Professional Development

Topics Taught during Professional Development: Kim Dalton and I worked together present this professional development to our staff.  We divided up our staff into two groups (K-2 and 3-5) to better fit their students.  During the K-2 PD, we showed them Classtools.net and how they could incorporate the tools associated with this website into their classrooms.  For the 3-5 group, we used United Streaming to show the assignment builder and other uses for it in our classrooms.

Technology Integration:  We worked with our 3-5 staff first, showing them how to use United Streaming assingments with their students.  To introduce this to them, we began with a PowerPoint shared to them through Google Docs.  The PP was given to us from the technology facilitators and we worked through it adjusting and fixing it to work for our professional development.  Our agenda, also shared through Google Docs, gave them the details of thier training sessions.  As they looked through the agenda and noticed that it consisted of multiple sessions, of course they began to moan and groan.  Kim and I worked to please our staff so we changed the way we would present the rest of the material from being whole group (3-5) to working with PLCs individually.  While showing the PP and trying to pull up the agenda, we noticed some issues with Google Docs.  This caused a minor setback in our training because we had to assist our staff in signing into Google.  They brought their log-ins as we asked but there was an issue with the computers in our lab.  For some reason pop-ups were causing some issues.  We compromised by pulling it up on a computer at the front of the room so all could view it as we went through the training session.  The next step in the workshop was allowing them to act as our students, completing an assignment.  This gave the teachers the true feeling of what the students see. Once they explored the program a little, we assigned their homework.  Their assingment was to come up with some ways they would like to use the assignment builder with their class.  They were told to keep in mind that they will be creating one of these so it needs to be based on their curriculum within their grade.  The second and third sessions were a little different in that we went to individual PLCs to work with the grade levels.  Kim took care of the third grade PLC and I worked with the fourth grade PLC.  We both worked with the fifth grade teachers.  Some of the ideas our teachers came up with were weather, force and motion, states, planets, human body, and rocks and minerals.  This incorporates a lot of the Science kits and even some Social Studies. 
      The K-2 learned how to use Classtools in their PD session.  Kim and I provided a PowerPoint, shared through Google Docs for this groups as well.  Again, we had some issues with Google Docs working for everyone.  I feel as if the immediate feedback from this training was more encouraging than the previous one.  The K-2 teachers were really interested in what we had to say and had a lot more ideas on how to implement the program into thier classrooms.  Right off the bat, they began discussing how to use the site.  Their ideas ranged from whole group to individual reading groups.  This groups also seemed excited to use the program and I even had a few come up to me the next school day to share how they had already been using this resource. 

Professional Growth: I really providing professional development pushes us as teachers to branch out.  We have to come up with ideas that would be helpful to all involved while keeping in mind what our peers can/can't do.  I believe the more we do, like with anything, the better we become and more comfortable we will feel.  I have had several opportunities in planning for professional development because of my graduate classes but this was one opportunity that I was able to carry it out and actually do the teaching. 

What I Would Change: From a technology standpoint, I am very pleased with the session for our K-2 teachers.  I feel like everyone worked together and seemed to enjoy thier training.  On the other hand, I believe that some of our 3-5 teachers were frustrated because they were confused about what we were doing or felt lost because their technology skills are at varying levels.  The Google Docs not working properly was kind-of a good thing to give us experience in handling this type of situation.  In the future, I will make sure that I check my links and log-ins from the computers that the audience will be working from.  This would have thrown up a red flag and we could have fixed this before hand.  To help our 3-5 teachers with their frustration, I think next time we could offer a leveled training, like the county did for our Smart trainings.  Possibly giving the option to go to the United Streaming or the Classtools, based on their ability level with technology.