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Melissa Gargano. February 24, 2006 Technology Facilitator: Issues and Challenges Dr. C. Twomey Assignment # 2 Developing a Professional Development Workshop. Workshop Topic: United Streaming. Background.
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Melissa Gargano February 24, 2006 Technology Facilitator: Issues and Challenges Dr. C. Twomey Assignment # 2 Developing a Professional Development Workshop Workshop Topic: United Streaming
Background As a result of taking an NJCU course, Integrating Math and Science into the Curriculum, last semester, I was able to preview and sample United Streaming for free. Since I thought it to be such a valuable resource for any teacher, I took it to my principal, who then ordered an immediate subscription for every teacher in my school. He then asked me to conduct a professional development workshop for all of the teachers during school to give them an introduction to different aspects of the program. The following is a description of the workshop.
Technology Facilitator Standards Addressed: • TF-I.B.1. – Model appropriate strategies essential to continued growth and development of the understanding of technology operations and concepts. • TF-II.A.1. – Provide resources and feedback to teachers as they create developmentally appropriate curriculum units that use technology. • TF-II.C.2. – Model technology integration using resources that reflect content standards • TF-III.A.5.- Use methods and strategies for teaching concepts and skills that support use of media-based tools such as television, audio, print media, and graphics. • TF.IV.A.1.– Model the use of technology tools to assess student learning of subject matter using a variety of assessment techniques. • TF.V.A.1. – Identify resources and participate in professional development activities and professional technology organizations to support ongoing professional growth related to technology.
Workshop Details • The workshop was held on February 16th, 2006 • The need for teacher training was essentially given to me, as my principal asked me to conduct the workshop. He informed the teachers via a memo of the date and time of the workshop. In addition, I placed a reminder in the teachers’ mailboxes the week of the workshop. My principal blocked the times, which included two sessions of a two hour workshop. Ten of the 16 teachers in the school were assigned to take the workshop from 9:30-11:30, and the other six from 1:30-3:30. My principal also secured substitutes for the entire day when necessary for the teachers to come to the Professional Development Center (a computer lab for teachers only) for the workshop. • Although the training need was one that was already partly determined, I still developed a survey for the teachers about the topics they mostly wanted to cover in that time period. A total of 16 teachers were surveyed. The survey is as follows.
Survey ResultsUnited Streaming Status (Describe your current status regarding United Streaming)
Survey Results(Which items would you be most interested in learning about in using United Streaming?) This displays where each of the responses fell, out of a total of 80 responses. (16 teachers times 5 responses each)
Workshop Agenda & Handouts • First, the agenda was given at the beginning of the workshop. This was the only handout I created, as United Streaming provides a feature called the “Trainer’s Toolkit” where handouts can be downloaded for the purpose of training teachers. • I handed out a User’s Guide to each participant. Even though it is 34 pages long, it is a good resource for a teacher to have when they are working on their own and they have any questions. I also gave it out in order to differentiate instruction for those who are at a higher level of comfort in using United Streaming, and wish to learn skills other than the basics. I encouraged them to go on to find more extensive activities in the manual if they were bored in relearning the basics with the others. As it is such a large PDF file, I have not embedded it into this presentation. Click here to open the user’s manual. • After going through basic functions, I handed out the “50 Ways to Integrate” handout, for teachers to get basic ideas of how to use these functions in the classroom. As some of these functions include clip art, calendar, and the writing prompt features, I had the teachers access these features as we talked about them in the handout. • When exploring the options for technical support and teacher professional development, I handed out a “Webinars Schedule”. United Streaming provides scheduled online seminars for teachers who wish to learn more about specific topics in United Streaming. • I saved all handout documents on our shared drive on the network server. Any teacher is able to access these documents if necessary.
Back to “Handouts” page
Back to "Handouts” page
Webinars Handout Back to "Handouts” page
Workshop Summary • To begin, I had each teacher log on at a computer. I went through “The Basics” on the Smart Board, modeling each basic as staff members followed on their computers. I then gave each of the participants a CD-R, and had them find a video clip on the Network Manager that they could use in their classroom, download it to the desktop, then burn it to the CD-R. (This was encouraged by our Technology Coordinator, as the server tends to crash when there is a large amount of downloading and streaming. I was also asked to tell participants not to save to their personal drives on the server, as this takes up unnecessary room on the server) • I then guided the participants through the Teacher Features, Teacher’s Guides, and correlations sections. After handing out the “50 Integration Ideas”, I also showed them each tool on the Learning Tools page. • Next, I showed them how to obtain support and professional development using the “Teacher Center” page. I showed them one of the FAQ tutorials (of their choice) and then all of the different options for professional development. I then handed out the “Webinars Schedule” handout, and explained how these small seminars worked. • For the last segment of the workshop, I had the participants choose one of the “50 Integration Ideas”, and develop a lesson or activity using the video they had burned to a CD-R earlier in the workshop. They could find another video clip if they wanted as well. • At the conclusion of the workshop, we shared our ideas aloud, and I answered any remaining questions about United Streaming. • All in all, I would say it was a success! My principal was pleased with the results.
Feedback ResultsAverages of Numerical Responses • The results of the question regarding the pace of the workshop generated the following responses: • 3 participants said it was “Too Fast”, and the other 13 wrote it was “Just Right” • There were no further questions left unanswered about United Streaming, and all additional comments were of a positive nature.
Results & Follow Up • Personally, I feel the workshop was successful in showing the beginnings of United Streaming, applications in the classroom, and the various features available. The teachers generally had positive comments throughout the training, and were able to find at least one way they could use the program in their classroom. • Part of a follow up to this workshop included the question on the feedback form about any unanswered questions. I also sent out an email to all participants two days following the workshop, offering any personal training sessions before school. I also asked participants to email me with any questions that needed to be answered immediately.
