Professional Development Programs for Teachers in Technology Integration

Professional Development Programs for Teachers
in Technology Integration

Since the late 1980's the Pace University School of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) has worked with teachers to help them add value to their teaching through the infusion of technology. The scope and frequency of this work has expanded since the creation of the Technology Center for Education and Community Development (Technology Center) in 1997 as the result of a grant from the Bell Atlantic Foundation. Technology Center instructors have also taught classes in joint Pace University School of Education and CSIS graduate programs. The teacher training programs have been supported by:

PepsiCo
The Bell Atlantic Foundation
New York State Board of Education
(through grants to New York City School Board #11, New Rochelle City
School District, White Plains City School District)
White Plains City School District
Clarkstown South High School (in conjunction with Pace University School of Education faculty)
Pace University Technology Systems Classes:
Multi-Media Tools and Designs; Designing Standards-Based,
Technology-Enhanced Curricula

These Pace workshops for teachers adhere to the following principles:

Increased teacher ease with technology will encourage them to use more technology with students;

Technology should add value to individual lessons and the curriculum, not be the focus of the lesson;

Instructional projects should utilize the power of technology to address New York State standards;

Teachers will be more successful at integrating technology into their teaching if they can receive a wide variety of support during initial project development and implementation. This support includes developing a community of technology-users within the school as well as support from Pace University professionals while developing and first using the lessons.

Activities that help implement these principles include:

Exposure to technology-enhanced lessons others have developed;

Exposure to quality online resources that may be utilized by teachers and students in their projects;

Technology workshops that teach skills in the context of how they can be used in the classroom;

One-on-one sessions to help develop skills and lessons, practice lessons, or help during first use of lessons;

Access to professionals via email;

Creation of a technology-using cohort within the school;

Ability to post lessons to a web site for peers, students and parents to see.

To see sample technology-enhanced lessons created by teachers or graduate education students who are teachers, interns, student-teachers or teaching assistants:

To see additional resources useful for creating technology-enhanced projects, go to Resources.