An
Effective Site
Professional Development Program
10 Key Elements
Understanding Adult Learners
and Assessment Methods
Teachers have varied proficiency and comfort levels about the use of technology.
Assessments determine what is working, what is not working, and what changes
need to happen. When you are developing a plan for your school, you will
need a variety of assessments, so you have a baseline on where your school
and teachers are with the use of technology.
Selecting and Preparing
Mentors
A mentor is different than a technology trainer or troubleshooter. A mentor
has good people skills, classroom management expertise, a large repertoire
of successful lessons, and enthusiasm to support colleagues.
Analyzing Student Data
Data may be of many types, for example: demographics, description, subjective,
and objective. Data collected need not only be standardized test scores,
but evidence of student and teacher work.
Mapping the Curriculum
and Existing Units
Taking the year calendar, the months can be used as a common reference
to plot the curriculum (research from Heidi Jacobs). The map can contain
processes and skills used in units, topics or essential questions included,
and products that demonstrate learning that opens new doors for teachers
and possibilities for multi-disciplinary units.
Understanding the Purpose
of Standards, Aligning to Curriculum
Standards help teachers design instruction and curriculum around what
is important for students to learn. Learning is more intentional and purposeful.
Aligning standards during the design process organizes curriculum, instruction,
and assessment. Aligning one to three content standards to a lesson will
help the teacher focus on what they want their students to understand
and be able to do.
Developing Project-Based
Activities as Replacement and Multidisciplinary Units and Deepen Student
Understanding
In reviewing the entire curriculum and aligning content standards, teachers
may find amazing projects they have done over the years, but realize they
do not meet the standards or deepen understanding. What teachers may discover
is that they could develop a project on a curriculum topic that incorporates
brainstorming, reading, writing, and presenting plus reaches all levels
of Bloom's Taxonomy.
- Bloom's Taxonomy
- Inquire
Leading to Understanding
Sample Projects
- GeoJournals
- Slavery/Civil War/Reconstruction & Westward Expansion
- Biome
- Egypt
- African Mask
Choosing the Appropriate
Resources for These Activities
With emerging technologies, teachers may sacrifice good content for engaging
projects that take too long or teach technology for technology’s
sake alone. It is important for teachers to pull back and think about
the best ways to meet the educational objectives and to determine which
resources are the most appropriate to support the activities.
Aligning Assessment Strategies
to Educational Objectives
Standardized tests do not accurately measure inquiry-based learning, so
teachers are looking for authentic and performance-based assessments that
align with academic and technology standards.
Developing an Action Plan
that includes Ongoing Support
Now that projects and resources have been identified for the curriculum,
the mentors can detail an action plan with a list of opportunities and
partnerships with support of outside experts including their students.
Creating and Sharing the
Process, Models, and Exemplars
Inquiry-based and real-world projects generate enthusiasm from students.
If teachers have the time to create projects, they also need the time
to describe the process of what worked, what did not, and why.