Project Description
The problem of practice that I would like to tackle within this project is focused on a shift in how staff and administration approach technology in education within our building. Although many complex factors contribute to the amount and degree of technology use, integration, and innovation in our classrooms, much of the power to improve lies within the mindset of the classroom teacher. As models for our students, a staff should be able to support 21st century learning through combining pedagogy, content and technology to find the spot where it all comes together to authentically support learning experiences.
Using the ISTE Standards for Teachers and the TPACK framework as a content focus, this project proposes the use of best practices pedagogy and technology for the development of an individualized technology professional development plan for teachers. This project applies the same empowering learning theory and principles of differentiation and personalized learning that we apply daily to our students and extends it to our teachers to support their understanding of the role technology can play in their classroom.
Using the ISTE Standards for Teachers and the TPACK framework as a content focus, this project proposes the use of best practices pedagogy and technology for the development of an individualized technology professional development plan for teachers. This project applies the same empowering learning theory and principles of differentiation and personalized learning that we apply daily to our students and extends it to our teachers to support their understanding of the role technology can play in their classroom.
Overview
Definition of the problem
The problem of practice is the lack of technology integration and innovation focused on building 21st century learning skills for students among teachers in my building. Lack of time, lack of motivation, lack of sufficient training and lack of technology resources all play a role in contributing to this problem.
Desired transformation
The transformation in learning that I would like to see is a shift from technology use towards meaningful technology integration and innovation grounded in the TPACK framework by all staff in order to support 21st century learning skills within our students.
Use of Technology and PEdagogy for transformation:
Conventionally, teachers are supported through standardized large scale professional development trainings on technology that leave no room for consideration of individual context, pedagogical preferences, technological preferences and ability or even content within a subject area. This traditional method of professional development continues despite the emphasis and acceptance of differentiation as a necessity and means in order to meet all of our students' learning needs. Through a differentiated technology professional development plan developed in this project, we would ensure that we are able to create an achievable and measurable technology goal for every teacher that is supported in multiple ways and also emphasizes the importance of the teacher's content, context and pedagogy before incorporating technology.