This is stated however to not be the case since reports show that in 1998 approximately 22% of employees possessed the necessary technology skills upon entering the workforce and these are technology skills needed for approximately 60% of the new jobs in the job market.
From these statistics it can be assumed that teachers are failing to incorporate technology into classroom instruction and thereby failing to enable students in expansion of their learning to include technology use. The work of Poole and Moran (1998) is stated to have made identification of several factors known to contribute to the ineffectiveness of staff development in the area of technology. Those factors are stated as follows:
(1) lack of support from school administration;
(2) lack of awareness of what is needed in the schools;
(3) one-shot workshops that are inadequate and that have no follow-up;
(4) expense of training; and (5) lack of continued support. (Cole and Styron, nd)
The study conducted by Cole and Styron is stated to have been quantitative in nature and involved gathering data through use of a causal comparative design involving the responses of 90 teachers who had participated in online training modules through TeacherLine, a free professional development program sponsored by PBS. Analysis was conducted through use of a survey that focused on the determination of a difference in attitudes concerning online professional development. Stated to be a factor in the analysis was the level of computer experience possessed by individual teachers prior to their participation in an online professional development session.
Specifically investigated in the research was the willingness of teacher to incorporate technology into the classroom following participation in an online professional development session. Findings of the study state an indication that "...the vast majority of the respondents to the survey understood the benefits of using technology to enhance the learning and teaching experience and the value of using technology in the classroom after they participated in online professional development.
This data alone are enough to demonstrate to professional development coordinators that the use of technology is important to most teachers, and with the advancement of technology comes the dilemma of providing constant training on new technologies." (Cole and Styron, nd) it is stated to have been clear that the method preferred for delivery of training was through online professional development in the opinion of 89.1% of the participants in the study.
The work entitled: "Perspectives on Instructional Technology" (1997) states that the "...Integration of instructional technology into the academy by teachers would benefit from close interaction with trained instructional staff. Potential users need support for both learning the technology and using it to enhance their instruction and student learning. DoIT and the New Media Centers provide workshops on the use of specific tools and sponsor weekly brownbag seminars."
It is additionally reported that the "Biology New Media Center provides a new model of discipline specific assistance in locating and creating instructional materials. These valuable programs are essential in helping faculty get started incorporating new it in their teaching. Programs are needed to continually train faculty even after adoption of a particular it. To participate in these workshops and to conduct follow-up activities requires a time investment by the faculty and support staff." (Perspectives in Instructional Technology, 1997) it is necessary that faculty who do adopt it possess the skills necessary to cope with problems with the technology.
IV. PICASSO -- Portal Integrated Curriculum, Assessment, and Student Services Operation
The work of Luscre (nd) entitled: "Out of a Box...Integrating Technology Effectively" reports a study with the purpose of discovering if the implementation of "...PICASSO (Portal Integrated Curriculum, Assessment, and Student Services Operation) would increase the level of technology integration and effectiveness of teachers at the elementary school research site." Luscre reports that teachers were trained "...on the Internet-based management site and were asked to use the system to extend their level of technology integration into their curriculum. Randomly selected teachers documented their use of technology in the classroom and lab environment. Teachers documented dates, times, specific technology, and to what extent PICASSO was used." (Luscre, nd)
Luscre reports that incorporating of the program allowed teachers to integrate technology into the curriculum which resulted in more meaningful learning "...because they taught using the QCC's (Quality Core Curriculum) and resources provided by PICASSO." (nd) it is reported that teachers in the study "...took pre and post LoTi (Level of Technology Integration) questionnaires and data showed that there was a significant increase in several areas of the survey. Increases were also noted in computer usage time over 20% during the course of the intervention." (Luscre, nd) Results of the study are stated to have demonstrated that "the use of PICASSO was a successful tool in assisting teachers during planning and implementing technology related lessons into their curriculum. Further use of the program will be used and teachers will continue to train as the program gets more sophisticated." (Luscre, nd)
V. Pre-Service Training...
Similar to the suggestions offered by Gahala (2001), Brody (1995) identified several traits to be considered when developing a comprehensive professional development program. Among those traits include the reputation of the trainer, the rewards available to the participants, both tangible and intangible, and the support of the administration. Traditional staff development models have required everyone to participate at the same time and in the same location creating problems such
" (Basson, 1999); and systematic way of designing, carrying out, and evaluating the total process of learning and teaching in terms of specific objectives, based on research in human learning and communications, and employing a combination of human and non-human resources to bring about more effective instruction (Commission on Instructional Technology, 1970)." (Basson, 1999) Basson shares the fact that a survey conducted by Nick Hammond et al. On "Blocks to the
Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 15(1), 51-64. Beaudin, B.Q. (1995). Former teachers who return to public schools: Characteristics of those who return to the classroom. Educational Evaluation & Policy Analysis, 17(1): 462-475. Guarino, C., SantibaNez, L., Daley, G., & Brewer, D. (2004) a review of the research material on teacher recruitment and retention, Santa Monica, CA: Rand Publishers Nakai, D. & Turley, S. (2003). Going the alternate route: Perceptions from non-credentialed teachers. Education,
Academic Argument on Faculty Perceptions of Student Disengagement in Online Learning The emergence of technology has meant that today people are challenged every single day to accept something new in their lives on a regular basis. This is not to say that this is a bad thing, but the argument that can here is that are we really ready as a society to incorporate these new technological advancements in their day-to-day
Caribbean use ICT How can SMEs in (Caribbean) use ICT to achieve competitive advantage? Literature Review and Conceptual Framework Conceptual Framework Research Philosophy and Paradigm Epistemology Ontology Mixed Methods Primary Data Secondary Data Sampling Techniques and Procedures Data Analysis and Techniques Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Research Ethics Codes and Policies of Research Ethics Limitations to Methodology Time Plan and Resources The emergence of information and communications technologies or ICTs has a significant influence on different industries and organizations all across the globe. ICT refers to technologies, which
performance assessments. There will be a determination concerning how it assists in attaining educational goals. Educational assessment background will be presented and information on the way performance assessments are made use of in achieving goals will be analyzed. Assessing Student Performance The effect professional development has on improving mathematics instruction was examined in a few studies. The first study was carried out and involved thirty-six teachers who took up professional development
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