Professional+Development

[|http://www.k12blueprint.com] Suggestions for building an effective professional development program to support your one-to-one program or other technology initiatives include:
 * **Provide teachers and administrators with the technology one year prior to implementing with students**; before they can be comfortable using the technology to teach, educators must be comfortable employing it for their own personal use and professional growth.
 * **Focus** professional development sessions on **technology integration, data-driven decision-making, and meaningful uses of technology in the curriculum**, rather than on how-to lessons.
 * Offer opportunities for educators to get their how-to technology **questions answered through just-in-time, technology-based modules and peer support.**
 * Use a similar approach for reinforcing crucial information covered in face-to-face sessions. For example, you might post a Q&A data-coach session online to direct teachers on how to use student data to track instructional planning, assessments and student progress.
 * Professional development should be **ongoing and reinforced in a number of different ways**, rather than one-time workshops without any follow-up.
 * Implement **mentoring programs** in which more experienced technology-using teachers support their colleagues.
 * Since every minute of class time is precious, provide teachers—and student support teams—with sufficient technical instruction so that they **feel comfortable addressing minor interruptions of connectivity** in the classroom.
 * Create guidelines and initiate discussions to help teachers identify the best uses of technology and avoid situations in which the technology becomes a distraction.
 * Teachers, like students, should have opportunities to **learn at their own levels and in their own style.**
 * Remember that professional development is an **ongoing process**. Prepare staff to see issues as challenges rather than obstacles, and offer encouragement for improvement.

York Central School Distrtict Ongoing **Technology Workshops** **Curriculum Work Days** that included a half-day session focused on using technology in instruction. Opportunities for collaboration with other districts and educators through **off-site conferences and workshops**. An annual district-wide Technology **Summit to plan for future technology staff development needs**. In-ServiceDays Additional Instructional Technology Training for Math & Literacy Coaches Professional Workshop and Conference Opportunities for Educators In-House Workshops will include core technology competencies District Staff Development Days and Workshops will focus on core technology competencies and instructional technology applications across the curriculum Curriculum Work Days will provide staff with collaborative forums to incorporate technology to enhance instructional practices Learning Communities will incorporate proven applications of instructional technology Creation of a Three-Year Staff Development Program to ensure new faculty members have appropriate core technology competencies in support of the LWTI
 * Hands-on support with projects** from the **two Instructional Technology Support Teachers**.
 * Focused professional development of subject-area use of instructional technology** provided by the Classrooms for the Future Coach.

1-to-1 Learning Book Teachers are key to success - Need PD thats relevant to the content area and age group they teach and that helps them consider how laptops can enhance and transform what they are doing inthe classroom
 * teachers need laptops before students
 * survey teachers beforel duirng and after for feedback - identify and address concerns
 * train tech savvy students to support teachers
 * reach out to early adopters- encourage grassroots and peer to peer sharing
 * provide for informal fdrop in sessions
 * share ideas and strategies at meetings and other venues Show-Case Sessions
 * resources - send targeted support which explain how and why resources are helpful
 * respect the learning curve of adults
 * reach out to those who are not on board
 * provide technical support that is friendly, empathetic, nonjudgemental and respectful of teachers time
 * use mandates sparingly
 * provide incentives or stipends for all participants
 * have teachers choose a lesson and then integrate technology into that plan
 * provide adequate staff for coaching, facilitating, mentoring and technical support

Professional Devlopment Catalog from Apple - a detailed description of the indepth traiing that Apple provides. The Technology Infused Learning Section outline workshops that help teachres apply their classroom digital resources more effectively to enhance teching and learning. Offers a variety ofa approaches, from onsite single or multday workshops to onsite coaching and train- the trainer sessions.

Individual tutoring, peer coaching, collaboration, networking, and mentoring have been used successfully over extended periods to help teachers at all levels of technology implementation develop technology applications that promote engaged learning. Teachers at the novice stage who need to develop basic computer skills will require more individual attention and should be given ample time to practice their skills. If learning by doing is important for students, it is crucial for teachers. As teachers begin to regard technology as a tool to accomplish instructional goals, they will learn best when engaged in meaningful projects that relate to their own classrooms. Appropriate individualized support from peers as well as experts encourages teachers to experiment with new strategies for technology use. Teachers should have the option to participate in the type of workshops, seminars, and online professional communities that will help them use technology effectively. Time for independent study, experimentation, and curriculum development is also important.
 * Guiding principle:** Successful professional development:
 * must be held on a continuous basis
 * provides mentors, coaches, or peer teammates to model appropriate integration strategies in actual classrooms
 * gives teachers feedback on their own performance
 * holds teachers accountable for implementing instructional strategies and student learning

23 Things Self-guided PD @http://plcmcl2-about.blogspot.com/