EdTechProfile by the Numbers - May 2006

As summer draws near, many district staff developers are looking at the data that has been entered into EdTechProfile to determine professional development needs of their teachers. However, an interesting trend in the region indicates that only 21% of those responding to the EdTechProfile question: “I prefer technology training to be offered…” responded with “During the summer.”

During the day................13,710
After school..................10,365
In the evening.................1,814
On the weekend.................2,058
During the summer/off track....7,357

As we all know, the reality in districts is that teacher time is valuable and should be spent in the classroom, working with the students. However, many districts find it difficult to get teachers out of the classroom on teaching days to attend professional development workshops.

Professional development that relates to technology is not best done on a one-time basis. Good technology related professional development can take many forms, one of the most common being a multi-day institute at which participants learn the skills to create a final product that can be used in the classroom, similar to the “make and take” workshop.

Additional data, again from the Region 10 responses on the EdTechProfile, indicate that teachers need “opportunities to participate in educational technology staff development focused on integrating technology into the curriculum.” Of those responding, less than 1/3 (29.1%) need basic computer/technology skills. This is a very positive move on self awareness in that responding teachers have the basic skills, but need to know how to effectively integrate technology into their daily classroom instruction.

Many districts that do not have the personnel to provide technology related professional development bring in outside experts. While CTAP staff have been many times thought of as the techies, they are all prior classroom teachers who used technology extensively in their classrooms prior to being with CTAP.

CTAP provides many summer opportunities for teachers to attend technology-related professional development institutes during the summer. Some are held in districts, but a series of workshops is available through CTAP at the county office locations. For a complete list of opportunities, browse the Professional Development section on ctap10.org.