Good Technology training should be like a ....

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skip Zilla on June 2, 2007 at 8:10am

Consuming "Hot Pockets" is not an idea of nourishment over time that makes any sense for healthy development and mastery of skills. Sure, spot JIT tutorials are great to have a hand when you need them, but no steady diet of spot tutorials will every replace a continuing "apprenticeship" under the direction of a master performer, who is a guide for early imitation and a later can confirm of one's collegiality. Let's develop crafts of educated working technologists (analogous to various communities of software developers), who are primarily educators. The picture of educators anxiously consuming half-chewed, technology snack foods makes me want to peuk.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tim Holt on June 2, 2007 at 8:22am

So how would you fill in the blanks?
In my many years of training teachers, I have found that:
1. they don't have time
2. District don't have money
3. They don't find it interesting if they don't find some kind of immediate application

So, you have form above:
Quick
Inexpensive
Immediately gratifying

sounds like a hot pocket to me!

Tim

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Skip Zilla on June 2, 2007 at 8:48am

Now you've identified the real problem. Too many districts are seeking quick fixes for the introduction of new technologies, when they should be considering the long-term developmental health of their professional educators and the relevancy of their programs. It's an issue of the overall enterprise necessary for re-"forming" institutions which, without new perspectives on children learning and new modes of performing "adult" roles to provide for that learning, will disserve us all.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mr. Parisi on June 3, 2007 at 5:58am

I agree with your assessment of teacher training. Training is important but so is the followup. I'm a firm believe in having computer teachers in the lab working alongside of classroom teachers to help them achieve their technology goals.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alex Savage on June 2, 2007 at 1:26pm

Hi Tim

I wrote an article about virtual training that you might like to read. I was getting a bit fed up about travelling down to London (2 hours by train) only to watch death by powerpoint. As a result, I had a think about ways of using a blog and video conferencing to practice what I preach. If you'd like to have a look click here.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Skip Zilla on June 2, 2007 at 2:26pm

Alex,
Your approach to maintaining contact with your ICT trainees, after a four-day, face-to-face, intensive introduction to technological tools, by creating an online community, where they could remain in contact with you and one another over a long period of time, is exactly what's needed to continue practicing new skills and to develop proficiency in a new technology. When the time comes that a school district chooses to provide expert training to classroom educators in the use of a new digital tool, this approach must be part of the training paradigm. What kind of feedback have you received from the educators you've trained? Because they have not had to endure the discontinuity of use and lack of continuing support, these educators may not even be aware how fortunate they've been in their training experience, when compared with the unintelligent "throw it against the wall and hope that some sticks" approach that's a frustratingly poor, but common way to proceed.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sharon Betts on June 3, 2007 at 6:55am

Good educational technology training should be like a drink of water because it is necessary to live, consumed daily and doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sylvia Martinez on June 3, 2007 at 10:14am

Good education technology training should be like a great kindergarten class, full of messy, interesting things to do because they are fun.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Deb on June 3, 2007 at 4:26pm

I agree with Sylvia. Good technology training should be like Kindergarten. You have to make sure they understand the rules of the raod (use the bathroom, no biting, say please & thank you, wait your turn, etc.) and then teach them how to apply these behaviors by showing them the connection and purpose.
Deb

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott Beiter on June 3, 2007 at 4:53pm

Good education technology training should be like a great first date because the anticipation is incredible, you can't wait for more when its over, and want to continue the relationship into the future.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dean Mantz on June 5, 2007 at 8:47pm

Good education technology training should be like an "open ended" question. The reason I use this concept is to promote higher level thinking and problem solving. All of us, even seen documented in this discussion, learn and teach differently. But if we can provide opportunities for differentiated instruction and permit students and teachers to explore without the fear of failing we can make a difference. It is my experience that many teachers want that hands-on, one to one training while some what a quick introduction and let them run. But, I do feel that collaboration between both sides of the spectrum is needed. We have tried to implement blogs amongst the faculty but many would not participate as a result of fearing technology. Unfortunetly, the administration let the blog fail. The second reason for it failing, next to "fearing technology" was time. To be honest, the time thing is an excuse. The more organized a person is the more time they have to learn new items and enjoy life. At one time I was focused on my job and less on my family. Fortunetly, there was not "event" that opened my eyes. Now, I focus on my family when at home and my work at work. When my family goes to bed, I explore for new technology and ways to get people interested and motivated in wanting to learn and use technology.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Meg Ormiston on June 12, 2007 at 7:27am

LOL, love the Hot Pocket reference, don't think I can top the yummy calorie filled number. How about tech training should like a good book on a summer afternoon, because it is so something YOU care about, it is rich and engaging so you can't wait to learn more.
I still like yours better, more vivid!!
I have found good professional development works when I engage the participants in a personal project, something closer to their hearts, grandbabies in a movie etc. We are in such a rush we forget the personal connection. Once you connect them on that level, I find they are excited to transfer skills to curriculum. I also find I can help people better understand how we need to fundamentally change teaching and learning when you are looking at the smiling loved once. The same old, same old won't work for their little lovies, just another way to help break the worksheet packets driving classroom instruction.
Unfortunately, the best professional development takes solid blocks of time to fill in "splinter skills" from being self taught, and this time is out of the classroom focused on curriculum development. Back to class and teach the unit, lesson or project with in class support and then back for more professional development to fine tune. This model is expensive with support, subs and in class support, but I am in the middle of a tablet initiative that has transformed a building with this model. If we want to transform teaching and learning, we need to invest in professional development!
My passionate thoughts for the day!

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page