chosen lessons adding student-centered activities focused on technology integration and high order thinking skills.