-- Pamela Livingston
district computer support specialist
The Hendrick Hudson School District
Montrose, NY
livingsp@aol.com
Reply #1---------------------------------------------
From: jcarter@esu6.esu6.k12.ne.us (Judi Carter)
Pam,
Due to a large grant received from our state, we bought a large number of new
computers this year. One of our main focuses has been to train the
teachers. Although everything we've done hasn't been a great success, I'll
attempt to answer your questions.
Judi Carter internet: jcarter@esu6.esu6.k12.ne.us
Technology/Curriculum Coordinator Voice: 402-245-2825
Falls City Public Schools FAX: 402-245-2022
P.O. Box 129
Falls City, NE 68355-0129
> o Are teachers getting release time to attend workshops?
We have one 1/2 day workshop every month. Teachers can use 2 professional
days during the year to attend other workshops.
> o Do you have a lab or facility for training larger groups of teachers or
>are you training in small groups using a computer cluster of 5 or 6
> computers?
We are doing the majority of training in labs, but have smaller groups going
after school. I am stationed in the lab at each school once every two weeks
and anyone who wants to can come in for help.
> o Do you have a core suite of tools software, e.g., MS Office, Claris
> Works, etc?
We have ClarisWorks at all levels. All teachers also received the Apple
Teacher Productivity Bundle which included a number of other programs. We
also have certain packages for levels at the elementary
buildings.
> o Does your training cover the tools software only or are there group
>workshops for curriculum-integrated, skills, activity, research, or other
>software?
We're trying to cover the whole gamut. Since we have four buildings, we are
trying to provide a different inservice at each one and teachers can pick the
one they want to attend.
> o Do you have Internet connections and if so do you provide training?
We do not have direct connect, but teachers can connect free of charge at
various places in the district where there are dedicated phone lines.
About half of our teachers have been trained.
> o How much one-on-one training is happening at your school?
We have mentors doing a lot of one-on-one training.
> o Who does the training? Is it an in-house individual, a consultant, a
> combination of the above?
a combination
> o Have you utilized teacher/mentors successfully?
yes, other than the fact that our mentors are overworked and underpaid.
We have two mentors each at the elementary buildings and the middle
school and three mentors at the high school
> o Have you used students to help with training?
At the high school and middle school, a number of students are helping
teachers, but as yet we have not used students in an organized trianing.
We now have ten 4th graders who are learning HyperStudio after school
two days a week. They are going to assist with a HyperStudio inservice
in April.
> o How is scheduling of workshops done? Do you use before or after school
>hours or only during classroom time?
The inservice days were part of our school calendar.
> o Do you do any off-site training?
We have an Educational Service Unit 30 miles away that offers two to three
workshops a month. Many teachers use their professional days to attend these.
> o Do you have a course feedback form at the end of each workshop and if so
what kind of responses do you get?
No, most of our inservices are one-time affairs and I felt that feedback
would be used to improve them and since they were going to be offered
again it was unnecessary.
> o Have you tried mini-workshops, giving one- or two-function hands-on
> sessions with handouts and diskettes for saving the participants work and
> later follow-up?
No
> o What type of follow-up is done after the workshop?
Again, I visit the schools twice a month to help with questions.
The mentors also serve in this capacity.
> o What kind of support are you getting from principals, superintendents,
> or other administration?
> o Have your created your own workshop materials and handouts or purchased
> them?
Mostly created our own
> o Have you created faculty competencies and, if so, are you willing to
> share them?
We have not created competencies
> o What methods are you using to educate your teachers on the benefits of
>computers in the classroom, e.g., technology newsletter; videos of successful
>integration of computers;presentations of existing school- or district-wide
>technology projects, etc.?
We have a technology and curriculum newsletter. Teachers also share
curriculum ideas at building faculty meetings.
> o How would you describe your teachers' skills sets right now on
> computers, e.g, 15% novice, 25% intermediate, etc.
20% novice, 50% intermediate,30% advanced
> o How have you addressed the different skill sets of teachers?
In beginning of the year, our workshops were divided into beginning,
intermediate, and advanced. Teachers chose their own level.
> o Do you train teachers by grade level?
Two out of the eight have been by grade level.
> o Do you send teachers to workshops who do not have computers yet or only
> teachers with a computer in his or her classroom?
All teachers have a computer in their classroom.
> o Do you require teachers to attend workshops?
yes
> o Does anyone work with teachers on specific integration of computers into
> each classroom, creating lesson plans, etc?
That is going to be our focus next year. This year we were really interested
in just getting the teachers to feel comfortable.
> o Did you survey your faculty before beginning workshops and if so will
you share the survey and results?
No
> o Any general reactions, feedback, what was good and what didn't work is
>most appreciated.
Our biggest problem has been not challenging some of the advanced
computer users. We would have a class on ClarisWorks and some
would have barely used it while others were quite proficient and
felt it was a waste of their time. We are now getting some of those more
advanced ones to help teach. We also still have a couple of teachers who
wish they'd never seen a computer. I don't know if we'll ever convince them
of the advantages.
