Exercise 9.3

I would like to make the teachers realize the need for technology in their classes. It will engage learners more and give students more of a real-life simulated learning experience.
One of the techniques I will use is the Exercise, Structured experience. Teachers will participate in planned exercises while I show them how to incorporate different technologies into their everyday lessons on the computer in the lab. They will follow my mouse strokes to make their own example of what to show their students in class. I hope to change some of their feelings about using technology in class. I know that some are frustrated about the lack of time available in the lab, but if I can show them that incorporating technology doesn’t take much time and is giving students more of a realistic experience in learning, hopefully they will attempt more technological learning in their classes.
Simulation is another technique that I will use to persuade teachers to use technology in their classes more. I will give the teachers example projects that could be used in different content areas. They will be required to use different technologies to complete the project. The simulation will be something that they would give to their students as a real-world situation and have them present about it. The requirement will be that they incorporate three different types of technology in the presentation of the project. This will be at the end of the professional development. They are to make an example to show their students what they will be required to replicate. This way they will be able to answer questions for their students because they will have already done one. Hopefully they will be excited about using the simulated project.
The assessment will demonstrate clarity because it will outlined as to how to successfully complete each objective. Each professional development session will contain a plan that is outlined for a particular technology to incorporate into a classroom regardless of what you teach. By concentrating on only one technology at a time, the directions will be specific to that certain objective. If questions arise from individuals, those can be addressed; however, they will not dominate the class.
I am going to ask the teachers to sign up for the computer lab after each professional development so they can incorporate what they have learned into the classroom. Hopefully they will leave motivated and excited to transfer their knowledge to the students. I will keep in touch with them frequently to see what else they need to continue using the specific technology in their content area. Some might want to increase what they are doing with regards to technology which could involve my expertise.
Unfortunately I am not necessarily in charge of accessibility. We have two labs at our school and they are on a first come first serve basis. In addition, they are generally full of math and science classes. I can encourage the teachers to sign up early enough to get a certain day in the lab. I think that once the teachers get into the lab and see for themselves that their classes can be improved with a little technology they will want to incorporate it more into their classes. I hope to change their feelings that using technology in the class is involved and bothersome. I hope to instill a feeling of engagement, ease, and that technology is worthwhile.
Technology is justified in the TEKS. It has been proven that technology is more engaging and provides students with more of a real-life simulated learning environment than other types of learning. If the TEKS are aligned with what the students are accomplishing, the end result will be the same if not better with the incorporation of technology. I am truly concerned with how our students will be successful in their futures and believe that technology will be the key in achieving that success. I would encourage them to come back and show me examples of what they have done in school or on their own. I would also encourage them to publish what they have done on websites. What they learn will exhibit a piece of their personal journey.