Learning to Teach in the Digital Era Starts With Professional Development

“Schools need to look at building the right professional learning networks across the district so they can create an environment of sharing their best practices, as well challenges,” says Yolanda Ramos, senior director of professional services at ISTE. “It is important to make sure that the professional development process is not top-down and that the voice of teachers, students and even parents are a part of the process so that they are all working towards the same goal. They need to develop a tech initiative that is supportive of instructional goals, sustainable, and creates a community of learning.”

It is also important teachers and members of schools districts hold each other responsible for measuring the success of not only the technology in the classroom, but also their professional development program as a whole.

“Professional advancement isn’t a one time, single event; it’s a journey of learning about how to teach in a digital era.”— Keith R. Krueger, CEO of CoSN.

“It is important they develop a vision together with the right stakeholders, and that they have a plan to successfully measure the progress of the learning goal throughout their implementation as well as the progress of their program,” says Ramos.

Using technology in the classroom to enhance student learning is not an easy feat, but when numerous people are working together to overcome challenges, there is a much higher chance of technology benefiting students in the classroom.

It is safe to say that technology is transforming all aspects of the education, including professional development. Despite this drastic transformation, however, the responsibility of teachers remains the same. Teachers must guide students throughout the learning process and ensure they are prepared with the skills they need to succeed in life. School districts need to implement an adequate professional development program that will allow technology to improve their teacher’s skills and provide an opportunity for enhanced learning experiences for their students.

“The biggest impediment to the use of technology isn’t technical or technological but it is in fact the people,” says Krueger. “It is difficult to build the human capacity to understand new ways to teach with technology when you’ve been used to doing things in another way. Professional advancement isn’t a one time, single event; it’s a journey of learning about how to teach in a digital era.”