Online social networking is spawning a new type of professional development that brings educators together to share face-to-face lessons, but in a more freewheeling-and, some argue, more targeted-way than traditional conferences intended to boost teaching skills.
Spotsylvania County has a great Instructional Technology website. TPACK is emphasized in their professional development. Under the Resources tab, go to Professional Learning and there is a booklet called Technology Triage. It starts with a explanation of TPACK and then gives teachers help with implementation. Under the resources section there are also handouts from Instructional Technology conferences from the last three years. Most of these speak to TPACK framework.
It was interesting to note the idea of differentiating the PD - I have sat in so many courses where the participants' skills varied, causing reactions of boredom through to confusion!!
Aristotle's quote struck me to the core... Maybe that's the simplest yet most comprehensive answer to the question we teachers ask so often: "Why do I have to learn to do things differently if what I have always done has always worked for me?"... Love it!
This learning journey is just beginning for me. I encourage you to tap into the resources at your fingertips. Use social media to become a connected learner. Thank you to ALL those who have helped me on my learning journey.
It is incredible how social media can connect otherwise unconnectable professionals. I have experienced numerous school decisions that parents did not support and which could have benefitted from examples carried out in other schools.
Implementing the TPACK Professional Development framework (as outlined on this site) in several schools. This slideshow outlines the goals for the framework. Several schools are using the framework in its entirety, while others have chosen parts to implement this year.
Alittle piece of the summer!! A blog entry exploring how Henrico County Schools System has adopted the TPACK model for staff development and 21st century learning. Provides examples of how to integrate technology and provides resource examples.
"Henrico County Schools System has adopted the TPACK as the Framework for professional development and 21st Century Learning in the Henrico County Schools System. Henrico County is one of the largest and earliest districts to pioneer and implement a one-to-one initiative. They have adopted this model as its conceptual framework to guide their progress towards the 21st Century Learning."
The TPACK framework attempts to integrate technology, pedagogy and content knowledge in a such a way as to enable effective teaching and learning. This website created by Dr. Matthew J. Koehler explains and explores the concept of TPACK, and provides a means for professionals to contribute to its development.
The Web offers a trove of just-in-time resources that administrators may find helpful, such as podcasts, online classes, and social networks that can match up administrators across the country, he said.
Read the whole series on Virtual PD!
Some good pros and cons raised in the article and I agree that face-face and online courses have a place for both teachers and administrators. Attitudes towards webinars need to be addressed too - numerous times the webinar is on in the background whilst the teacher works... how much is being absorbed during this? Yes it can cut down travel times etc. but participants need to focus without distraction - is that always possible in school?
In reading this article I thought about the same Viv... I have the feeling that on trying to be more effective and save time, the school districts are actually making PD sessions unreachable for many teachers... There can be wonderful opportunities out there but if enough time is not provided to take advantage of them or to have enriching discussions afterwards, teachers are not going to internalize and process how to apply the new knowledge to the classroom.