|
May 15, 2001
Laptop Lessons: Exploring the Promise of One-to-One Computing (cont'd)
Getting Staff Up and Running
One of the biggest challenges to making a laptop program work-one far more complex than theft and machine durability-is that it requires a new approach to teaching, and this means lots of extra training and support. Janice Gordon of Hartford Public Schools is unequivocal about this. "Service is an essential part, yes, so machines are up and running, but the key is teachers," she says. "This is a paradigm shift, and it's going to be difficult for some teachers." Through the Professional Development Academy developed by the University of Connecticut, Hartford teachers are first trained to be proficient in Microsoft Office and the Internet, then they move on to full technology integration into the curriculum. To motivate teachers to stick with it, Gordon sends technology facilitators into the classrooms to co-teach technology-integrated lessons.
Clovis Unified takes advantage of teacher leaders as well. Four teachers are on special assignment, working one-on-one with teachers to integrate technology. Initial teacher training comes in two phases. Phase one is a series of courses that help teachers master such basics as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Phase two supports technology integration into classroom practice. (Download rubrics and course outlines.) Clovis also makes extensive use of Intouch with Learning and SchoolKiT.com, which provide teacher training as well as specific classroom activities.
At the Shawnee Public Schools in Oklahoma, teachers who sign on to the laptop program participate in Teacher Summer Camp, a six-week series of programs on different topics from basic word processing to model laptop lessons. Teachers receive a stipend along with a computer, digital projector, printer, and software for their classroom. Shawnee also encourages parents to use computers by offering basic training at their Parent Resource Center and by providing laptops that parents can check out for three weeks at a time.
New York's Community School District Six offers yet another approach to professional development for laptop programs. Teachers start with 32 hours of beginning training that includes model lessons and in-class demonstrations, plus ongoing staff development throughout the year. In addition to getting support from technology facilitators, staff can take advantage of diagnostic tests, tutorials, and curriculum ideas at the district's laptop news Web site.
What's Ahead? > > >
Read other articles from the May issue
Send a letter to the Editor in response to this article.
|