Reply #2---------------------------------------------
Date: 96-02-19 08:04:57 EST
From: ladamskc@pei.edu (Libby Adams)
Pam, I'll try to address some of your questions.
>o Are teachers getting release time to attend workshops?
When we have enough money to budget for subs, we have released teachers for
2-3 hours for staff development. We try to get three subs so an entire
grade level can be released at the same time.
>o Do you have a lab or facility for training larger groups of teachers or
>are you training in small groups using a computer cluster of 5 or 6
>computers?
It depends on what our objectives are for the training. yes, we are lucky to
have the facilities to train 30 at a time; however, some training lends
itself to small groups (Internet training, multimedia)
>o Do you have a core suite of tools software, e.g., MS Office, Claris
>Works
There's so much to cover here it could be a whole semesters worth. I
try to do two after school sessions per month that teachers are paid stipends
to attend.
>o Does your training cover the tools software only or are there group
>Workshops for curriculum-integrated, skills,activity, research,or other
>software?
All of the above; I also try to introduce in the my lab classes
new software. We require our teachers to come to the lab with students so
they learn together.
>o Do you have Internet connections and if so do you provide training?
Yes. Today have 7 connections;; by Wed. the whole building will have access.
>o How much one-on-one training is happening at your school?
Early in the AM and after school, you can see either myself or other teachers
helping each other. We have many different level of expertise in the building
after 6 years.
>o Who does the training? Is it an in-house individual, a consultant, a
>combination of the above?
I initially did most of the training; now others on our staff will do
segments of the training . Our district also provides afterschool
training,some of which I do but many others can too.
>o Have you utilized teacher/mentors successfully?
Yes
>o Have you used students to help with training?
Yes, we're an elementary school and kids are great when introducing
a new peice of equipment. I bring two from each room (by grade level-3-5),
work with them and then they go back to their rooms to teach the teacher
and other students. Works well.
>o How is scheduling of workshops done? Do you use before or after school
> hours or only during classroom time?
We have 9 staff development days during the school year-starting in August.
Time is not a problem, but teachers always want more.
>o Do you do any off-site training?
Yes, our initial internet training was done by our provider at their site.
>o Do you have a course feedback form at the end of each workshop and if so
> what kind of responses do you get?
Always, out of a scale of 1-5, technology trainings are almost always
straight 5's.
>o What type of follow-up is done after the workshop?
Peers observe each other or I come by and see how I can help
if there are snags in new implementations.
>o What kind of support are you getting from principals, superintendents, or
> other administration?
Our principal is very supportive and participates in all training sessions.
She expect technology to be used in the classrooms and integrated with the
curriculum.
>o Have your created your own workshop materials and handouts or purchased
> them?
We have created our own to meet the needs of our staff.
>o Have you created faculty competencies and, if so, are you willing to
> share them?
Not done this, but teachers are expected to use technology with
their students and for themselves.
>o What methods are you using to educate your teachers on the benefits of
>computers in the classroom, e.g., technology newsletter; videos of successful
>integration of computers;presentations of existing school- or district-wide
>technology projects, etc.?
I send a newsletter once or twice a month with ideas, research, successes,and
frustrations. Project ideas are included and I forward lots of info from
listserves where I think it will get the most mileage.
>o How would you describe your teachers' skills sets right now on
>computers,e.g, 15% novice, 25% intermediate, etc.
Three novices (new to the building at semesters); the rest average about
75%-although they would probably rate themselves lower. Seeing what other
buildings are doing, I know our staff is much stronger and more open to using
technology with their students and for their own personal use. 21/30 have
email accounts.
>o How have you addressed the different skill sets of teachers in workshops?
Teachers helping teachers; plus specific afterschool sessions for beginners,
intermediate and advanced.
>o Do you train teachers by grade level?
Sometimes; depends on the objective.
>o Do you send teachers to workshops who do not have computers yet or only
> teachers with a computer in his or her classroom?
When we have sent teachers to workshops they come back disappointed. We do
most of our training on site. However, we have sent groups of teachers to
conferences after having it open to all, but requiring staff to say how they
would use new information and what was their purpose in attending a
conference. The principal then made the final decisionl
>o Do you require teachers to attend workshops?
9 are mandatory; after school is optional.
>o Does anyone work with teachers on specific integration of computers into
>each classroom, creating lesson plans, etc?
We try to work together on this; grade levels discuss it in their meetings
and teachers let me know what their themes, objectives are and I try to pull
in the technology for them if they need help.
>o Did you survey your faculty before beginning workshops and if so will you
> share the survey and results?
I put up chart paper and we begin with "what to you want to know" about the
topic; the paper can be added to anytime during the session.
We have tried many different approaches. Basically when teachers share what
they have learned and their excitement moves to the students; then other
teachers want to learn and know alsol.
Good luck. If you have questions, let me know.
