Learning and Leading Reflection

One piece of writing that caught my attention in the March/April 2009 edition of Learning and Leading was the article titled "New Visions for Transforming Teaching" by James W. Epler. While reading this piece I couldn't help but feel that I was reading an article describing our TEAM program. It discusses how a high school Ed-Tech department got their teachers on board in supporting the movement toward technology in the classrooms.

Originally, the department would host professional development seminars which would demonstrate new forms of technology to their teachers. And even though the teachers would find the technology interesting, they did not walk away from these seminars feeling empowered or with a new found confidence or knowledge of how to implement it in their classrooms. I think as teachers we can relate to these types of professional development days.

Therefore, the school decided to revamp their approach because without teacher support and motivation, the vision of teaching through the use of technology would never come to light. As a result, they recruited teachers who were already using technology with their students and asked them to be the lead instructors for their new "Visions" program, similar to our Faye, Perri, and Sean. These instructors would receive a stipend for their services. All other teachers interested in joining the program had to take the time and fill out an online application. If selected, then a yearlong participant contract had to be signed and in return for being in the program, LCD projectors as well as online technology resources would be available to them for as long as they were involved in the program.

From there, teachers are grouped according to their content areas and the lead teachers will share their experiences with technology as well as their knowledge in certain technology programs. There is also group instruction on how to use certain technologies, such as Web 2.0 tools, and how to implement them into the classroom, which is very similar to our mini-presentations and our tech nights with our mentors.

The program is successful because teachers are being taught and inspired by their peers. In addition, they are witnessing the success that others in the same profession are having with technology. The program develops confidence among teachers, just like TEAM is doing for us.

Of course, like any program the "Visions" program holds teachers accountable. They are required to write reflections, post lessons in which they use technology in their classrooms, and continue their professional development through peer support, like we do in our EEVC groups, or by attending conferences, like some of us are going to do at Asset or NECC.

After reading this article, I was glad to see that both coasts of our country are recognizing as well as supporting the advancement of technology in the classrooms. After all, technology is not going to plateau, it will forever be changing and if we do not embrace its’ advancements, I truly feel that we will do a disservice to our children, who are our future.