Some Suggestions for Improving Teacher Training Through the Use of Technology

From my own experience, I am tired of sitting in staff development trainings that I could have completed in an hour, rather than 3.

(1) School districts need to provide staff development trainings remotely. This would allow teachers to complete required trainings at their own pace and during their own convenience.

I am also tired of sitting in a staff development training where I do not get to use the manipultives that are being demonstrated. I actually sat in a staff development training for peripherals and I did not get to use or interact with any of them.

(2) School disctricts need to make staff development trainings more interactive and hands-ons. For example, if the staff development is to provide Smart Board training, then bring in the Smart Boards and let the teachers use them.

Most of the staff development trainings that I have sat in, the presenter present the information they are suppose to, then the staff development is over. There is no interaction after the training.

(3) Allow more peer interaction by using chat rooms and instant messaging. Most of the time teachers get great ideas from other teachers, rather than sitting in another staff development. Let the participants interact with each other and the presenter after the training.