Libby Adams Computer Resource Teacher
Troost Communications Academy
Kansas City, Missouri
"Building Pride Inside"
ladamskc@cyclops.pei.edu
troostkc@cyclops.pei.edu
Reply #3---------------------------------------------
Date: 96-02-27 14:06:26 EST
From: lang_carol@mssmtp.lacoe.edu (Lang_Carol)
Pam,
I don't have time to answer all of your questions, but I will take a shot at
a few. I am also from a county office. Hope it helps.
>o Are teachers getting relief time to attend workshops?
Relief, no. Release, yes! We are a county office training teachers from
districts all over southern California. We are giving free training, so the
districts had to commit ahead of time to providing time, internet
connections,sub time and opportunity for these teachers to go back and train
the teachers in their school/district.
>o Do you have a lab or facility for training larger groups of teachers or
>are you training in small groups using a computer cluster of 5 or 6
>computers?
We are going to sites that have enough equipment to have 1 person per
computer for 1/2 of the time. This is really tough. I would suggest buying
PowerBooks to computers aren't a problem.
>o Do you have a core suite of tools software, e.g., MS Office, Claris
>Works,etc?
We are using Claris Works 4.0, some teacher productivity software,
netscape,hyperstudio, etc.
>o Does your training cover the tools software only or are there group
>workshops for curriculum-integrated, skills,activity, research,or other
>software?
The tools are the vehicle to teach curriculum. They have to develop a
curriculum-related lesson and a training plan.
>o Do you have Internet connections and if so do you provide training?
Yes.
>o How much one-on-one training is happening at your school?
We do regional training. one-to-one is essential for coaching and trouble
shooting. We do a lot online.
>o Who does the training? Is it an in-house individual, a consultant, a
>combination of the above?
We are consultants and we call upon our trainers to share "snapshots"
of their expertise.
>o Have you utilized teacher/mentors successfully?
That's what we are doing now.
>o Have you used students to help with training?
No
>o How is scheduling of workshops done? Do you use before or after school
>hours or only during classroom time?
Nine days of release time this semester.
>o Do you do any off-site training?
All of it.
>o Do you have a course feedback form at the end of each workshop and if so
>what kind of responses do you get?
Yes, absolutely. Everything from the lunch was good, to the training was too
fast to it was too slow. The important point is that our goal is to *train
them to train others,* not just for their own edification.
>o Have you tried mini-workshops, giving one- or two-function hands-on
>sessions with handouts and diskettes for saving the participants work and
>later follow-up?
NO
>o What type of follow-up is done after the workshop?
2 days per year formal and constant personal group online.
>o What kind of support are you getting from principals, superintendents, or
>other administration?
They had to commit ahead of time before we accepted their teachers.
>o Have your created your own workshop materials and handouts or purchased
>them?
Both.
>o Have you created faculty competencies and, if so, are you willing to share
>them?
No
>o What methods are you using to educate your teachers on the benefits of
>computers in the classroom, e.g., technology newsletter; videos of successful
>integration of computers;presentations of existing school- or district-wide
>technology projects, etc.?
We use videos, video production, all forms of technology.
>o How would you describe your teachers' skills sets right now on
>computers,e.g, 15% novice, 25% intermediate, etc.
These folks were selected because of their expertise in staff development and
curriculum leadership, not tech savvy. They range all over the map.
>o How have you addressed the different skill sets of teachers in workshops?
Yes, we have broken them down by greade level and expertise.
>o Do you train teachers by grade level?
Software appropraite for the grade level.
>o Do you send teachers to workshops who do not have computers yet or only
> teachers with a computer in his or her classroom?
Yes. Tom Snyder materials are very good.
>o Do you require teachers to attend workshops?
Yes, since they are trainers.
>o Does anyone work with teachers on specific integration of computers into
>each classroom, creating lesson plans, etc?
All must product product demonstrating their expertise.
>o Did you survey your faculty before beginning workshops and if so will you
>share the survey and results?
Yes we surveyed and gave requirements and district commitments.
>o Any general reactions, feedback, what was good and what didn't work is
>most appreciated.
District commitment at the beginning, reminders as they go along, a district
advocate, etc are essentail.
Sorry about the brevity and probably bad typing! I know my responses are
sketchy. I understand where you are going, and you are asking excactly the
right questions. We also are giving a honorarium when they complete their
products, complete their training plans, and the training they are leading.
Good luck.
Carol Lang, Consultant
Los Angeles County Office of Ecucation (LACOE)
LACOE Telecommunications & Technology services (LT&T)
Training and Support Services
9300 Imperial Hwy.
Downey, CA 90242-2890
(310) 922-6766
---------------------Reply#4-----------------------------------
From: sull1100@spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov (Vickey Liles Sullivan)
We are in the third year of offering technology staff development. We
primarily train during the summer, although we will begin an After-School
program offering 2-hour sessions for teachers. We offer 3 or 4 major
subject training during the school year. We haven't found a good way to
offer training during the school year. I would be intersted in seeing
how other systems can provide the training during the school year as I
think that teachers need training so that they use it immediately. Can
you share any ideas that you have received? Thank you. If you would
like more info from me on our procedures, I will share it.
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