We at The University of West Florida feel honored that you have chosen to participate in professional development sessions here with us. For this week we are offering 3 different sessions for principals to choose from, as seen above. Down below is information for each session, to give you a more detailed look before selecting the professional development session you'd like to attend.
Many teachers question "Why another professional development session? Can't I just teach?!" We understand that, as you probably do, too. As principals, we are expected to answer that question with professional development sessions that are so engaging and valuable that teachers will forget there was even a question asked. If we think about why we want our teachers to be a part of professional development, it's probably for one or more of the following reasons:
-Better teacher performance
-More motivation
-Higher levels of expertise and education
-To learn new skills and the newest best practices
With 21st century learning and creating global learners comes a huge push (as you know) for technology integration. Combining those necessary professional development sessions with instructional technology approaches will sure to be inspiring and engaging.
Technology integration is not something you can expect most teachers to do on their own, unless they have been taught about what technologies are available, and how to properly integrate them. It is one thing to learn how to use new technology yourself, but using it in instruction is another task. This professional development session teaches the newest and best technology tools available for classroom use, and provides take-aways for how to teach your teachers to integrate these technologies. You may even wish to bring your coach along with you!
The Florida Standards include the integration of technology, but do not address how to explicitly teach technology. We recommend taking on the ISTE standards as a school, so your teachers know exactly what should be taught, and together with guidance, can develop a school plan for teaching and implementing these standards.
The ISTE standards, formally known as the NETS, are the most well known educational technology standards out there. ISTE describes these standards as "the road map to teaching effectively and growing professionally." These standards are broken down into standards for teachers, students, and administrators, so everyone has their part in the game of technology. It begins with administrators knowing their standards, so they can ensure teachers know theirs, so they can then teach students their required standards. There are additional standards for coaches or other support staff.
Standards for teachers focus on the teacher as the facilitator for teaching through engaging, creative technology use. Teachers should continuously be developing their knowledge of technology, to grow as a leader. Teachers should model technology use and create valuable learning experiences for their students.
For students, the standards are straight-forward as seen below. They are not grade specific, which is why we recommend planning these out with your staff.
Administrators who want to implement the ISTE standards are responsible for creating an atmosphere where technology is the culture of the school. They should be aware of the latest technologies and how to use them during instruction. Technology should be used to lead change and improvements in academics.
Whether you create technology plan with a team at your school or follow the district plan, it is important to be aware of what makes up a technology plan, how to write a plan, and how to stay within your budget. This session will help you do just that!
Technology plans can either be created at individual schools or at the district level, based on what the district chooses to do. Typically, plans begin with a mission and vision for the district that serves as their guiding light. These lengthy documents could include a funding plan, technology acquisition plan, level of access, user support plan, staff training plan, program evaluation, and professional development section. They typically are created for a span longer than one year, as it takes time to receive funding and technology, get it all hooked up, and the time needed to evaluate its performance. Some districts choose to lease equipment and services from other companies, as it saves district resources in the long run. All of these technology-related items and specifics should be included in technology plans, with the overall goal being to improve instruction through the use of technology. Come join us during this PD session to figure out how to write or interpret technology plans!
--Mandy Lopez--
