The move in education using computers is unquestionably towards co-operative and project-based learning. If you’re using computers as a teaching tool, you’re going to have to make some time to keep current with IT. In the words of another district administrator, “a one or two hour workshop is not enough training to accomplish real change – IT learning must be fluid and ongoing.”
Resist the urge to throw your fist in the air and shout about having the same time constraints as IT staff. Sure, there are barriers such as budgets, calendars and union expectations. If you’re going to be successful in using IT as an education tool, and have those technology people helping you, you’re going to have to work around those hurdles, aren’t you?
Methods other school districts are using in the struggle to keep their educators’ professional development current include:
* Technology committee
* Regular meetings between district IT administrator & superintendent
* Mass emails to disseminate information
* Use of free web-based services & technology (eg. wiki-based technology plan)
* Co-op of school districts to share resources, expertise.
The IT staff will get used to seeing your face. They’ll start taking things you say more seriously! Other teachers, some of whom may be holding back on learning new technologies, seeing you ‘buying in’ on keeping your knowledge up, will be likely to follow your example.
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