Assessment

All good Professional Development planning must start with a good understanding of the current staff needs.  The BEYOND Technology Assessment for teachers is a simple diagnostic of 100 multiple-choice questions, written to the ISTE Standards and taken in a low-pressure environment.  In fact we use a simple Scantron form and a #2 pencil so teachers with little technology experience do not feel intimidated.  The scoring of the assessment is confidential so teachers can feel safe to answer to the best of their ability.  Once the scoring is completed the BEYOND Team will develop a chart to illustrate the needs of the staff and where to concentrate the training resources.  A post-assessment provides valuable data for on-going training.

Professional Development

BEYOND Technology Basics for Teachers

written by Susan Brooks-Young

10 Modules / 2 to 3 Hour Modules / Instructor Led / MAC or PC

Research proves that technology alone is not the answer.  The missing link in many school technology plans is what we call The 3 "C's" of professional development.  The first "C" is "Confidence".  Demonstration, practice, trial and error and more practice is what builds confidence.  Our Professional Development Course, BEYOND Technology Basics for Teachers, written by Susan Brooks-Young is a foundational course built on ACOT (Apple Classroom of Tomorrow) research and encompasses strategies for the modern teacher.

In order for today’s teachers to integrate technology into classroom curriculum effectively a strong technology foundation is critical.  That foundation is built and supported with a powerful Professional Development approach. That is why BTE has developed a foundational course to meet the real world needs of classroom teachers.  We embrace ISTE NETS-T and state standards in everything we do.  The training is prescription-based using the results from a teacher skill assessment.  What that means is teachers can take only those foundational modules they need.  We cover both MAC and PC skills.  As with everything we provide, flexibility and scalability are very important.  The components of the Professional Development are:

1.      Word Processing

2.      Graphics

3.      Desktop Publishing

4.      Spreadsheets

5.      Internet

6.      Database

7.      Presentations

8.      Collaboration Tools

9.      Integration

10.    Final Project

OS skills such as file management will be taught within the context of each module, as needed. The modules will be written for Windows / Office 2003 or 2007 on the PC side and Mac OS / Office 2004 or 08 on the MAC side, with notes as necessary for later OS and Office versions.  The activities in this curriculum will specifically target the Adoption and Adaptation levels of use as identified by the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow study, helping teachers increase their own personal productivity and begin to use technology with their students. Each module will include time for participants to discuss how the skills taught that day might be incorporated into instruction.