When considering a problem of practice, there is one idea that repeatedly comes to mind; the lack of training and consequently use of the SMARTBoards in my building by teachers and students...
Last December, six teachers in my building volunteered to take on SMARTBoards in their classrooms in an attempt to begin to learn a new technology that would be following us to our new, and much more technically advanced building in the fall of 2010. I was one of those six teachers and I took on that new piece of technology with zest and vigor and basically sought out ways to teach myself how to use and integrate it into my teaching. I now use my SMARTBoard on what is close to an everyday basis for interactive teaching and cooperative learning and I have found it to be nothing but a powerful and engaging piece of technology. This unfortunately is not the case with regards to the five other SMARTBoards within my building, which have had very little if any use in the months since they were installed. This has happened, in my opinion, because of a couple of different factors. The first factor is that the teachers do not see the potential in what a SMARTBoard has to offer with teaching and learning and the second one (which is related to the first) is these teachers have not had much of any kind of support or training with these tools and they probably feel very intimidated by them to initiate any sort of self-training on them such as I did. Wow! The technology is there, and is being wasted because the training and the "know-how" is very much lacking or is almost non-existent. What a shame!!
With every classroom teacher getting a SMARTBoard attached to a wall in their classroom next fall in our new building, this problem is also likely to get much bigger and more widespread. To help alleviate this, teachers will need a lot of support and training with the use of SMARTBoards and as the new Technology Facilitator in my building next year, I would like to begin now to create some professional development resources that would help the teachers that have SMARTBoards now, gain a bit of teaching and training with them so that they may begin to do what they were expected to do without training when the SMARTBoards were hung in their classrooms. I will move forward with offering staff development opportunities to all classroom teachers next fall in an effort to help them get the training they need so that they can utilize this 21st century technology with their students who are ready to get out of the 20th century way of being taught.
Rationale...
According to Brophy (2006, p.27), "Cooperative learning creates the potential for cognitive and metacognitive benefits by engaging students in discourse that requires them to make their task-related information-processing and problem-solving strategies explicit (and thus available for discussion and reflection). Students are likely to show improved achievement outcomes when they engage in certain forms of co-operative learning as an alternative to completing assignments on their own." SMARTBoards serve as a perfect opportunity to merge technology and cooperative learning into one, and therefore is the purpose of this TechQuest. Ultimately this teaching will be done using a presentation tool (likely PowerPoint) as well as tutorials because they can be played and used on a SMARTBoard, which would allow for teacher training and interaction with the SMARTBoard together in accordance with each other. Success will be measured based on how many and how often SMARTBoards are used within classrooms through observations, online questionnaires, and general staff comments and feedback.
Trish-
ReplyDeleteIt seems in your case that you are starting with the technology rather than the problem of practice. It, definitely, makes sense in this scenario due to issue that you have in your school. Sometimes we have the same problem in my school. We are given use of technology but are not given the tools to affectively use the technology. I think that there are a lot of teachers that don’t end up using the technology because they are frightened of it and they think that they can’t use it with great success. I also have many older teachers in my school and they think that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, which is a terrible cliché. I helped an older teacher with United Streaming (through Discovery Education) and she was able to find a video that she wanted to show her students as well as set up the projector to make the movie a success. So that old saying doesn’t work. I hope that you find success in your endeavor.
-Amiee
Your problem is one that I hear over and over again! I had a long-term substituting position at a school in Virginia earlier this year, and every classroom at that school had a SMARTBoard. Most teachers used it like a regular whiteboard. The tech coordinator was new to the school and was frustrated with how little the technology was being used. I think that the resources you find and put together will benefit not only the teachers in your building, but possibly others around the world. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteTrish, it is great that this Techquest can complement your current teaching situation and your transition into the Tech Coordinator position. I almost want to challenge you to create training without using a single PowerPoint. I think actually modeling use of the SMARTBoard as the bulk of the training is a great idea. If you can get teachers excited to go up to the board and complete a task, explain their thinking (just like you want students to do), then hopefully that excitement will help them buy into using the board with their students. I think videos of using the board that teachers can quickly watch and then try themselves would be helpful. Looking forward to watching the project progress. I am wondering what kind of research is out there on PD for technology integration, specifically interactive boards.
ReplyDeleteTrish,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful learning opportunity for both you and your teachers! I’m not surprised at the situation your colleagues find themselves in. Unfortunately, it’s an all too common practice to place technology in classrooms with limited professional development for the teachers. Thinking beyond the strategies you have already outlined - You might want to think about creating (or locating one online) a hard copy tutorial that contains step by step directions with screen shots. Some teachers prefer having something in hand, as they work through a using a piece of technology or new software. Just-in-time, small group hands-on Professional development sessions might be another strategy you may want to explore. Mini lessons built around connections to curriculum are a powerful way to help teachers “see” ways to integrate technology into content. Great project – I’m looking forward to seeing where you take this project next=8-)
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te1000.htm
Trying to use the SMART board effectively has been a work in progress for me as well. Our school implemented it a few years back before I arrived and teachers admitted that they were just taking up space and not really being used.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, we were able to get a trainer in from Canada, where it was invented - I'm a proud Canadian :) Then teachers have slowly been trained in the different levels. We have some who are now certified trainers and who are training the rest of the staff. I don't know if this is something you can look into doing at your school.
Our school's goal this year is to get the entire staff of over 100 teachers to at least have Level 1. Ultimately, I found just playing with the Notebook software and asking teachers how they made some of the cool things they use, the best way for me to learn. I use it all the time now. Not just for projecting but for schedules, lessons, activities, organizing groups,etc.
It may be an effective goal to not only look at how many are being used and how often, but also how they are being used for teaching and learning.
Great proposal. Good luck!