The role of professional development in today's 21st century schools

1. Educational Technology
Professional Development
Yuri Zepeda
Dr. Chen
EDIT 556

2. The role of Educational
Technology
 Provides authentic learning experiences
 Improves instruction
 Enhances student learning
 Prepares students for the 21st century
 Students gain & develop new set of skills: critical,
analytical, cultural, global, and digital

3. The need for high-quality ETPD
 In order for students to be prepared for the 21st
century and gain technology skills & fluency,
teachers need to learn how to integrate
technology into their classrooms successfully.
 It educates teachers the value of technology
 It provides constant support for teachers, thus
developing confidence
 It exposes teachers to innovative/ creative ideas
& resources

4. Reasons why many PD programs
fail
 No explicit connection between the use
technology and instruction
 Short-term workshops that focus on technical
assistance
 Lack of meaningful opportunities for teachers to
share ideas and reflect on their instructional
practices
 Little teacher support or feedback
 Follow “one-size- fits- all” workshops
 Fails to address the needs of teachers, school,
students, etc.

5. What defines a high-quality ETPD?
 Longer duration
 Follow-up support and feedback
 Access to new technologies
 Collaboration and reflection
 Shared vision for student learning
 Community building
 Moves beyond technical assistance/ skills
 Engages teachers in meaningful & relevant
learning activities
 Helps teacher to become comfortable using
technology

6. “Online communities”
 Lock (2006) introduces “online communities” to
facilitate teacher professional development
 Creates authentic learning communities where
teachers become active participants
 Focuses on “designing, building, and supporting a
structure and a process… meeting the personal
ongoing professional development needs of
teachers” (pg. 663)
 Function outside “conventional practices and
timeframes (e.g., workshops)” (pg. 675)

7. “Knowledge Brokers”
 Plair (2008) introduces the notion of “knowledge
brokers, or a intermediary to sort through a
wealth of information about programs, tools, and
Web resources and o explain and demonstrate to
them (teachers) how to use it in a way that
supports and enhances student learning and
personal productivity” (pg. 71).

8. “Master Technology Teacher”
 Wright (2010) describes that the Master
Technology Teacher, a professional development
program that focuses on “training teachers how
to use technology in classroom instruction” (pg.
139).
 Classroom observation to see how a teacher
uses & implements technology
 Opportunities for reflection, feedback, support,
collaboration, and active participation

9. “The Centers for Quality Teaching
and Learning”
 This professional development places technology
in the “context of student-centered instructional
practices “ (Matzen & Edmunds, 2007, pg. 417)
 Shift from “traditional instruction” to a more
“constructivist- compatible instruction” (pg. 417)
 Alternative vision for the use of technology
 Teachers are able to connect technology and
instruction

10. Resources
 Harris, J. (2008). One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Customizing Educational
Technology Professional Development. Learning and Leading with
Technology.18-26.
 Jansen, D., & Mensh, M. (2011). Professional Development for Change.
Agriculture Education Magazine. 84 (2), 9-11.
 Lawless, K., & Pellegrino, J. (2007). Professional Development in
Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning: Knowns, Unknowns,
and Ways, to Pursue Better Questions and Answers. Review of Educational
Research, 77(4), 575-614.
 Lock, J. V. (2006). A New Image: Online Communities to Facilitate Teacher
Professional Development. JI of Technology and Teacher Education, 14 (4),
663-678.
 Martin, W., Strother, S., Beglau, M., Bates, L., Reitzes, T., & Culp, K. (2010).
Connecting Instructional Technology Professional Development to Teacher
and Student Outcomes. Journal of Research on Technology in Education,
43(1), 53-74.
 Matzen, N. J., & Edmunds, J. A. (2007). Technology as a Catalyst for
Change: The Role of Professional Development. Journal of Research on
Technology in Education, 39 (4), 417-430.
 Plair, A. K. (2008), Revamping Professional Development for Technology
Integration and Fluency. Clearing House, 82 (2), 70-75.
 Wright, V.H. (2010) Professional Development and the Master Technology
Teacher: The Evolution of one Partnership. Education 131 (1), 139-146.