Introduction
The primary focus of this paper is to reflect on an E-learning staff development training event that I observed for the last six years as a participant. The E-learning training utilized the same method and the same material during this time. The staff development training is an annual requirement for teachers to complete before the beginning of each school year. This training was mandatory and supported the concept of safe schools. The objective of the training was highlighted, which is to ensure each teacher successful complete the training to support state laws and requirements for the safety of students in public schools.
This training is used to substitute for classroom training on those subjects that teachers might encounter during the school year such as biological spills, bullying, intruder alerts, and reporting child abuse just to name a few. Teachers completed to this training online in their own time and at their own pace prior to the start of the school districts professional staff development week. The teachers that complete this training before returning to work were given an additional day off as a motivational reward for getting the training done before they attend the districts professional development training.
Professional Development Reflection
It is important that teacher in a high school environment have the necessary skill and knowledge to lead students in the classroom and handle emergencies as they arise. Teachers are trusted with one of America’s most valuable resources, its students. When participating in online training for professional development motivation was not existent. Motivation is required from the individual for the training to be effective. Reflecting back ...
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...Effective professional development for e-learning: What do the managers think? 58(6), British Journal of Educational Technology, 892-900.
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An e-Learning environment will provide a framework and a set of tools, however, by themselves they are not more likely to facilitate your teaching and the students' learning than the filing cabinet in which you keep your lecture notes.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., (2008). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking-Concepts and Tools, 5th. Ed., Foundation for Critical Thinking Press: Dillon Beach, CA
The student will not longer rely on the internet and or a peer for their work resulting in critical thinking being used more often. Not only is improving the students skills but,“It also provides students a clear explanation of the importance of behaving with the
Workplace learning refers to learning or training undertaken in the workplace (Craig 1996). The field of workplace learning is also known as Training and Development, Human Resource Development, Corporate Training and Work and Learning (Craig, 1996; Piskurich at al., 2000; Driscoll et al., 2005; Smith et al., 2006). The traditional context of learning is experiencing a radical change. Teaching and learning are no longer restricted to classrooms (Wang, Wang, & Shee, 2007). The term e-learning refers to the use of electronic devices for learning, including the delivery of content via electronic media such as Internet, audio or video, interactive TV, etcetera. For the purpose of this study, we define “e-learning” as teaching and learning that
This proposal is designed to address the need for professional development of which can be utilized in assisting teachers within our institution mature and grow educationally for the purposes of becoming better instructors for the purposes of education our students academically and assisting them to succeed within their academic goals and objectives. The proposed plan of action of which can ultimately assist bot our facu...
Early on in my career as a teacher I learned the value of professional growth for myself. This took the form of professional development that I gained from conferences I attended and grants I was awarded. I also knew that I could share what I learned with others within my school and presenting at conferences. As an educational technology leader I use the knowledge and skills gained from my university classes in providing professional develop...
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Another factor considered in this study is the professional development of teachers. Professional development of teachers is a strong factor that enhances teachers’ knowledge and learning. A number of studies have reflected that the said factor is imperative to a positive change of every individual that seeks development professionally.
Rudd, R. (2007). Defining critical thinking. Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 82(7) 46-49. Retrieved December 9, 2007, from EBSCOhost database.
Nowadays, teaching is no longer restricted to face-to-face interaction between the students and the teachers. (Yueh & Hsu, 2008). The usage of learning management systems in the classroom and in the workplace continues to play an important role in helping instructors, trainers and educators in meeting their pedagogical as well as their organizational goals (see Argyris, 1977; Beatty & Ulasewicz, 2006; Liu, Li & Carlsson, 2010; Shrivastava, 1983; Ong, Lai & Wang, 2004). Becoming ubiquitous since the 80’s and 90’s, learning management systems (LMS) are one of the means of e-learning—a learning situation where instructors and learners are separated by distance, time, or both (Raab, Ellis, & Abdon, 2002) as well as m-learning (mobile
Prior to this decade, best practices for technology as a component for professional development/in-service training didn’t exist to the extent that it does today. In education, the term “best practices” refers to a shorthand emblem of serious, thoughtful, informed, responsible, state-of-the-art teaching (Zemelman, Daniels & Hyde, 2005). Because technology is rapidly evolving in ways that encourage innovation and discovery, best practices that were appropriate for the traditional classroom are no longer feasible with a new generation of students that are raised in a “tech-savvy” society. In order to prepare educators to meet the needs of students from the millennium generation, professional development and in-service training has to include technology to meet the demands of the 21st century. Professional development refers to formal and informal learning experiences and processes that lead to deepened understanding and improvement of practice (Broad & Evans, 2006). The use of technology for teacher professional development can be categorized in three ways: a delivery system that provides information to improve pedagogy and content mastery, a focus of study that develops teacher’ abilities to use specific tools, and a catalyst for new forms of teaching and learning (Gaible & Burns, 2005). One of the most primary elements in the process of professional development is educational change (Villegas-Reimars, 2003). As changes occur in our educational system, teachers must learn about the best practices in relation to integrating technology into the curriculum through because the use of technology is essential in classroom instruction and professional practice.
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Professional development, in its most simple definition, is learning opportunities. Under professional development, individuals are open to a wide array of these opportunities in order to gain knowledge and improve. The learning opportunities that make up professional development take up many forms. Conferences that aim to teach new skills and methods, formal pieces of academic material, training methods provided by an external or internal organizations are all learning opportunities through which professional development is attained. Professional development is a continuous process, that requires adapting to new techniques and approaches to improve a person’s technical capabilities.
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