Staff Development

Successful integration of technology in the classroom goes beyond the physical acts of installing computers, setting up a network, and connecting to the Internet. Below are models and resources to assist schools and districts in planning effective staff learning that focuses on using technology.

Look to Events and Opportunities in our For The Teacher section for current professional learning opportunities for teachers.

Toolkits

Professional Development: Learning from the Best
A toolkit that covers designing, implementing, evaluating, and improving professional development, and sharing, based on the National Awards Program for Model Professional Development and written by Emily Hassel. Also available in PDF.
http://www.ncrel.org/pd/toolkit/lftb/index.htm

Education Leadership Toolkit
A collection of tips, pointers, case studies, and other resources for technology planning, policy setting, curriculum and assessment, community involvement, facility planning, funding, professional and leadership development from the National School Boards Foundation. Visit the professional development section for professional development models, planning, evaluating, issues, research, and resources.
http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/

NetDay's Cyber Security Kit for Schools
Tools and resources to raise awareness among K-12 educators, students, and families about online safety and computer security. The kit focuses attention on computer and network security issues in both the school and the home. It is designed to be used by school administrators as well as classroom teachers, students, and families.
http://www.netday.org/cyber_security_kit.htm

Models of Technology Staff Development
Models for professional development that incorporate traditional training methods, and a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages.
http://it.wce.wwu.edu/it/diana/staffdev/models.html

Top of page

Notes from the Field

From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal
An online journal published monthly by Jamie McKenzie of Bellingham, WA, From Now On has excellent, insightful articles on teaching and learning on the Web. This is a superb resource for teachers and staff developers alike. Read it and subscribe!
http://www.fno.org/

Random Thoughts: Learning Fundamentals
One of a series of "random thoughts" by Louis Schmier, history professor at Valdosta State University in Georgia. He reminds us that behind all these issues of school reform and technology in education are real students and real teachers, and that learning takes place when we care.
http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/rt/96aug25.html

Taking Off--a Teacher's Guide to Technology
This spring 1998 issue of Northwest Education Magazine, quarterly magazine of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, is all about classroom projects that use technology. Each article is accompanied by teacher's notes. Click Previous Issues for an index of previous AND subsequent issues.
http://www.nwrel.org/nwedu/spring_98/

Top of page

Needs Assessment

Skill Assessment Survey
A technology-skills survey used by the Just In Time Training project to determine professional development needs of Oregon K-12 educators. Results of the initial survey guided development of this Web site. You are welcome to use or adapt this survey to meet the needs of your own staff development program.
http://www.open.k12.or.us/jitt/district/sksurvey.htm

Top of page