Module 7: Supporting Teachers' ICT Curriculum and Pedagogy:On-going Professional Development 

Supporting Teachers with ICT Skills: Overcoming Barriers and Showing Enthusiasm 

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Last week I explored ways to  develop personal learning networks and ProD around ICT skills. This week's post will focus more on supporting my colleagues in this area.

Teachers may welcome the new learning opportunities and natural exploration that accompanies many ICT skills, or they may become apprehensive and wary. Are teachers able to continuously learn the necessary and evolving ICT skills? Are teachers able to access appropriate technology? It can be overwhelming for a teacher who is not technologically inclined. How can teacher librarians effectively share what they know with co-workers and best support the diverse needs of their school?

First, I’d like to address the potential constraints and barriers that may impact the process of effective ICT and professional development within the school community, as this can greatly impact attitudes as well as supports.

Lawrence and Tar (2018) suggest that there are two levels of barriers that can affect teachers’ implementation of ICT in teaching:

1.     Individual /teacher-level barriers ( lack of time, confidence, and/or resistance to change)

2.     Institutional/school-level barriers ( lack of training for technical issues and/or lack of access to resources)

What If?
In this video Kerry Gallagher asks the question "What if" and discusses some of the scepticism that may exist around technology. She reminds us that we are all learners, regardless of whether we are students, teachers or parents. She asks us to think of what we’d like to learn, and how technology can help. This is a good starting point when working with co-workers who may be reluctant. It's empowering, positive and makes things seem achievable. I will be borrowing this idea and asking my colleagues "What If"?

It's important to acknowledge perspectives and mindsets of our learners. With this in mind, the following are suggestions from “The Conversation: Ten Reasons Teachers Can Struggle to Use Technology in The Classroom” for helping reluctant colleagues:

•        Professional development
•        Approaching Professional development differently while accounting for different perspectives and abilities
•       Creating a common vision with all applicable stakeholders

These points are all key considerations when thinking of how to best meet the ICT needs of a school community. ICT is so varied, and can suit many staff members differently. In my school, we are actively getting to know our colleagues better to offer tools and ideas that will work well with different teaching styles and personalities. Simple conversations and surveys are ways we are looking at accomplishing this.

Jennifer Gonzalez also highlights points to consider when preparing to support teachers with ICT tools and skills. She discusses the importance of providing hands-on professional development opportunities. Technology can be overwhelming, and not a preferred method for some, so we need to make sure we give reluctant participants authentic and differentiated experiences to explore technology tools. Not only will it increase the chance that it may be implemented after training, but it may also increase the mastery, or confidence.

Her website includes a digital teacher’s guide:

Remembering that we are all learners together is important. The way that learning and professional development are offered and experienced impacts our attitudes and likelihood of implementing the learning. If we want to adequately support colleagues with ICT skills, we have to think of the best way to teach and showcase these skills. 

Here is a visual reminder about professional development:

Visit this website for more ideas about planning ProD for others

Other ways to support staff…

Share meals and enthusiasm:
As teacher librarians, we need to lead by example and model the use of ICT skills whenever possible. We also have to show our excitement and enthusiasm, because it's often contagious. If we're able to show how ICT can be used in different subjects and contexts it becomes more inviting and seems more possible. I've just started inviting teachers to eat with me over lunch and brainstorm ideas. Last week this led to a teacher who was looking for communication strategies to try a new app that she was previously unaware of.  Simply sharing a meal, and some enthusiasm led to a new exciting teaching possible.  

Local Library Association:DRC
Last week I shared a pamphlet made by my local teacher librarian association. This was meant to show how we network together, but it also serves as an example of how we support our staff and learning community. It was created to show how our library/learning commons has evolved and can meet varying needs in our school. Advocating in such a way, as a united teacher librarian local, is an impactful way to share tools and strategies with our school colleagues.

Teaching staff how to access resources from our DRC (district resource centre) is one way I help my co-workers with resources and ICT skills. While it is online I also offer to meet coworkers at the DRC to co-plan lessons and projects. I’ve found this quite useful on occasion. 

(Picture credit: A.Loudon)

Speaking at staff meetings: This is important, and it’s a quick and easy way to showcase new ideas and tools. Each month prepare to share a short, but engaging lesson idea, tool or strategy, with a relevant example if possible. This is how I introduced Rigamajig to my staff, and it was a success. Teachers were able to see tangible project ideas, and it motivated some teachers to start immediately.

Find a friend: Find a willing colleague to work with, and show others what you’ve done. Excitement will spread. I often pitch an idea to a colleague I feel will be willing to try something new, and then we share our outcomes together. The Not-A-Box project spread like wildfire this way!

Book/tool talks for teachers: Share resources and offer to co-teach or co-plan for use of new tools and strategies. This is a book that I will be using for a book talk with interested teachers.

This is a fantastic resource. Also check out #InnovatorsMindset  @gcouros

 Share what you know in many formats and ways!

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This is a website by Kasey Bell, who specializes in mixing instructional strategies with technology. https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/50-educators-you-should-follow-pinterest/

Share exciting lessons and learning on social media: I share on my school twitter account and then show my posts to staff. Even those who aren't on twitter find it exciting to see school learning being showcased. It also creates a "what if" I could do this reaction.

Share exciting ProD that you experience:

(Picture Credit: A.Loudon)

Everything that I've been researching and reflecting upon in regards to sharing ICT, points to it being hands-on and meaningful! Thinking of the audience is key. We have a great search tool for staff at our school to use for searching books-now we're moving to searching for ICT skills. It's a very exciting process, especially when different perspectives, interests, and mindsets are considered.

                               

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