TransADMINiformers
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This week we had an amazing opportunity to provide technology professional development to all of our district’s administrators. While the group does receive periodic training for technology, the tone of the day was much different than the typical training.
Our district has invested a lot of time and money into technology. We have invited speakers from other districts to talk to teachers and administrators, and have made sure that our staff is aware of the technology available to them. However, we have also felt that we are beyond just being exposed to the technology. In order to take the next step with the technology, we would need to begin to look at how we use the technology and using it to transform learning and productivity.
The training consisted of each admin getting to use an iPod touch with the challenge of modeling the tech to their staffs. Rather than teaching applications, or how to, much in the way we would want to work with kids, we allowed them to play and learn on their own. In providing them this opportunity, many of the admin found things on their own, and could share with the group. Ultimately they found things that we as trainers hadn’t known. This is a powerful way to expose people, especially children, to technology.
The second portion of the training focused on example lessons that were done last year that exemplified transformational teaching and use of technology. What set this apart from typical training was the discussion that ensued following the lessons. The reason we used the name “Transadminiformers” for our training was that we wanted to put “admin” in the word transform. We wanted our admin to know, that in order for teachers to use transformational teaching and technology, it would ultimately be on admin to be a leader for it.
In order for them to be effective leaders of technology, we felt that they needed to know how to look at how technology is used in the classroom. If you walk by a classroom, and all the students are on laptops, is that a good use of technology? Is that teacher finding a transformational way to use technology? The reality is, you can’t tell just from that observation. But many people, teachers, administrators, and parents would feel that example would be a good use of technology. This is the bridge we are trying to cross. How to empower people to evaluate the use of technology. We provided these questions to our administrators, but they could apply to teachers too:
-Is it a replacement for the way we do things or is it something completely new and pushes both the students and teacher to new heights, new learning, and new knowledge?
-To what degree does the project challenge the traditional role of teacher and student?
-Does the project allows students to take on more responsibility in their own assessment?
-Does the project to get teachers to teach a particular topic in a new way, using technology like they’ve never done before?
-Does the project to consider how people learn, all the different ways and address those learning styles in a transformational way?
-Does the project establish a learning community in which students teach teachers as they learn together and teachers learn from and begin to trust students?
We feel that these questions represent tools and questions that can help teachers and admin know what to look for when they evaluate technology. The discussion that followed was truly inspirational, and had everyone thinking about how they could bring this back to their own building.
It was a clear success as opposed to traditional tech training, but it is only a start. Change does not happen on one August day. Change is a way of life, and we are in a position to being implementing these changes.
For those who provide professional development to staff, what type of training do you do? Do you focus on process and application training? Are you able incorporate theory and discussion into your training? How does your staff respond?
About The Author
Mark Fijor
Mark is currently a Technology Facilitator for Arlington Heights School District 25. He has designed award winning projects, and been invited to speak at conferences and workshops on a variety of topics involving technology integration. The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect the views of Arlington Heights School District 25.
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